IIf you ever get the chance to visit Singapore, you will likely come back changed. “Sharp” means something completely different; so “fresh crabs”, “roti” and “noodles” make each dish spicier than the other. The way you envision eating in a food hall will also change – in the United States, a food hall can mean anything from “mall food courts” to “expensive global vendors that sell $ 12 of beer and sell $ 15 ramen ”. But in Singapore? A food hall is a UNESCO recognized Hawker Center, one of dozen of open-air hangouts across the Southeast Asian city-state where locals and visitors dine side by side with Michelin-quality dishes (and even Michelin star dishes!) at absurdly low prices. It is not uncommon to pay more for a beer – alcohol is highly taxed – than for a meal.
The Singaporean food culture is a point of pride and incredibly multicultural. Every single cabinet-sized street vendor booth – of which there could be hundreds in a center – specializes in a limited menu and is sometimes known for a single dish, the recipe of which is passed down through generations. One stand run by an uncle or aunt might only serve stingrays, the next might offer Japanese home-style cooking such as katsu curry, the next main Singapore stand might serve chicken rice, and so on. The best part of the experience as a traveler is trusting the locals, who are actively looking for queues to join in in search of the best food.
Anthony Bourdain was famously obsessed with Singaporean food and dreamed of bringing a hawker center to the USA –go so far as to scout a room in Manhattan– before he died. It felt like that vision was being lost with the man himself. . until some incredible news came from Las Vegas: Famous Food Street Eats, a “retailer-inspired food hall concept” by Zouk group (a major nightlife and lifestyle brand in Singapore) will be part of the new Resorts World Las Vegas comes to the Vegas Strip on June 24th, 2021.
“Famous Foods will take diners to an authentic Asian street vendor market – an experience never reproduced in the US,” said Andrew Li, CEO of Zouk Group, in a statement. The group has well-known US chefs such as Marcus Samuelsson, James Trees and the team from the popular Houston BBQ Spot Blood bros 16 individual stands to be filled. The subject of “edutainment” is also in focus: videos and information boards at every stand provide information about suppliers, recipes and the cultural significance of the prepared dishes.
The 24,000-square-foot space will be a lot shinier than a traditional hawker mall – this is Vegas, after all – with lots of neon signs and a 10-foot Lucky Cat sculpture made from gold coins. Resorts World will take its place on the north end of the Strip near Circus Circus, but with a line-up like the one Famous Foods has already created below, we’ll happily wander in the desert sun for our chicken and rice fix to get.
Six dishes we can’t wait to try
Shandong dumplings and hand-drawn noodles from Au Chun, a Michelin Bib Gourmand shop that makes fresh dumplings every day in Hong Kong.
Hainanese chicken rice from Boon Tong Kee, a chain-turned Chinatown stand in Singapore serving the classic poached chicken and rice in broth.
Clay pot from Geylang Clay Pot Rice R, a Michelin Plate restaurant from 2016 that around 40 years later in Singapore cooks charred rice, chicken, fish, sausage, vegetables – whatever – in traditional clay pots.
Char Kuey Teow from Googgle Man’s Char Kuey Teow, a popular spot in Penang where Chef Ah Guan uses charcoal heat to give the noodle and shrimp dish a smoky feel wok hey or “dragon breath”.
Silver rims from Springleaf Silver Place, also known as roti canai, also known as south indian flatbread, which is usually served with curry dip sauce – great for breakfast (or at 2am).
All Blood Bros. BBQ meats, a Houston area restaurant that offers Texas barbecue with a Chinese and Vietnamese twist.
Conrad Las Vegas at Resorts World and Las Vegas Hilton at Resorts World are now available for booking.
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