Food Diplomacy

Singaporeans are proud of their food and for good reason - it's unique and good.

A company called "Prima Taste" has figured out how to package and market this pride, with a range of ready-to-cook food mixes that allow ordinary home chefs to pull together a surprisingly authentic Singaporean meal without really breaking a sweat. (I've definitely utilized a package or two to the delight of dinner guests.)

While perusing Dianping for West Lake area restaurants yesterday, we came upon an entry for a Singaporean restaurant. Upon closer inspection, it turned out to be a concept restaurant run by the makers of Prima Taste.

We shared an order of Hainanese Chicken Rice and Beef Rendang, two Singaporean staples, to test the place out. Both were quite good, but I wonder whether it was merely a case of two Prima Taste packets being opened back in the kitchen. I wasn't sure how I felt about that possibility at first, but by the end of the meal came to the conclusion that this was a great business idea/model. If you can neatly package up all the spices and flavors and include simple directions for an authentic and fresh result, then you don't need to put a lot of effort training local chefs - which is often a big roadblock for getting authetic cuisine in a foreign place.

Hainanese Chicken Rice (complete with the side of chicken broth and the trio of sauces - ginger, dark soy sauce, and very spicy chili sauce)

Beef Rendang and a glass of lemon barley water

On your way upstairs to the second dining area and restrooms, you can follow the murals for a brief introduction to Singaporean history and culture (including Sir Stamford above).

Learn more about Prima Taste as a company and concept at http://www.primataste.com.sg/aboutus/abtprimataste.asp