Singapore Annual Chili Crab Festival 2006

Singapore Annual Chili Crab Festival (2006) - 66 Water Street
An annual event hosted by Tiger Beer (now in its third year of operation), the Chili Crab Festival is billed as "a festival like nothing else found in New York, or even the US...(with) the vibrancy and excitement of a massive Singaporean Street Fair." Promised munchies for the event include chili crabs, and "other authentic Asian delectibles."

Unfortunately, the reality was only a block long, and not all that impressive. The titular Chili Crabs were in evidence, yielding little meat for alot of hard (and messy) work. A few booths away, generic Laksa was available - ladeled into small styrofoam dishes. Not much other authentic food was available - at least for anyone already familiar with Singaporean cuisine. At the beginning of the fair, a sign was posted advertising "Roti Prata" (causing a spontaneous "Happy Gaijin Girl Dance")- but within the hour it had been turned against the wall. The promised Prata never emerged. Yet, the line for hamburgers and hot dogs stretched down the block. (A sad commentary on American tastes, as well as the available selection.) The only culinary discovery of the afternoon was made by my husband (the beer gourmand/brewer) - the realization that Tiger Beer is a decent light lager, perfect for quenching a summer day's heat. Which was fortunate, since (other than a few canned drinks) no exotic refreshements were available - no black jelly drinks...no ABC...just nothing special at all.

Ultimately, the only highlight of the day was the raffle, offering a chance to win a trip for two to Singapore. But the festival was only worth about an hour of anyone's time. We ended up buying $10 worth of tickets, and left - feeling that the money could have been spent so much better at Sanur. At least they would've had the Prata. But then...we haven't heard the result of the raffle yet. If we win, maybe I'll feel a little differently...!

Singapore Day

Singapore Day (Central Park - Wollman Rink) (Singaporean)
Well, I tried to go. I'd received the emails, inviting me to the first-ever Singapore Day in the Big Apple - a fun filled day of music, culture and --most importantly--authentic Singaporean street food. The dishes described looked quite tempting - ranging from fried carrot cake to kaya roti...featuring many items not easily available in restaurants downtown. Looking forward to the trip, I packed a Metrocard and headed towards Wollman Rink in Central Park West. Though a New Yorker, I've seen almost nothing of Central Park - it's too big, and too out of the way to either home or office. But the walk was beautiful, offering a glimpse of a green oasis that should really be visited more often...if only as an occasional break from everyday city life.

The path to Wollman Rink twisted and turned, requiring many stops along the way to ask for directions. Finally, the banners for Singapore Day appeared above the horizon. I'd reached the goal , salivating in anticipation. (Okay, that's melodramatic license. So sue me.)

...and then I saw the lines. Though invitation only, the turnout was massive, with a crowd reaching back as far as the eye could see. A veteran New Yorker--and used to waiting patiently--I staked my spot in line, pulling out my trusty reading material to wile away the time. But to no avail. They were letting in people one at a time, with the line advancing at a crawl. In ten minutes, I'd moved less than a foot, with over two blocks to go. Even worse, the event was blocked by walls - allowing no sneek peek at the vendors inside.... The propect of standing in line for an hour loomed, with no visual proof that would be worth the wait. I gave it another five minutes, gaining about one inch of distance. Then I surrendered, and broke from the pack. Dusting myself off, I headed back towards the subway, away from both Singapore Day and Central Park. It might have been great...but I'll never know.

Seeking a different culinary adventure, I headed downtown instead. The result - an impressive first taste from the famed NYC Dosa Cart. Success - though with a different nationality and flavor. So it's true what they say. Every cloud *does* have a silver lining. Or at least a tasty one....

Feast of San Gennaro

Feast of San Gennaro (Down Mulberry Street, between Houston and Canal)
Traditionally held in Little Italy (with equivalent celebrations near Arthur Avenue), the Feast of San Gennaro is NYC's biggest (and oldest street festival.) Held every year in mid-September, the festival features a huge number of carnie and food booths - places to win a stuffed toy for your sweetie - or stuff your face full of zeppole (whichever holds the highest priority on your list.) Okay, the food is no great shakes - just your standard sausage and pepper, zeppole, cannoli and raw clam options, as well as the obligatory Arepa booths (hey, what's up with that? That ain't Italian...!) So don't go there expecting any chowhound epiphanies. But it's fun to walk through once or twice, and larger than you'd expect, given the shrinkage of Little Italy in the face of Chinatown year by year. So have fun, pretend to be a tourist...and then get out while you still can - 'cause the crowds get really annoying, really quick...!