By Canadian Press

Singapore Postcard: Tasting coconut, chicken rice and spice

Jun 11, 2018 | 6:15 AM

SINGAPORE — The tiny city-state of Singapore is hosting its largest media contingent ever for the summit between President Donald Trump and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un. They will be well fed, if nothing else.

A sprawling 2,100 square-meter (23,000-square-foot) facility built for an annual Formula One race has been refurbished to handle about 3,000 journalists expected to cover Tuesday’s summit.

It is a good distance from the summit venue, and intrepid journalists will likely move out of the media centre and try to get closer to the action. Hundreds of journalists gathered outside the hotels where Trump and Kim are staying and along the streets to capture their arrivals on Sunday.

The police, though, have stepped up checks and surveillance in designated “special event areas” around the Capella Singapore hotel, where the summit will be held, and the leaders’ temporary residences, Kim’s St. Regis Singapore and Trump’s Shangri-La Hotel. The media centre is part of Singapore’s $15 million bill for the summit, the bulk of which is going to security.

And then there’s the food.

public safety

Death of young mother in Turnor Lake highlights rural domestic violence barriers

54m ago

PROCEEDS TO COPP

Battlefords RCMP celebrate National Police Week with community barbecue

2h ago

GRAND OPENING

Red Pheasant Cree Nation expands opportunities with new Operations and Maintenance Shop

3h ago

Singapore, arguably the food capital of Asia, is treating journalists to a spread of more than 20 local and international favourites at meal times.

There are quintessential Singaporean dishes, such as toast with a coconut and egg jam, chicken rice, and thick vermicelli in a spicy broth that’s made with dried shrimp.

Chia Chi Wei, a journalist from Taiwan and first-time visitor to Singapore, tried the famous chicken rice during a break: “I heard so much about it. It was very delicious.”

The Common Good Company, a group of local eateries, is offering ice cream made with kimchi, a spicy Korean staple.

“I cannot remember an event that is as historic, as big, as global,” said its director Wong Peck Lin. “What event is there in our history that has as many journalists from around the world all trained on Singapore?”

Belgian journalist Tom Van de Weghe arrived in the media centre, luggage in hand, after a 30-hour journey.

“The food is amazing. Who is paying for all this?” he said.

Local businesses, it turns out, sponsored the lavish spread, according the city-state’s Ministry of Communications and Information.

Annabelle Liang, The Associated Press

by Canadian Press

Singapore Postcard: Tasting coconut, chicken rice and spice

What's Trending