"The Layover", Singapore

Coincidentally, Anthony Bourdain had a recent episode of his new show the Layover taking place in Singapore. He makes some good points about the wondrous city planning, the fantastic eating culture there (there are only two things to do in Singapore--eat and shop), and that only Westerners drink the disgusting Singapore Sling.

The famous asam laksa,
Penang style. Oh yeah ...

But let's get something straight, Bourdain--the food in Singapore ain't all that, man! Stop leading people on that Singapore is an eater's paradise. It's good stuff, sure, but it's all a bastardized version of Malaysian food! Hong Kong dim sum there is the same as Hong Kong dim sum anywhere, but if a person wants real chicken rice, real asam laksa (none of that Singaporean curry laksa, please), real fish head curry, real nasi lemak, don't lead him or her on to go to Singapore. The real eating is in Malaysia.

The food in Singapore has been adapted and devolved to fit tourists' taste. (As my brother-in-law puts it, all of Singapore is a tourist trap, albeit a nice one.) And seriously, how can hawker centers that are that clean be any good? Singapore may be cleaner, safer, more modern, more organized, more democratic than its northern neighbor, but when it comes to food, Malaysia wins hands down.

Bourdain, you need to head back to Malaysia for another swing through the hawker centers. My mother-in-law can show you around.