Singapore Expats

This is one of those maids / taxi / kiasu / etc. threads that probably deserves its own Sticky.

While I'm happy to report that over the 5 years I've been here that the restaurants have improved, and there's a lot more choices of places to go, well, 9 out of 10 places still can't make toast.

That's right - the easiest food in the world to prepare, the ubiquitous toast, what would otherwise be the butt of jokes on one's cooking abilities is a sad fact, flummoxes the Singaporean sensibility.

This includes probably any of those places you've read about in the Time Out / IS / Finder / etc. magazines that overuse tired and antiquated adjectives like 'scrumptious' or 'yummy' and the like to describe these places. And many of these places are actually pretty good otherwise.

Otherwise, from the 'toast', that is.

"Toast" in these places becomes an oxymoron of sorts, because it's anything but toast. Better to say they are serving raw bread or muffins with your eggs.

Requested it to be done correctly? another 9 out of 10 it won't. What you will get is a) overdone eggs, b) uncooked bread (ok, barely cooked but not brown), or c) both (a) and (b).

Send back the toast to be done right? The eggs will be cold by then. And vice-versa. Send it all back to be done right? You'll be eating alone and not fun for all involved.

Rant over, but this is based on years experience here, contrasted with any other place in the world I've been. And it's a valid complaint, it's not like we're talking sushi or pizza or Chicken Cordon Bleu or some other dish that takes experience to prepare.

Maybe I should start a list of these restaurants....

Next time ask for 'roti bakar' instead of toast

Had the same toast problem with our maid

I've never had a problem with toast in restaurants myself but the only time I ever have it is if I order a full English breakfast at one of the western pubs and it's always been OK in those places. Oh and the Coffee Bean do toast and that's actually quite nice I think.

But the thing about toast is that it's personal preference - my kids have theirs barely toasted, my husband likes it almost cremated and I'm somewhere in the middle so I suppose going by those figures, there are plenty of people for whom it wouldn't be right.

Maybe they should ask 'how would you like your toast?' like they do for steak

Asians in general prefer toast slightly warmed over "almost cremated" (I like that expression!) and you can't blame restaurants for catering to the majority's taste rather than your own.
My mother-in-law declares my toasts "chao da" and inedible. I also had problems convincing my wife that toast is not bread (it has more in common with kitchen sponge!), but the British have the same problem with this.

beppi wrote:Asians in general prefer toast slightly warmed over "almost cremated" (I like that expression!) and you can't blame restaurants for catering to the majority's taste rather than your own.
My mother-in-law declares my toasts "chao da" and inedible. I also had problems convincing my wife that toast is not bread (it has more in common with kitchen sponge!), but the British have the same problem with this.

You mean comparing the sponge part with toast

but the British have the same problem with this

I think you are right all British would have a problem to compare it. In fact I'm still looking for the resemblance to a sponge....Maybe you are thinking of those green scrubbing sponges, with the hard surface.

I like mine done mid range, not black, never eat the black stuff, it's not healthy at all, give it a good scrape.

Asian eggs too are a health hazard, too watery and high risk of salmonellae, always like mine done firm white with a soft yolk

I love toasted tea cakes!

I most certainly can when I give a specific and clear request when ordering and it comes back otherwise.

And you're wrong about the "Asians" generalization - my SO is one and she likes it the same way I do, which sounds like how BigSis likes hers.

You're right BigSis, asking beforehand would be the best way for those restaurants who take their service seriously.

beppi wrote:Asians in general prefer toast slightly warmed over "almost cremated" (I like that expression!) and you can't blame restaurants for catering to the majority's taste rather than your own.