Britney "not really an ethnic food person" but promises to try chicken rice while in S'pore

They're not Toxic, we promise.

Guan Zhen Tan | June 24, 2017, 11:38 AM

By now, you might have come across this article that says pop star Britney Spears is not keen to try our local food.

That's right. You didn't see that wrongly.

 

The article, published on the site Idolator, was derived from a phone interview she did with The New Paper on Wednesday, June 21, ahead of her show here on Friday, June 30.

This will be her maiden public concert here — her previous performance in Singapore was a 1998 closed-door showcase.

When asked what she recalls about her previous visit to Singapore, as well as what she's looking forward to this time she's back for her tour, she responded:

That was so long ago (laughs). It was a little different last time as I was with my mum and it was my debut period then. I remember palm trees; it was interesting and weird.

I am not really an ethnic food person, so I am not keen on trying your local food. I am more of a mac and cheese person.

Naturally, this offended many of us.

Apart from a flood of angry comments, it also prompted the following response from Class 95 DJs Muttons In The Morning:

Screenshot via Muttons in The Morning's Facebook page

 

Defining "ethnic food"

We all know ourselves: Singaporeans are passionate about food — and our own food, no less — and it's understandably infuriating to some when an international pop star decides that it's all not suited to her "mac and cheese" tastes, just because she's "not really an ethnic food person".

After all, various esteemed chefs like Marco White and Claude Bosi adore our food, and many of our hawkers have been honoured with various awards, Michelin Stars, and more recently, a new round of Bib Gourmands.

Be that as it may, Spears enjoyed her fair share of sympathisers as well, who applauded her straight-talking personality:

Comments via Muttons In The Morning's Facebook post

Or considered the idea that she mistook our food for being another kind of "ethnic" — of the more "exotic" kind.

Comment via Muttons In The Morning's Facebook post

She later had the chance to clear her name in a subsequent interview she did with Kiss92 deejay Joshua Simon, uploaded to their Facebook page on Friday night.

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Here's a transcript of the relevant section:

Spears: OK, I'll be completely honest with you.

Simon: Would you be down to trying some of our food?

Spears: Of course, definitely of course! I think what they're talking about — I had one interview where I talked about the food and they served that cold egg like 3 times and I was so hungry. And I can't... I can't eat cold eggs! So they took that in the interview saying I wasn't keen on trying other foods.

I love food! Food is my best friend! So I... whatever, you know? I'm very open to... what should I eat? Tell me!

Simon: There's a lot of spicy food in Singapore. My favourite is a classic, it's chicken rice; it's just rice with chicken.

Spears: Oh! It's simple, basic, okay!

Simon: Yeah, doesn't sound too bad right? We're gonna silence the haters with what you just said right there.

Spears: (giggles)

Simon: Alright thank you so much!

Spears: Thank you Joshua, it was great talking to you, and I will try the chicken!

Anyway, whatever she might have meant from her New Paper interview, we thought an easy introduction to our fare could be some of our local Western food — is something she could actually enjoy?

Like this Angus Rib-Eye steak with fried rice:

Image via New Ubin Seafood - Singapore's Facebook page

 

Or this steak, served with a generous helping of Raclette:

[caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="528"] Image via Flavour Flings Facebook page[/caption]

 

Or perhaps, if she's feeling more adventurous, this fusion take on fish and chips, served with chilli crab sauce:

[caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="484"] Image via Fish and Chick's Facebook page[/caption]

Super shiok too.

Now of course, there's nothing like our true blue hawker food, but hey, even foraging into our local Western offerings, we reckon Spears would nonetheless come away with something better than "interesting and weird" palm trees.

 

So if by chance you find some time between your flights and our concert, why not give our food a shot? You and your sons won't regret it.

Confirm plus chop.

 

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Top image via Ken Marshall’s Flickr and BabaSingapura’s Instagram post, New Ubin Seafood - Singapore's Facebook page, Fish and Chicks' Facebook page and Britney Spears' official Facebook page. 

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