6 food experiences we have to bring back to Singapore

Because things don't taste better in our memories. They taste better when in our mouths

Jonathan Lim| May 27, 05:14 PM

Two things rock on the internet - food porn and nostalgia. As a service to readers, we combine both.

So here are 7 of these experiences that we need in Singapore before we seriously consider migrating elsewhere for:

 

1. A&W

Who can forget that Tuesday is Coney Tuesday. And Root Beer floats came in real glass mugs. AND CURLY FRIES.

 

2. Ponderosa

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The defining feature of Ponderosa was definitely the freeflow salad bar buffet that came with any order of a main course.

Kids would obviously just rush straight for the soft-serve ice cream station. Were there other branches besides the one at the old Plaza Singapura?

And here's a random photo of Nirvana front-man Kurt Cobain in front of Ponderosa in Singapore in 1992:

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3. Pizza Hut's Bigga Betta Buffet

Freeflow salad bar and freeflow pizza all for $10++. It's no wonder Pizza Hut had to discontinue this, Singaporeans would've eaten  Pizza Hut into oblivion.

In case you missed the point, FREE-FREAKING-FLOW PIZZA!

 

4. McCrispy

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Flash fried and steam marinated! Singapore's first widely-celebrated super hero duo Flash Fry and Steam Marinate were the saviours of many hungry stomachs.

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The crazily delicious Thai chilli sauce was the only survivor of this limited-time offering from McDonald's but it was also discontinued a few years later.

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 There has been a conspiracy theory floating around about why McDonald's discontinued the awesome McCrispy, and it concerns the very survival of a rival fast-food chain.

 

5. Open air hawker centre at Orchard

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The hawker centre that was set up at a carpark next to Specialist Shopping Centre was the place to go to in the 1960s to 1970s for food-lovers. It was closed down in 1978 due to overcrowding and hygiene issues.

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The Singapore Tourism Board actually revived this idea at the same location at the open air carpark next to Specialist Shopping Centre from 2004 to 2005.

It was a great hangout for youngsters after watching a late night movie at Cathay Cineleisure. Pity, the space has been replaced with Orchard Central.

 

6. Proper Kacang Puteh outside cinemas

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Whatever happened to good ol' cheap munchies for the movies? Why are we buying popcorn/hot dogs that cost more than the movie ticket?  The kacang puteh man had so many different offerings for us to choose from. Now, we only have sweet or salted. 

 

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