Culture shock

When A. and I planned a trip to Singapore and Cambodia last December, we started putting together a long list of places to visit. Food courts, hawker centres, restaurants… It pays to do a bit of research when you’re travelling with a vegetarian. I read ieatishootipost from beginning to end, salivating at the many delights that would soon be at our fingertips.

One thing particularly intrigued me. Kaya. The dark brown, creamy paste rich with coconut and egg, spread on thick, generous toast. I had never heard of it, but knew I would like it.

On our first morning, hungry, tired with jet lag and already struggling with the humidity, we headed to Food Republic at Wisma Atria on Orchard Rd. It was early and the shopping centre wasn’t really open yet, but we walked up the still escalators, crept around the edges of the floor that was being cleaned, and stepped into Toast Box at the far end of the food court.

We ordered thick kaya toast, soft boiled eggs and tea from the busy counter where frothy, milky tea was being spectacularly poured from long-spouted pots. The kaya toast was lovely, satisfyingly coconutty, the warmed jam reminding me of those yellow thai desserts my family is so fond of.

The eggs, however, were perplexing:

What are you supposed to do with two eggs, a shallow dish, some soy sauce and pepper, but no egg cup? We examined them quietly for a while. We looked around to see what other people were doing. We read the printed sheet at the bottom of our serving tray. Eventually we cracked them open into the bowl. The egg was very, very runny, and A. mixed it with a bit of pepper and soy sauce.

I think we did the right thing. At least it was breakfast, lah.