Eating Chicken Feet

Yes… the title is true!  Today, for lunch, I tried chicken feet soup.  Actually, I didn’t know what it was when I first saw it.  My mom has a friend at church who has a friend in Singapore (it’s amazing how we’ve met people here…).  Her name is Carol.  Carol and I meet up every few weeks and she teaches me a little bit about Singapore culture, where to shop, and how to make it in this tropical concrete jungle.  Today, we went for an authentic Singapore lunch!  Again, we both ate a full meal for under S$10 which is fabulous!!!

Carol ordered us some chicken fried rice and fish ball noodles.  Fish balls are basically pieces of fish mixed with dough and then baked into a ball.  The main dishes were both delicious and must haves when you come to this part of the world.  They’re not weird or scary…just yummy:)  Today, the scary part came with the side dishes.  Both of the dishes come with soup.  Including the chicken feet soup.  At first, I saw the dark broth and saw something floating around in it.  I took a spoonful and tried some of the broth.  Pretty good.  Carol then told me that there are peanuts at the bottom.  To be honest, they taste just like boiled peanuts you’d find in Charleston, SC.  Then, I noticed something that looked like a root floating around in the soup.  “What’s that?” I asked Carol.  She then informed me that it was a chicken foot!!!  I asked if it was just for flavor or if it was actually supposed to be eaten.  She told me that it could be eaten, but she wouldn’t eat it today for fear of grossing me out.

Then, to her surprise–and mine–I offered to taste it.  Boy, have gotten brave since moving here.  She had to explain to me how to eat it.  How would I know?  In Kentucky, we fry the chickens’ wings and legs…not their feet and toes!!!  Before I knew it, there was a cooked chicken foot sitting on my plate ready to be consumed.  Carol instructed me:  “It’s very soft…just eat it toe by toe, chew on the cartlidge (it’s good for you!) then spit the bones out.”  Spit?  Me?  Not very lady like.  But, when in Rome, do as the Romans do….or in Singapore…you get the picture.

So, I took my chopsticks and spoon and pulled a “toe” off of the rest of the foot.  Then I put it in my mouth.  It was much softer than I had expected it to be, and almost chewy.  And, to further perpetuate the cliche…it tasted like chicken.  And, what’s even weirder–it wasn’t that bad.  In fact, it was almost good.  Not that I’ll be making that a regular part of my diet anytime soon.  But, I can always say that I have eaten the foot of a chicken.

Also, along with the chicken feet stew boiled peanuts, I have discovered another parallel between Singapore culture and American southern culture–chrysanthemum juice.  Again, Carol introduced me to this delicous flavor–it tastes JUST LIKE southern sweet tea.  It doesn’t really compare to that of the Beacon in Spartanburg, but it is very freshing and very sweet.  So, WHEN everyone from the south comes to visit us here…no worries…we’ll find you a sweet tea substitute.  Nothing can replace it, but, it’s amazing how close it comes:)

Hopefully, I will be eating some normal, familiar foods this evening…more adventures to come!!!  Stay tuned!!!