Singapore Expats

Groceries Specializing in Western Foods

Share your favourite eating haunts!
Post Reply
newSGfoodie
Newbie
Newbie
Posts: 7
Joined: Sun, 18 Sep 2022 7:31 pm

Re: Groceries Specializing in Western Foods

Post by newSGfoodie » Sun, 25 Sep 2022 12:01 pm

sundaymorningstaple wrote:
Sun, 18 Sep 2022 10:54 pm
Tried Amazon? Frozen from overseas won't get through without inspection. Best thing if it tinned already is have it shipped from a overseas supplier There is lot's of stuff you cannot get here. You learn to alter your taste buds or find alternatives or do without. You came to a foreign country. If you wanted home you should have stayed there. Eat local. Give your tastebuds a REAL treat. You are not in a northern country, you are on the equator and for the number of requests for something like that, I doubt seriously they would bother to set up a supply chain for one or two cases a year or month even..
I agree with some of the other responses here--this IS pretty harsh.
"You came to a foreign country. If you wanted home you should have stayed there."
This is pretty funny considering EVERYTHING in the Little Red Dot groceries comes from another country. 90% of the goods in the grocery stores here come from somewhere else. Read your labels. Even the products created here are made from raw ingredients imported from another part of the world. (Please show me the wheat fields of Singapore?)

"Eat local" in Singapore? Please.
That beef noodle dish you just bought from the hawker center? Beef imported from Brazil. Wheat noodles with wheat imported from Australia. And the vegetables came from the United States. (FunFact: The United States is the 2nd largest source of Singapore's vegetables behind only Malaysia.) And all served in single-use plastic.

You don't know anything about me, my tastes, or purchasing habits. I'm on a forum for expats looking for ONE specialty item. One. Why are YOU on this forum, Moderator? Looks a lot like trolling to me.

It's this kind of anonymous knee-jerk response from a stranger that made me hesitant to go on a forum like this in the first place.
If you don't have anything nice to say...

User avatar
sundaymorningstaple
Moderator
Moderator
Posts: 40376
Joined: Thu, 11 Nov 2004 1:26 pm
Answers: 21
Location: Retired on the Little Red Dot

Re: Groceries Specializing in Western Foods

Post by sundaymorningstaple » Sun, 25 Sep 2022 4:51 pm

Talk about a knee-jerk response. Eat local refers, obviously, to that which it readily available here. e.g. required in large enough quantities to make shipping a viable option. #-o What you were asking for was a small specific item which is not readily available in the region. Therefore when eating local you are eating whatever is easily available here. Not necessarily grown or manufactured or canned locally. There is no rice grown here either.
SOME PEOPLE TRY TO TURN BACK THEIR ODOMETERS. NOT ME. I WANT PEOPLE TO KNOW WHY I LOOK THIS WAY. I'VE TRAVELED A LONG WAY, AND SOME OF THE ROADS WEREN'T PAVED. ~ Will Rogers

User avatar
malcontent
Manager
Manager
Posts: 2612
Joined: Sat, 22 Dec 2007 11:52 am
Answers: 8
Location: Pulau Ujong

Re: Groceries Specializing in Western Foods

Post by malcontent » Sun, 25 Sep 2022 6:27 pm

newSGfoodie wrote:
Sun, 25 Sep 2022 12:01 pm
sundaymorningstaple wrote:
Sun, 18 Sep 2022 10:54 pm
Tried Amazon? Frozen from overseas won't get through without inspection. Best thing if it tinned already is have it shipped from a overseas supplier There is lot's of stuff you cannot get here. You learn to alter your taste buds or find alternatives or do without. You came to a foreign country. If you wanted home you should have stayed there. Eat local. Give your tastebuds a REAL treat. You are not in a northern country, you are on the equator and for the number of requests for something like that, I doubt seriously they would bother to set up a supply chain for one or two cases a year or month even..
I agree with some of the other responses here--this IS pretty harsh.
"You came to a foreign country. If you wanted home you should have stayed there."
This is pretty funny considering EVERYTHING in the Little Red Dot groceries comes from another country. 90% of the goods in the grocery stores here come from somewhere else. Read your labels. Even the products created here are made from raw ingredients imported from another part of the world. (Please show me the wheat fields of Singapore?)

"Eat local" in Singapore? Please.
That beef noodle dish you just bought from the hawker center? Beef imported from Brazil. Wheat noodles with wheat imported from Australia. And the vegetables came from the United States. (FunFact: The United States is the 2nd largest source of Singapore's vegetables behind only Malaysia.) And all served in single-use plastic.

You don't know anything about me, my tastes, or purchasing habits. I'm on a forum for expats looking for ONE specialty item. One. Why are YOU on this forum, Moderator? Looks a lot like trolling to me.

It's this kind of anonymous knee-jerk response from a stranger that made me hesitant to go on a forum like this in the first place.
If you don't have anything nice to say...
Just like adapting to local tastes, adapting to a forum requires a flexible mindset. Any newcomer to a forum should expect some level of roughing up, because like you said — nobody knows who you are or what you are about.

You have every right to say you were quick to be judged, but what else is new — that has happened to me on every single forum I have ever joined! I simply set the record straight without getting offended, and that went a long way toward getting accepted.

In the end, it was all worth it because I have gotten a lot out of every forum I joined. It’s not only about enriching your own knowledge — it’s also an opportunity to improve your communication skills and put your EQ to the test. I would dare say it has even had a positive effect on my professional life.
Every great and deep difficulty bears in itself its own solution. It forces us to change our thinking in order to find it - Niels Bohr

Lisafuller
Governor
Governor
Posts: 6211
Joined: Sat, 07 Nov 2020 11:45 pm
Answers: 3

Re: Groceries Specializing in Western Foods

Post by Lisafuller » Mon, 26 Sep 2022 2:30 am

newSGfoodie wrote:
Sun, 25 Sep 2022 11:55 am
nelyanne wrote:
Tue, 20 Sep 2022 12:02 pm
Maybe try an online shop called Fisk. Seems they have a lot of salmon. And their website says "never EVER frozen".
You're right--Fisk does have a lot of salmon options. No sockeye though. I have found in my search that many locally-owned stores like Fishwives and Jasons (subsidiary of Cold Storage) typically carry fresh or frozen pink salmon.
For more accessible option, you might want to try CS fresh. It’s the more upscale cold storage, they have a branch in great world and it’s humongous.

Lisafuller
Governor
Governor
Posts: 6211
Joined: Sat, 07 Nov 2020 11:45 pm
Answers: 3

Re: Groceries Specializing in Western Foods

Post by Lisafuller » Mon, 26 Sep 2022 2:31 am

newSGfoodie wrote:
Sun, 25 Sep 2022 11:56 am
Lisafuller wrote:
Tue, 20 Sep 2022 2:33 am
sundaymorningstaple wrote:
Sun, 18 Sep 2022 10:54 pm
Tried Amazon? Frozen from overseas won't get through without inspection. Best thing if it tinned already is have it shipped from a overseas supplier There is lot's of stuff you cannot get here. You learn to alter your taste buds or find alternatives or do without. You came to a foreign country. If you wanted home you should have stayed there. Eat local. Give your tastebuds a REAL treat. You are not in a northern country, you are on the equator and for the number of requests for something like that, I doubt seriously they would bother to set up a supply chain for one or two cases a year or month even..
A little harsh but you make a Good point, bringing in temperature sensitive food necessitates more effort than it is worth if it’s only to cater to a handful of people. Even something like Stacy’s pita chips, which are all the rage back in the US I can’t find locally. I have to order them online, for 15 bucks a pop no less! That gives you an idea of how much I love them.
I could have sworn I've seen Stacy's Chips somewhere in Singapore. I checked Mustafa's Centre but they don't have it in their grocery section. I guess you can get *almost* anything at Mustafa's.
No way! I’ve been looking for them for years, used to be able to get by filling a whole (check in) suitcase with them when I would go back to the states, but since Covid that hasn’t been possible, and I have been miserable. If you see them, please let me know!

Lisafuller
Governor
Governor
Posts: 6211
Joined: Sat, 07 Nov 2020 11:45 pm
Answers: 3

Re: Groceries Specializing in Western Foods

Post by Lisafuller » Mon, 26 Sep 2022 2:33 am

newSGfoodie wrote:
Sun, 25 Sep 2022 11:57 am
Lisafuller wrote:
Tue, 20 Sep 2022 2:28 am
newSGfoodie wrote:
Sun, 18 Sep 2022 8:02 pm
Hi all!
I’ve been trying to find sockeye salmon in Singapore and after hours of reading articles about gourmet and western groceries and MANY phone calls to local shops the closest I’ve found so far is frozen.

It’s a fairly common product in Canada and the United States. Frequently found in tins which is convenient because it doesn’t need refrigeration and is packed fresh before shipping.

(They are found in the cold waters of the northern US, Canada, and Siberia so a preservation method like freezing or canning is the best way to send them long distances. It is the REDDEST salmon on the planet! The best for making salmon mousse.)

Does anyone have any suggestions of where I could find this? I’m really surprised that it looks like it’s not available here! (I’d really prefer to find it in tins as the recipes I’d like to use it in call for that.)

Thank you!
There’s a little German grocery store in the Tan Kah Kee area, next to Coronation Plaza. They’ve got a number of exotic tinned foods, but I’m not sure if they’d have the exact fish you’re looking for. Unfortunately, like Mal mentioned western grocery stores tend to carry fewer Western products as time passes. When I’ve had a hankering for something that could only be found back home, I’ve had to resort to ordering it online. Try Amazon or Shopee.
Thanks for this--I tried German Market Place (wow--a whole grocery store of German products!) They do have fish in tins (mackeral, tuna, etc.) but not sockeye salmon.
Damn. If you have a sweet tooth, though, it’s the place to be.

Lisafuller
Governor
Governor
Posts: 6211
Joined: Sat, 07 Nov 2020 11:45 pm
Answers: 3

Re: Groceries Specializing in Western Foods

Post by Lisafuller » Mon, 26 Sep 2022 2:35 am

newSGfoodie wrote:
Sun, 25 Sep 2022 11:58 am
jalanjalan wrote:
Mon, 19 Sep 2022 1:51 am
Song Fish sometimes has red salmon (frozen), and I've seen it on Redmart (tinned). There's a place called the Alaska Guys that sells sockeye salmon, but I never tried them.
Salmon doesn't really match with the kinds of fish dishes that are more common - eg. steamed with soy/ginger, in soup/porridge, curry, assam, sambal etc. Maybe that's why it's less common. I've pretty much abandoned it for saba and batang.
Thanks for these suggestions. I've actually seen salmon both FRESH and in tins in just about every (larger) FairPrice and Cold Storage but it's always "pink" salmon which is perfectly delicious but "red" sockeye salmon works best for salmon mousse. Checked Alaska Guys and they always carry frozen sockeye salmon--with FRESH available on Mondays so this is a good option.
Just out of curiosity, what is this salmon mousse dish? Is it served cold with crackers? Sounds interesting.

Lisafuller
Governor
Governor
Posts: 6211
Joined: Sat, 07 Nov 2020 11:45 pm
Answers: 3

Re: Groceries Specializing in Western Foods

Post by Lisafuller » Mon, 26 Sep 2022 2:39 am

newSGfoodie wrote:
Sun, 25 Sep 2022 12:01 pm
sundaymorningstaple wrote:
Sun, 18 Sep 2022 10:54 pm
Tried Amazon? Frozen from overseas won't get through without inspection. Best thing if it tinned already is have it shipped from a overseas supplier There is lot's of stuff you cannot get here. You learn to alter your taste buds or find alternatives or do without. You came to a foreign country. If you wanted home you should have stayed there. Eat local. Give your tastebuds a REAL treat. You are not in a northern country, you are on the equator and for the number of requests for something like that, I doubt seriously they would bother to set up a supply chain for one or two cases a year or month even..
I agree with some of the other responses here--this IS pretty harsh.
"You came to a foreign country. If you wanted home you should have stayed there."
This is pretty funny considering EVERYTHING in the Little Red Dot groceries comes from another country. 90% of the goods in the grocery stores here come from somewhere else. Read your labels. Even the products created here are made from raw ingredients imported from another part of the world. (Please show me the wheat fields of Singapore?)

"Eat local" in Singapore? Please.
That beef noodle dish you just bought from the hawker center? Beef imported from Brazil. Wheat noodles with wheat imported from Australia. And the vegetables came from the United States. (FunFact: The United States is the 2nd largest source of Singapore's vegetables behind only Malaysia.) And all served in single-use plastic.

You don't know anything about me, my tastes, or purchasing habits. I'm on a forum for expats looking for ONE specialty item. One. Why are YOU on this forum, Moderator? Looks a lot like trolling to me.

It's this kind of anonymous knee-jerk response from a stranger that made me hesitant to go on a forum like this in the first place.
If you don't have anything nice to say...
One thing you need to know about most of the members on this forum, is that we are no BS (SMS in particular LOL). But they are like this to weed out insincere posts and posters, and the result is quite a lively, homely forum where you really get to know other members over time. I do agree that SMS came off a little harsh, but if you stay, you’ll realize that this “hazing (can’t think of a better descriptor)” is just a rite of passage, and also that that’s just the way he writes. Don’t think he meant any offense.

Lisafuller
Governor
Governor
Posts: 6211
Joined: Sat, 07 Nov 2020 11:45 pm
Answers: 3

Re: Groceries Specializing in Western Foods

Post by Lisafuller » Mon, 26 Sep 2022 2:40 am

sundaymorningstaple wrote:
Sun, 25 Sep 2022 4:51 pm
Talk about a knee-jerk response. Eat local refers, obviously, to that which it readily available here. e.g. required in large enough quantities to make shipping a viable option. #-o What you were asking for was a small specific item which is not readily available in the region. Therefore when eating local you are eating whatever is easily available here. Not necessarily grown or manufactured or canned locally. There is no rice grown here either.
LOL! If we had to eat “local”, we’d be eating dirt and weeds, considering 90% of what we eat is imported.

Lisafuller
Governor
Governor
Posts: 6211
Joined: Sat, 07 Nov 2020 11:45 pm
Answers: 3

Re: Groceries Specializing in Western Foods

Post by Lisafuller » Mon, 26 Sep 2022 2:41 am

malcontent wrote:
Sun, 25 Sep 2022 6:27 pm
newSGfoodie wrote:
Sun, 25 Sep 2022 12:01 pm
sundaymorningstaple wrote:
Sun, 18 Sep 2022 10:54 pm
Tried Amazon? Frozen from overseas won't get through without inspection. Best thing if it tinned already is have it shipped from a overseas supplier There is lot's of stuff you cannot get here. You learn to alter your taste buds or find alternatives or do without. You came to a foreign country. If you wanted home you should have stayed there. Eat local. Give your tastebuds a REAL treat. You are not in a northern country, you are on the equator and for the number of requests for something like that, I doubt seriously they would bother to set up a supply chain for one or two cases a year or month even..
I agree with some of the other responses here--this IS pretty harsh.
"You came to a foreign country. If you wanted home you should have stayed there."
This is pretty funny considering EVERYTHING in the Little Red Dot groceries comes from another country. 90% of the goods in the grocery stores here come from somewhere else. Read your labels. Even the products created here are made from raw ingredients imported from another part of the world. (Please show me the wheat fields of Singapore?)

"Eat local" in Singapore? Please.
That beef noodle dish you just bought from the hawker center? Beef imported from Brazil. Wheat noodles with wheat imported from Australia. And the vegetables came from the United States. (FunFact: The United States is the 2nd largest source of Singapore's vegetables behind only Malaysia.) And all served in single-use plastic.

You don't know anything about me, my tastes, or purchasing habits. I'm on a forum for expats looking for ONE specialty item. One. Why are YOU on this forum, Moderator? Looks a lot like trolling to me.

It's this kind of anonymous knee-jerk response from a stranger that made me hesitant to go on a forum like this in the first place.
If you don't have anything nice to say...
Just like adapting to local tastes, adapting to a forum requires a flexible mindset. Any newcomer to a forum should expect some level of roughing up, because like you said — nobody knows who you are or what you are about.

You have every right to say you were quick to be judged, but what else is new — that has happened to me on every single forum I have ever joined! I simply set the record straight without getting offended, and that went a long way toward getting accepted.

In the end, it was all worth it because I have gotten a lot out of every forum I joined. It’s not only about enriching your own knowledge — it’s also an opportunity to improve your communication skills and put your EQ to the test. I would dare say it has even had a positive effect on my professional life.
Yup! When I joined some three years ago, I was roughed up pretty hard, but I’m glad I stayed. We’re all adults here, so there’s nothing a little clarification and understanding can’t fix.

jalanjalan
Chatter
Chatter
Posts: 377
Joined: Sat, 02 Jul 2022 12:46 pm
Answers: 2

Re: Groceries Specializing in Western Foods

Post by jalanjalan » Mon, 26 Sep 2022 1:17 pm

We do have local veggies! I buy Kok Fah farm produce a lot, and if you've never been to Bollywood veggies, it's a must for the banana bread alone (and maybe get some storytelling about being a local farmer from Ivy).

Lisafuller
Governor
Governor
Posts: 6211
Joined: Sat, 07 Nov 2020 11:45 pm
Answers: 3

Re: Groceries Specializing in Western Foods

Post by Lisafuller » Mon, 26 Sep 2022 6:48 pm

jalanjalan wrote:
Mon, 26 Sep 2022 1:17 pm
We do have local veggies! I buy Kok Fah farm produce a lot, and if you've never been to Bollywood veggies, it's a must for the banana bread alone (and maybe get some storytelling about being a local farmer from Ivy).
I love Bollywood veggies! The whole area is actually open to quite a few farms and eateries. All very fresh, the only place I wouldn’t recommend is Gardenasia as it’s very overpriced (like $30-40 for a salad).

Post Reply
  • Similar Topics
    Replies
    Views
    Last post
  • Where to buy American groceries
    by Lisafuller » Tue, 20 Apr 2021 1:07 am » in General Discussions
    12 Replies
    4829 Views
    Last post by Lisafuller
    Sun, 11 Jul 2021 11:40 pm
  • Solid foods & recipes
    by Emilyc » Thu, 17 Oct 2019 3:26 pm » in Moms Group
    3 Replies
    7446 Views
    Last post by Emilyc
    Mon, 21 Oct 2019 1:58 pm

Return to “Wine & Dine”

Who is online

Users browsing this forum: No registered users and 11 guests