A Penny For Your Thoughts? I'll Give You My Two Cents Worth

A panel of food tasters, comprising a food critic, two food correspondents and an ex-NCC (National Cadet Corps) member came together to sample several dishes on the Singapore Association of Foodies' (Okay, not quite so) outfield menu. Their Verdict (including selected comments)?

Peranakan Style Chicken Dumpling [3/5]
GS: 'This tastes like glutinous rice so that's good. It's not too wet or dry...'
[Ed: I have tried the Dumpling Rice, and it does taste like one. However, keeping in mind outfield conditions, it is also relatively dry and somewhat oily.]

Mutton Beriani Rice [2/5]
KH: 'It's way too gooey. Is this mutton? I thought I pulled out a piece of chiecken skin.'
[Ed: As a guideline, the pastas usually taste better than their rice counterparts. My guess is that the secret lies within the seasoning. Chicken skin? :)]

Bubur Terigu with Corn [4/5]
GS: 'This tastes as good as the desserts you'll get in the food courts.'
[Ed: I had the opportunity to try out this dish even before entering the army. Is the soldier's morale booster (apart from the Cadbury and what nots) out in the jungle. Sweet but not too thick, it quenches one's thirst and fills one's stomach. Best served chilled. :P]

Pasta with Shredded Chicken [1/5]
PL: '... I can't tell it's pasta and there's not much taste to speak of.'
[Ed: I'm surprised at the strong disapproval at a Pasta dish. SFI, take note!]

Peanut with Lotus Root [3/5]
GS: '...It tastes like sugar water.'
[Ed: Sweet relief for the soldier outfield, though it is quite starchy and too thick to make it an effective thirst quencher.]

Japanese Curry Noodles with Chicken [4/5]
AY: '... This could be good enough for airline food...'
[Ed: Have not tried the dish before, but it seems that the food critics are tossing favourable comments about the curry (That it tastes LIKE curry).]

During my outfield days, I would selectively pack the rations that will help boost my morale (Meals that are tasty, that is). During BMT, it was the pasta dishes (Pasta with ham and cheese, Pasta bolognese and Satay Chicken Pasta, in that order. Satay Chicken Pasta tasted exceptionally good when heated.). Later on, it was down to the drink sachets, the desserts only, and a single packet of Khong Guan biscuits for sustenance.

(Source: The Straits Times, 19 June 2005)