Where has all the good food gone???
Was coming back from work, and heard this snippet in a radio commercial, (The commercial is about a radio talk show)
A: Last time the hawkers also never wash their hand when handling food.
B: But the food taste better than now.
Hahaha! Yah, I also hear this type of conversation now and again from my parents. They comment that the food taste better last time, now the food is so bad, does not really add value at all.
Well I seriously do not think it is because the hawkers are dirty that is why the food taste nice. I shudder at the thought that it is ONLY because of that! Urgh!!!!!
Haha! After much thought I think I have a good idea why the food taste better last time then now. It is because of the quantity available and the price of the food.
In the old days, most of the foods are usually 5 cents to 30 cents!!! Wah so cheap leh! And I heard the quantity is so much! One or two times more than the present quantity that we have now. And they have materials inside also, like fried guo tiao, will have Chinese sausage, egg (self provide, I am not kidding!), vegetable, fish cake and many more. Haha! So my parents really have a great time then. Food was cheap and quantity and variety is a lot.
Nowadays, most of us have to spend at least 3 dollars for lunch and the quantity is pathetic. Most of you reading this would agree, “pathetic” is just an understatement.
I am a bit lucky in the sense, where I am working, it is in an education institution so the food are cheaper than city centre. But, sigh, I still have to spend at least $3 for lunch just to satisfy my hunger for a few hours before I get hungry again. And most of the food sucks in taste. Yucks! If it weren’t for my body needs I would not pay that amount of money for lousy food! Sucks!
Anyway, we can never go back to the times of my parents. But what I really want to know why the hawkers are not able to replicate what the old days hawker can do? More restrictions, higher rents or expensive but low quality materials?! Why? Can anyone shed some light on it.
Cheers everyone! (By the way, anyone tell me where cheap and good food is can?)
A: Last time the hawkers also never wash their hand when handling food.
B: But the food taste better than now.
Hahaha! Yah, I also hear this type of conversation now and again from my parents. They comment that the food taste better last time, now the food is so bad, does not really add value at all.
Well I seriously do not think it is because the hawkers are dirty that is why the food taste nice. I shudder at the thought that it is ONLY because of that! Urgh!!!!!
Haha! After much thought I think I have a good idea why the food taste better last time then now. It is because of the quantity available and the price of the food.
In the old days, most of the foods are usually 5 cents to 30 cents!!! Wah so cheap leh! And I heard the quantity is so much! One or two times more than the present quantity that we have now. And they have materials inside also, like fried guo tiao, will have Chinese sausage, egg (self provide, I am not kidding!), vegetable, fish cake and many more. Haha! So my parents really have a great time then. Food was cheap and quantity and variety is a lot.
Nowadays, most of us have to spend at least 3 dollars for lunch and the quantity is pathetic. Most of you reading this would agree, “pathetic” is just an understatement.
I am a bit lucky in the sense, where I am working, it is in an education institution so the food are cheaper than city centre. But, sigh, I still have to spend at least $3 for lunch just to satisfy my hunger for a few hours before I get hungry again. And most of the food sucks in taste. Yucks! If it weren’t for my body needs I would not pay that amount of money for lousy food! Sucks!
Anyway, we can never go back to the times of my parents. But what I really want to know why the hawkers are not able to replicate what the old days hawker can do? More restrictions, higher rents or expensive but low quality materials?! Why? Can anyone shed some light on it.
Cheers everyone! (By the way, anyone tell me where cheap and good food is can?)
posted by Strategist at 9:33 PM
3 Comments:
Me again, Anonymous in Oz. One of the first things that I observed here in Oz is that food here is much more expensive than in Singapore. Up to 3 times!!! How I miss the food back in Singapore. Somehow rather, some of the Singapore delicacies aren't appropriate for the Singapore weather - laksa, roti prata, curry chicken in a hot and humid weather! Phew. They are more suitable here in the temperate regions.
Can I get this straight? Do you mean both the quantity and quality have dropped? Quantity definitely, but come to think of it, it's actually healthier to eat a bit less. Quality, possibly but still much better than what they sell here in Oz.
Hi Anonymous,
yah I heard that the Oz food are quite expensive but that was relative to Singapore. Was wondering compare to the locals, is it more expensive?
I kind of agree that it is healthier to eat a bit less, especially when the quality of food sucks and worse is those who does not have the skill, put all sorts of unhealthy stuff like MSG and salt to spice up their food! Bleh! Hahaha!
By the way, does the local people over there take spicy food or is there a significant Asia community there? Maybe can open a restaurant there selling those spicy foods you are talking about. Haha! But I guess bringing the ingredients in would be difficult considering the stringent measures Austrailia take on agricultural and food products. Haha!
In my opinion, the increase in food price in Singapore is comparable to the increase in salary. But with the increasing salary gap, the poorer Singaporeans are those who feel the pinch. Sad thing is, all people have to eat.
Now that you mentioned MSG. I think the Oz food doesn't taste as good is partly due to the less prevalence of MSG here, no doubt not many true master chefs are here.
Typically the spicy tolerance level here is lower than those of SE Asian countries. Depending on which city in Oz, the Asian population varies with Melbourne having the most Asians (and other non Caucasians). But people in general are willing to try cuisines from other cultural groups. From my experience, it's true that it's difficult to find the ideal ingredients for cooking authentic SE Asian dishes here. Thus don't expect too much from the Asian restaurants here.
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