Chili Crab has long been regarded as the most popular dish in Singapore. So iconic is the dish that it's synonymous to being the country's culinary emblem. As they say, you've never been to Singapore if your palate was not romanced by this fiery, lip-smacking dish. It's normally prepared by frying the crab to crispy shell perfection then generously coated and bathed in a thick, juicy and creamy tomato gravy. There are a lot of places to savour this dish. From big chain of restaurants to open-air dining set up at Hawker Centres and Kopitiams, you'll be pampered with many variations. From those that I've tried so far, these are my top five picks.

#2 Trengganu Street, #02-01
 Singapore 058456

1. No Signboard Seafood
Esplanade 8 Raffles Avenue
#01-14/16
The Esplanade, Singapore
039802
Tel: +65 6336 9959
Inspite of the absence of a food photo, No Signboard's Chili Crab version left a remarkable memory in my palate. It's a complete version to be had. It's the most creamy and thus, most tasty of all. The level of hotness is just right and the sauce guarantees to provide a lip-smacking, finger licking experience.

Also, a Chili Crab experience will never be complete without dunking a delish fried mantou in the sauce. It's actually a pair made in gastronomical heaven.

It's that time of the year again for the grandest food event in Singapore. Last year, we were witnesses to the pride and heritage of Chinese Cuisine. This year, the Food Festival theme highlights the robust flavors of curry and spices. Thus, expect your palate to be fired up by popular local favorites such as Chili Crab, Fish Head Curry, Otah, Laksa, Kebab and a whole lot more. I sampled some of them and I was immediately transported to high level of hot & spicy goodness.

The 2011 Food Festival promises to pepper your senses with magical spices, take your tastebuds on an exotic adventure and experience it by foot, wheels and in the air."

Truly spice rich food carts can be found at the Clarke Quay bridge and it's a true feast hopping from one stall to the next. Let your tongue wander..

I can hardly believe that it really took a long while for me to discover a decent Filipino restaurant in Singapore. It's quite ironic despite the fact that Filipino community in the Lion City is relatively big. As cliche as it may sounds, it still is better late than never. 7107 Flavors was recommended by a Filipino colleague back home who happens to be a friend of the owner. We were quite fortunate that the restaurant was having a buffet at the time of our visit. They normally have buffet offerings twice a month (on first and last sundays). It's a very simple buffet yet enticing enough to bring any Filipino closer to home. The food choices range from familiar dishes of seafood, meat, vegetables, salads, soups, noodles, desserts and native delicacies. Taste wise, it's a typical home-cooked Filipino cuisine.  

Peranakan Cuisine created a big buzz in my gastronomical memory since day one of our relocation to Singapore. I oftentimes hear good things about this Chinese-Malay culinary fusion. Apparently, it took me more than a year to finally dig-in to that very intriguing Nonya plate. Had it not been to a farewell dinner organized for one of our colleagues, I am still definitely missing a big part of Singapore food scene.

Visiting Ikea is more than just great home shopping experience. It's filling the apetite too. A trip to the swedish home store is not complete without dining at its popular restaurant and cafe. I, for one, had developed my own craving for its baked salmon dish that it's always the top of mind the moment I hit the usual long queue at the restarant. The food offerings are simply enticing and it's not difficult to find a favorite. For us, we usually go for these ones...

If there's one thing that I would like to see improved on my next visit, it would be the dessert choices. Some pastries are just too plain and short in taste delivery. Like for instance this raspberry cheesecake which tasted too sour. Also, the cream cheese didn't complement the base well. Hence, the overall taste balance is highly compromised. Other than that, Ikea's Restaurant remains to be one good gastronomic stop to replenish that much needed shopping energy.