The culinary elements of the United States, Korea, and Singapore collide into one potentially explosive (hur hur) dish: nasi lemak with kimchi and US dry-aged beef.
It makes even more sense that the Trump-Kim Chi Nasi Lemak is being sold by Harmony Nasi Lemak. Peace, love, and harmony y鈥檃ll.
Going for $21 (!) at the Harmony Nasi Lemak outlet at Suntec City, the dish reportedly took a month to conceptualize.聽Aromatic聽rice cooked in coconut milk is topped with kimchi in place of acar (a localized version of pickled vegetables), sliced cucumber, sambal, nuts, fried anchovies and slices of grilled American beef. We sincerely hope that the steak slices aren鈥檛 prepared like how the current US president likes it: . Blech.
$21 Trump-Kim Chi Nasi Lemak: dry-aged beef, kimchi and nasi lemak sold at 鈥楬armony Nasi Lemak鈥
鈥 Xavier Lur (@xavierlur)
Hell, it even comes with its own hashtag #MakeHarmonyGreatAgain聽鈥 styled after Trump鈥檚 infamous 鈥淢ake America Great Again鈥 slogan.
鈥淚t鈥檚 a very historic聽event, and we wanted to create a dish which shows the harmony between both,鈥 said Harmony Nasi Lemak spokesperson Zach Wen to . 鈥淚 hope people don鈥檛 see it as a gimmick, but rather focus on the idea of behind it.鈥
But鈥 it is a gimmick. Why else would so many other local bars and restaurants hop on the bandwagon with their own F&B promotions related to the Trump-Kim summit?
Gimmick or not, the Trump-Kim Chi Nasi Lemak has so far brought a 10 percent increase in business for the nasi lemak joint since the summit special was launched on Monday, or so Wen claimed to CNA.
鈥淭he response has been quite positive, although the pricing is considered quite expensive for a nasi lemak,鈥 he stated. Damn right he is 鈥 one of Singapore鈥檚 best nasi lemak that we鈥檝e personally聽blind-tasted goes for just $12.80 at The Coconut Club.聽As another comparison, Harmony Nasi Lemak鈥檚 standard fare typically goes for less than $6.
Then again, the nasi lemak dish could provide neutral culinary ground for the summit 鈥 either leader can鈥檛 be seen eating the other party鈥檚 home fare. But one that blends both their cuisines with one of Singapore鈥檚 national dishes? Sure, why not.
