Businesses finding ways to cash in ahead of pop star's only stop in Asia
Businesses in Singapore are creating themed events to cash in on the hype ahead of Lady Gaga's concert, including themed parties, hotel promotions and specially-flavoured local pancakes. Some firms say this is part of a longer-term strategy to boost sales as the nation looks to cement its reputation as a regional events hub. Natalie Ong and Alexandra Anand report.
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CNA
37 minutes ago
- CNA
Quality assessment scheme has helped to reduce landed housing construction disputes
Legal disputes between home owners and landed property builders have fallen by around 10%, since a quality scheme was launched last year. The Micro Builders Association's BuildTrust quality assessment sets standards for areas such as floors, walls and electrical fittings. Contractors can get their projects independently assessed against the scheme and receive a report as proof of quality. The industry association said up to 40% of its members have got themselves into sticky situations with home owners over the past three years. Many are over defects identified by unregulated third-party checkers. Alexandra Anand reports.
Business Times
3 hours ago
- Business Times
The future of the Singaporean chef
[SINGAPORE] Nicolas Tam's journey as a Singaporean chef is an all-too-familiar tale, but with a storybook ending. Young, ambitious and full of creative energy, he wanted to open his own restaurant but could find no investor willing to put money on a local talent. Eventually, one took a gamble and helped him open his restaurant, Willow, in 2022. It paid off. By 2023, Willow had a Michelin star. Nicolas Tam of one-Michelin-starred Willow. PHOTO: WILLOW While he joins other Michelin star compatriots such as Han Li Guang, Malcolm Lee and Jason Tan, Tam is a rare success in a dining scene where Singapore-born chefs have barely made a dent despite the city's international status as a culinary destination. Unlike, say, Bangkok, Tokyo and Seoul – thriving gourmet hubs boasting legions of home-grown chefs lauded for their work with local ingredients and heritage – Singapore is largely dominated by foreign-born chefs, who have been credited with raising the bar and adding vibrancy to the local dining scene. Whether this puts local talent at a disadvantage is a topic for debate. Among other things, Singaporean chefs struggle with identity issues, and winning over diners or investors who are more enamoured of their 'imported' counterparts. As one pundit quips: 'When a Japanese man touches a slice of fish with his bare hands, it becomes gold. But when the hawker doesn't wear a mask, the diners complain to SFA (Singapore Food Agency).' At the same time, a beleaguered food and beverage (F&B) industry – marked by restaurant closures, chefs dropping out to work in other fields or move into private dining, and the high costs of running a restaurant – further reduces the talent pool, making it even harder for existing and new chefs to thrive. ' Local chefs sometimes have to work harder to prove their ideas are worth backing, especially if they're trying to do something that doesn't fit neatly into existing categories. ' — Wee Teng Wen, founder of The Lo & Behold Group However, rewards await those who persevere, as in the case of Tam, who prides himself on being 'one of the few true-blue Singaporean chefs who worked from the bottom to where I am, in my own home country and in spite of all challenges'. A NEWSLETTER FOR YOU Friday, 2 pm Lifestyle Our picks of the latest dining, travel and leisure options to treat yourself. Sign Up Sign Up Investing in local talent That investors are skittish about putting money on local talent goes without saying. Tam notes how he had approached two F&B groups with his idea for Willow, but did not hear from one and was rejected by the other for being too young. His luck changed when he met Lim Kian Chun, then in the early days of Ebb & Flow Group, but even he 'had doubts about me, being local and unproven'. After much convincing, Lim invested a modest amount, and the rest is history. Wee Teng Wen, the founder of The Lo & Behold Group who is known for his support of local talent, observes that 'it's not always a level playing field' when it comes to restaurant investment. 'For a long time, chefs with international experience or big-name mentors tend to get more attention, as larger hospitality players tend to rally around something familiar or already validated. Local chefs sometimes have to work harder to prove their ideas are worth backing, especially if they're trying to do something that doesn't fit neatly into existing categories.' Law Jia-Jun, chef-owner of Province. PHOTO: PROVINCE 'There is pressure to prove that my food can be seen as comparable or equal to that of non-Singaporeans, especially those who are known at home and abroad,' says Law Jia-Jun, who opened his restaurant, Province, in 2023. 'Like it or not, platforms like the Michelin guide shape public and investor perception, and most of the Michelin restaurants here are helmed by foreign chefs.' So far, no Singaporean chef-fronted restaurant holds more than one star, and this feeds 'a certain perception about who is 'worthy' of recognition'. Province serves progressive Singaporean cuisine. PHOTO: PROVINCE He recalls a recent conversation with another chef who had plans to open an izakaya. 'Their investors felt that it would be easier to market the concept if it were fronted by a Japanese chef. That struck a chord with me, because it seems like there's something about Singaporean culture that is unsure how to value things if there isn't some foreign pedigree burnishing its credibility or desirability.' Defining a Singaporean chef For veteran chef Han Li Guang of the one-Michelin-starred Labyrinth, it has been a long journey of 11 years to evolve as a Singaporean chef. Even today, there is still a stigma about paying a premium for what locals see as 'mod-Sin', or elevated hawker food. 'While Singaporeans are becoming more receptive to modern ways of interpreting heritage food, it's not to the extent of Seoul or Bangkok, where the population is much bigger,' says Han. Also, Thai and Korean cuisines have longer histories as well as more defined characteristics and flavours, unlike Singapore cuisine which is 'all over the place'. It is 'very hard to nail down, but at the same time, there's a lot of content out there, and that's what helps to keep Labyrinth unique'. He notes that skills-wise, Singaporean chefs score highly, thanks to the many Michelin-starred restaurants that give them the exposure and the training. What they lack is Asian cooking skills, which Han gripes is missing from culinary schools – which still emphasise Western techniques. ' It seems like there's something about Singaporean culture that is unsure how to value things if there isn't some foreign pedigree burnishing its credibility or desirability. ' — Law Jia-Jun, chef-owner of Province 'I had two young chefs who quit after three months because they were trained in French cooking and couldn't get used to using a wok. So they wanted to return to their comfort zone,' he says. Which begs the question: Who is more Singaporean? One who is inspired by their roots, or one who rises to the top ranks of highly acclaimed Michelin-starred restaurants? The two are not necessarily mutually exclusive, says Law, who feels he would consider himself a Singaporean chef even if he had chosen to stay in a Western kitchen instead of striking out on his own with Province. He acknowledges he has chosen a more 'difficult' path because 'there is no clear blueprint for what we're trying to do. But that's also our mission – to discover what Singaporean cuisine is and develop an approach to cooking at a fine-dining level that is more local and regional'. Ng Guo Lun, head chef of Jaan by Kirk Westaway. PHOTO: JAAN For Ng Guo Lun, his achievement comes from making his way up from kitchen assistant at Willin Low's Wild Rocket after national service, to head chef at the two-Michelin-starred Jaan by Kirk Westaway, working next to its eponymous chef-owner. While other chefs have helped to shift mindsets about local food, 'I've chosen a different path, but not because I don't believe in Singaporean cuisine'. 'This is what I want at this point in my career, which is to excel in the kitchen while expressing my own style in other ways,' he adds. Winning the hearts of Singaporean diners While progress is still slow, 'there's a growing appreciation for chefs who are rooted here and have something original to say about Singaporean food', says Lo & Behold's Wee. A case in point would be the group's newest restaurant, Belimbing, helmed by 'new-gen' chef Marcus Leow. Marcus Leow of Belimbing. PHOTO: BELIMBING 'The response has been a lot better than expected,' says Leow, whose cuisine explores local recipes and South-east Asian ingredients. While he agrees that there is pressure on Singaporean chefs to reinterpret local cuisine, 'it gives me stronger motivation to get better at what I do'. Grilled firefly squid at Belimbing. PHOTO: BELIMBING Perhaps one of the biggest success stories would be Mustard Seed, the counter-only, perennially booked-out restaurant run by Gan Ming Kiat. The chef, who has won hearts with his unique version of Singaporean food with a Japanese accent, was recently joined by fellow local chef Desmond Shen – well-known for his innovative cooking style. Gan Ming Kiat of Mustard Seed. PHOTO: KERRY CHEAH 'Running a business with honesty and sincerity goes a long way,' says Gan of his success from Day One. 'When we started, there weren't many modern Singaporean tasting menu-style restaurants around, so we were able to start strong and build on that momentum.' Candied orange kuih bingka at Mustard Seed. PHOTO: KERRY CHEAH Schooled in kaiseki and Peranakan cuisine, he credits his training in Asian rather than Western kitchens for creating a cuisine that 'hits the sweet spot of being tasty and creative enough without being too intellectual'. 'Singaporeans relate to this better.' Market realities and carving out a niche While Gan had a first-mover advantage, 'to come out and do something of your own now is definitely much harder than when I first started out', he says. 'You're dealing with higher costs, increased diner expectations, a highly competitive dining scene, and also a dismal post-Covid climate. Dining out is now a lower priority.' MJ Teoh of the heritage-inspired Native got a full reality check when the restaurant closed down after three years, even though the original cocktail bar remains. One of the few female chefs in Singapore, Teoh laments that 'one of the mistakes we made was not to differentiate ourselves from the bar, because people thought we just did bar snacks and didn't bother to give us a try'. MJ Teoh, former head chef of Native. PHOTO: MJ TEOH She adds: 'We weren't making enough money and the rent was way too high. Amoy Street is very competitive and in the last few years, we noticed people are just not spending as much. A lot of us in the industry felt the shift – sales were down even in bars that were thriving.' MJ Teoh's cooking is inspired by her heritage. PHOTO: MJ TEOH Teoh is part of a cohort of young chefs who are trying to find their way in this uncertain climate, even going through a period of soul-searching. She was so burnt out, she says, that she stopped working for a few months. Recently, she started giving pasta-making lessons and does private dining in client's homes. The plan is to start a dining space in her own home and while she is not ruling out running a restaurant again with a new investor, she questions if it is a practical move in the current climate. Growing the talent pool While market uncertainty has led to attrition as chefs leave the industry completely to embark on totally different careers, the numbers enrolling in culinary schools have grown, says Ian Goh, a culinary arts lecturer at the Institute of Technical Education (ITE). Ian Goh, culinary arts lecturer at ITE. PHOTO: IAN GOH 'Cohort-wise, we've been seeing a consistent rise in the number of students enrolling in our culinary programmes,' he says. 'Over the past few years, there's been a noticeable shift where more (young people) are interested in building long-term careers in F&B.' The change was apparent after Covid-19, when home-based businesses sprouted up. That taste of entrepreneurship, Goh says, spurred their interest in making a career of it. The challenge, he adds, is matching chefs' passion with the realities of the industry – namely 'long hours, high pressure, and sometimes, toxic work environments'. Despite more work-life balance in some progressive kitchens, 'the industry still has a long way to go'. But he is also seeing how the younger generation is 'redefining what it means to be a culinary professional', going beyond conventional cooking to explore 'food styling, research and development, sustainable food systems, entrepreneurship and even food history'. Plus, there are platforms for local chefs to shine, says Nicola Lee, the South-east Asia academy chair for the World's 50 Best Restaurants guide as well as its Asian equivalent. While her role pertains to the voting for the guides, she is a staunch supporter of local talent. ' Investors today are increasingly interested in strong, distinctive chef-driven narratives, regardless of nationality. What matters is the authenticity of the story and the quality of execution. ' — Veteran chef Ace Tan Besides Han Li Guang and Jason Tan, pastry chefs such as Cheryl Koh of Tarte and Louisa Lim of Odette have been recognised among the 50 Best recipients, along with Janice Wong. ITE's Ian Goh was also the 2022 winner of the San Pellegrino Young Chef Academy for Asia. Not to mention the Singaporean chefs making waves overseas include Kenneth Foong of Noma (Denmark), Mathew Leong of Re-Naa (Norway), and Jimmy Lim of JL Studio (Taiwan). The way ahead 'We need to show that cooking local food, especially at a higher level, is a viable and rewarding career path,' says Wee of Lo & Behold. 'Young chefs often gravitate towards other cuisines... because of what they're exposed to or (because) certain cuisines are more globally recognised, and that makes hiring for local restaurants an even bigger challenge.' He adds: 'To shift that mindset, we need to spotlight chefs doing meaningful work with local food and show that there's creativity, depth, and a future in it. Visibility helps, but it needs to be matched by structural change. That includes reforming culinary school curriculums so local cuisine is taught with the same rigour as European cooking. 'We also need to shift the conversation from preservation to innovation, and cultivate an audience that's curious, open, and willing to value new expressions of Singaporean food.' For veteran chef Ace Tan, who launched his Chinese-inspired restaurant Asu last year, the key is not to pigeonhole the definition of a 'Singaporean restaurant'. 'It's more accurate to consider it as a Singaporean chef presenting their interpretation of Asian, cross-cultural cuisine. The landscape has evolved significantly since I started this path in 2015 (with the short-lived Restaurant Ards) – there's now a growing appetite and appreciation for contemporary Asian concepts across East Asia,' he says. 'Investors today are increasingly interested in strong, distinctive chef-driven narratives, regardless of nationality. What matters is the authenticity of the story and the quality of execution.'
Business Times
4 hours ago
- Business Times
‘Ridiculous and frustrating': Jetstar Asia staff blindsided by abrupt layoff notice
[SINGAPORE] Jetstar Asia employees were only informed of their retrenchment at 7 am on Wednesday (Jun 11) – the same morning the public announcement went out. 'It was unexpected – all my managers were also in shock, and they didn't see it coming,' said a cabin crew member, who declined to be named. 'Dropping the bomb suddenly – it's kind of ridiculous and frustrating for us. I was awake from 7 am till now, still trying to process what happened. It's a bit unfair.' The Qantas Group-owned budget carrier sent a press release at 7.22 am to announce it would cease operations on Jul 31, laying off over 500 employees in Singapore. Just before that, some employees were alerted via text to join a townhall, on a crew activation system typically used to mobilise reserve staff. This was followed by e-mails about the retrenchment, and a virtual townhall on Microsoft Teams at 8.15 am. Jetstar Asia's management also instructed staff not to speak to the media, The Business Times understands. BT in your inbox Start and end each day with the latest news stories and analyses delivered straight to your inbox. Sign Up Sign Up Affected employees will receive four weeks' salary for each year of service, along with a performance-based bonus for financial year 2025 and a 'thank-you payment', understood to be around S$1,200. Still, the sudden layoff is expected to disproportionately affect employees such as cabin crew, whose basic salaries are supplemented largely through flight allowances, the employee explained. In the employee's case, the base pay amounts to about S$1,000 a month. The employee said that Jetstar Asia's decision to cancel upcoming flights ahead of its Jul 31 closure will further reduce their earnings in the weeks ahead. 'I checked the iChangi app (and) there's a lot of our flights that have been cancelled or re-timed, and I see (that) mine have been mostly cancelled,' the employee added. 'To me, it kind of sucks, because if today has already been cancelled, tomorrow also will be the same thing – until Jul 31, I don't know whether I'm going to do more flights, or fewer flights.' Higher costs Jetstar Asia, which began operations in 2004, cited rising supplier costs, airport fees and aviation charges, along with intensifying regional competition, as reasons for its closure. Customers impacted by the shutdown will be offered alternative flights or full refunds. The impending closure affects 16 intra-Asia routes – including flights from Singapore to Kuala Lumpur, Jakarta, Bangkok and Manila – but will not affect Jetstar's operations in Australia, New Zealand or Japan. Changi Airport Group said Jetstar Asia flew about 180 flights a week and carried 2.3 million passengers in 2024, or roughly 3 per cent of total traffic. Its fleet of 13 Airbus aircraft will be redeployed within the Qantas Group to support growth in Australia and New Zealand. Union support The Singapore Manual & Mercantile Workers' Union (SMMWU) said it was notified of the job cuts and has negotiated with Jetstar Asia to 'ensure that affected members and workers are treated with care and receive fair compensation'. 'The company has committed to providing a comprehensive retrenchment package in line with the Tripartite Advisory on Managing Excess Manpower and Responsible Retrenchment,' it added in a statement. SMMWU is working with the National Trades Union Congress (NTUC) to help affected workers find their footing, said NTUC secretary-general Ng Chee Meng. From next week, NTUC and the Employment & Employability Institute, e2i, will be on-site at Changi Airport Terminal 1 – where Jetstar Asia's office is located – to provide affected workers with direct support, the labour chief said in a Wednesday Facebook post. This will include career coaching, skills upgrading and employability assistance. 'NTUC is also working with our partners to support these workers,' added Ng. 'We are exploring opportunities (with) Singapore Airlines Group, a unionised company, to match affected Jetstar Asia employees, including crew and corporate staff, to suitable roles where possible.'
