Only Prego will do. We've been on the hunt for MsE's tomato sauce for at least a month.

I almost titled this post Prego! HaHa, thankfully I re-read it. Don't worry No Babies; No pregnancies here. We're just looking for pasta.

Singapore is having a tomato sauce shortage, and it's driving us crazy. I haven't been able to order any tomato sauce online for ages. Even in the store, there was only one brand at a time to choose from for the last few months, and I've been trying them all. Now though, we are all out. Our Helper even asked the Grocery Store Delivery Services guy bringing stock into the store, and he confirmed you won't find tomato sauce in Singapore now. We can still get tomato paste and sometimes canned tomatoes. I've seen tomato juice online.

The picture above is usually both sides full of tomato sauces. We usually have lots of choice, but only Prego Traditional Tomato Sauce will be eaten by MsE. I've tried at least 5 brands. I've tried them all on different types of pasta. I've even tried them as sauce on pizza. Each time, one bite, two with a fight and  then MsE puts her fingers in her mouth and just walks away from dinner.

I would try making my own, but I don't think MsE would eat it anyhow.  

For reference, in Singapore food that MsE will eat includes, and is probably limited to:

  • Pasta correctly shaped with correct sauce
  • Pancakes or French Toast with $20 syrup
  • Hotdogs (They're actually Chicken Franks)
  • White rice, if not cooked by me
  • Sausages (perhaps)
  • Burritos (only with the seasoning pack from Canada. I have one left.)
  • Nutella Sandwiches
  • Yogurt and Smoothies
  • Fruit (all the fruit, but especially green apples)
  • Peanuts and Cashews

Deviations from the list are one offs and not be repeated. She is the Queen of "Tomorrow is my Trying Day" - as in I could try that tomorrow, but I just can't today. Tomorrow never comes. I can't wander around trying out the different shops near us anymore.

Movement is being restricted even more in Singapore now. We now have to register to allow social tracking before we enter the malls where the grocery stores are and then we register again as we enter each store. You scan the QR code with your phone and enter the web form, and flash the registered page to the employee policing the door. You also have to wander past a million mall entrances till you find the open one. VivoCity even has a map directing you to the open one. It is the largest mall in Singapore.

The VivoCity queue to enter the mall to register for social tracing.

I guess this tomato sauce shortage makes sense. All this Tomato Sauce was coming in from North America and Italy.

In the beginning of COVID-19, all the rice was out from the panic buying. Now it's always in stock. Although I do keep an extra bag in the closest just in case of ordering delays. I doubt we would ever run out of rice here, because it's grown in Asia.

In the beginning Foreign Food from North America and Europe was all available. Shelves were always stocked. Now that supply chains are a bit interrupted, we are now starting to see the shortages on the foreign foods. I just wish I has stocked up on more tomato sauce. I had put some jars away, but not much.  They are long gone, very long gone.  

The HarbourFront queue to enter that mall for social tracing.

Is this only Singapore's 3rd week of Essential Services only? Oh man, at least 5 more weeks to go.

PS. If you have a recipe for tomato sauce that tastes exactly like Prego Traditional please send it to me.