MARCH 2009

My obsession with crabs escalated to a high point during my recent trip to Singapore. Chilli crabs combine the sweetness of the Sri Lankan crab and the spiciness of the sauce - which is best moped up with deep-fried buns - that put my appetite into high gear. I can now finish off a 1.2kg crab without batting an eyelid.

Long Beach and Jumbo are considered two of the best places for them, and the Jumbo at Dempsey has the tranquility usually absent from a seafood joint. A new discovery is House of Seafood near Serangoon Garden. The off-the-beaten-track location might be a little inconvenient but the crabs are so fresh that they are worth the ride. The chilli crabs were good, but it was the black pepper crabs that got my attention. The sauce was not the usual grainy paste, but a thick, gooey syrup that resembled Marmite. In fact, there was even a hint of Marmite in the taste. Simply irresistible.

SP