CS1001: Basics of Singapore Dining Culture

Culture Studies 1001: Basics of Singapore Dining Culture (and additional rants)

To follow from my previous post on how one should be proactive in learning more about the culture and environment in which one is in, this is not only for one’s own good, but also out of respect for the alien country. How many times have you heard the oft-mistaken “fact” that: “Oh, Singapore? Is that part of China?” Or worse, I had to correct someone when he thought that in Singapore, we read from right to left (like old Chinese books). I was so shocked, and yes, mildly insulted. Come on, Singapore has really come such a long way, and even have our reknowned Mr. Lee Kuan Yew to boot, and all I get are visions of a 1600-type era of a Singapore? Imagine this scenario reversed. That you are now in some foreign land to aim to strike a business deal but you know nuts about the culture, history and environment in which you’re in. Wouldn’t you be severely embarrassed and not to mention, to have subtly insulted your potential partner or client if you had mistaken the 200-year-old and much revered bird-like statue (perhaps for religon or so) for the entrance to the National Bird Park? Or if you had just said of the wife: “She’s pretty, good for you.” and slapped lightly the back of your counterpart playfully in an utterly benign manner in an attempt to cultivate good will and camaraderie, only to have your plan backfire and perhaps be sued for sexual harrassment? Well, such stuff do happen. What are a few things to note when doing business in Singapore (this information might be particularly useful for foreigners)? If you’re taking your client out for a meal, make sure that you go somewhere halal if he/she is Muslim; or even better, go somewhere halal no matter what, if you want to play safe. These days, it is never tied to one’s skin colour or race, one’s religon. If you’re dining in a Chinese restaurant and the tea in the pot runs out, just overturn the cover of the pot and wait for an astute waiter or waitress (we’re assuming that all of them are sharp and always on the alert) to come by to refill the tea. Yup, there’s no need for you to call for someone to refill your tea, though I must admit, habits die hard, and sometimes you’re just paranoid about waiting too long for the tea because of waiters/waitresses who seem to be oblivious to everything except for the ticking of the clock.

But anyhow, sometimes you need not have to spend a bomb entertaining your guests in classy restaurants. As we all might say, the best food in Singapore are those found in our everyday hawker centres. Though it might seem lowly and cheapskate to bring someone there for a business meal (be it informal), but if both parties are easy-going and value good cheap food, why not? The informal setting could just aid you in establishing the camaraderie you need to make the deal!

You’re an entrepreneur, think of new ways to do things. (In this example, how to eat cheap and yet turn this seeming minus-point into an advantage.)