Scissor-cut curry rice
When the line is this long, join it.
This being away from home thing is wonderful, no cleaning, no boring commute, but sadly this also means no cooking and no familiarity. Wandering lost in a strange city not knowing whether that run down food shack or street stall offers gastronomic delights or food poisoning, is a terror known to those who travel for food and are as unprepared as me (actually, I’m in Penang right now and at lunch in a coffee shop – delicious Loh Bak – a couple sat down next to me while their guide ordered their lunch, I’ve never seen this before!). So we read the local blogs, pore over food guides and follow our noses, hoping for the best, and sometimes we just stumble blindly into something delicious.
All that scissoring is hard work!
After my delayed arrival in Singapore (thank you Qantas, really – read about it here) I was too short on time for major culinary exploration. But I did manage to find a decent Chicken Rice, so simple and clean with no excess baggage, everything was there for a reason, and I followed the snaking line to this Jalan Besar institution – Beach Road Scissor Cut Curry Rice.
You can hear the tattoo of the traditional scissors cutting ingredients almost before you see the humble corner shop. This place is popular but don’t worry the queue moves fast. You line up, select the food you want and the main man snips it up over a bed of rice, his mate tops it off with a big ladle of thick gluggy curry sauce and some dark soy. Messy, tasty, homely comfort food. I chose fried egg, char siew and green beans, but there was also fish cake, roast pork, crumbed pork fillet, chicken curry and fried fish, and more. The ingredients are well cooked, really tasty pork with the right amount of chew, and an egg from an enormous plate piled high fried crisp on the edges with a still runny yolk. The sauce is rich with spices but mellow on the heat, not mind-blowingly exciting or pretty but comforting, which is necessary when you’re alone in a strange place.
Beach Road Scissor Cut Curry Rice
229 Jalan Besar,
Singapore.
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5 Comments
Curry rice is pretty ubiquitous in Singapore but I hardly eat it often enough, and usually head to one of the many stalls at the Maxwell food center. Gotta check this out when I’m next back – thanks for spotting it!
.-= Danielle´s last blog ..Food Styling & Photography Weekend (Part 2) =-.
Oy, my mouth is watering due to your description.
So jealous that you’re eating in Penang!
.-= Nate´s last blog ..Gourmet Chestnut and Sausage Stuffing Recipe =-.
Mmmm, those bright beans are such a contrast from the rest of the dish. Looks delicious!
.-= Christie @ Fig&Cherry´s last blog ..Rockefeller Center Cafe, NYC =-.
Haha – I love your philosophy of joining long lines! It can’t go wrong can it? Especially with so much excellent food around you, the one with the longest line must be something else..
So jealous of your holiday/life change!
.-= Forager´s last blog ..Far out brussel sprouts! =-.
Danielle: Oh I never made it to the Maxwell food centre, this one was pretty delicious.
Nate: Oh, thank you! Yes, Penang is food heaven.
Christie @ Fig&Cherry: I think it looks like a big gloopy mess, luckily it tasted wonderful
Forager: Yes, if the line is long then either the food is very good or very cheap and being an unemployed glutton I’m happy with either outcome.