Latest news with #MelissaTeo
AsiaOne
31-07-2025
- Business
- AsiaOne
Bak kut teh ramen, laksa shakshuka and chilli crab burgers: Celebrate National Day with these exclusive SG60 meals, Lifestyle News
PUBLISHED ON July 30, 2025 5:00 AM BY Melissa Teo With our nation's 60th birthday just around the corner, brands are rolling out various National Day promotions and offerings to celebrate the occasion, including exclusive dishes and set meals. Here's where you can tuck into these limited-time menu items. We'll continue to add to the list as we find more. Artyzen Just for SG60, Cafe Quenino at Artyzen hotel in Orchard has a special six-month-long culinary campaign that ends in October. This features several big names in our local food and beverage scene like Chin Mee Chin Confectionery, Keng Eng Kee Seafood and Abundance. Each month, one local chef or restaurant will have their locally inspired dishes, which were jointly developed with Cafe Quenino's culinary team, featured in the menu. The brands will be on rotation over the campaign period. August is the only month that has a menu showcasing dishes from all the restaurants and chefs. Diners can look forward to dishes like Hainanese Beef Brisket from Chin Mee Chin, 'Beef Bak Kut Teh' Ravioli from Abundance and Salted Egg Prawns from Keng Eng Kee Seafood. Diners can enjoy these dishes a la carte or opt for the lunch and dinner sets. A weekday lunch set costs $38 for a two-course meal and $48 for a three-course meal. Dinner features a communal set menu which costs $65 per person and requires a minimum of two diners. Address: 9 Cuscaden Rd, Level 1, Singapore 249719 Opening hours: Daily, 11am to midnight Bao Bao When it comes to local food, chili crab ranks high on many Singaporeans' lists, and homegrown brand Bao Bao has crafted a dish just for the occasion — the Chili Crab Bao ($2.80 per piece). This is prepared with premium crab meat and house-made rempah made from candlenut, lemongrass, galangal, belachan and three different types of chili. The filling comes encased in Bao Bao's signature handmade dough, which is made from a natural yeast starter and fermented for up to 14 hours. The Chili Crab Bao is available from Aug 1 to 31. Address: Ion Orchard, 2 Orchard Turn, #B4-34, Singapore 238801 Opening hours: Daily, 10am to 10pm KFC Jumping on the chilli crab bandwagon is KFC, which has created a special Chili Crab Mantou menu for our nation's birthday. This includes the Chili Crab Mantou Zinger (from $7.95) where regular burger buns are swapped for an extra large mantou paired with KFC's signature Zinger patty that has been doused in chili crab sauce. There's also two-piece hot and crispy Chili Crab Chicken (from $9.70) served with mini mantous and paired with a chili crab dip. Apart from the chili crab dishes, the fast food chain is bringing back their Ondeh Ondeh Egg Tarts ($2.50) that are filled with creamy pandan custard, desiccated coconut and gula melaka. The new offerings are available on food delivery platforms and all KFC outlets except for the Singapore Zoo and Sentosa branch. McDonald's Another fast food chain that is launching a chilli crab-inspired menu is McDonald's. They've teamed up with popular local restaurant Jumbo Seafood to release the new Chilli Crab Sauce Burger (from $8.95). The Chilli Crab Sauce Burger comes in two variants: The Chilli Crab Sauce Prawn Burger and Chilli Crab Sauce Chicken Burger, both served with lettuce, scrambled egg, brioche buns and doused with a sweet, tangy and slightly spicy chilli crab sauce. For those who can't get enough of the sauce, the Chilli Crab Sauce Tub will also be available for purchase. According to McDonald's Singapore, the chilli crab sauce used is inspired by Jumbo Seafood's award-winning chilli crab recipe and had been in development since August 2024, with more than 50 iterations before being approved by the restaurant. Other new local F&B-inspired menu items for SG60 include Kampung Drumlets (from $3.35), Ice Dinosaur (from $4.15), Pulut Hitam Pie (from $1.80) and Chendol Cone (from $1.30). The new menu items, except the Chendol Soft Serve, will be available at all McDonald's restaurants and via food delivery platforms from 11am on July 10. The Chendol Soft Serve will be available all day from July 10 at the chain's dessert kiosks and participating outlets. Nasty Cookie Have you ever had prata and muah chee-inspired cookies? We haven't either but you can now try some at Nasty Cookie. For National Day, the local brand has come up with a series of bold cookie flavours that many Singaporeans would be familiar with. The most interesting would be the Prata Bomb, which is done in collaboration with Srisun Express and features prata and condensed milk. There is also Kaya Cheese, Muah Chee and Susu Keju flavours. Can't choose which flavour you want? Get the SG60 Exclusive Cookie Bundle for $24. The box even comes with flavour introduction cards designed like a row of HDB doors. Apart from cookies, Nasty Cookie has created collectible stickers in two uniquely Singaporean designs — Kopitiam and Pasar Malam. The cookies can be purchased on Nasty Cookie's website and all its outlets. Nesuto Have a sweet tooth? You can consider getting Japanese-inspired patisserie Nesuto's SG60 Pandan Gateau Basque ($60) this National Day. The limited-edition cake is available from Aug 1 to 10 and can feed eight to 10 people, making it great for sharing. It features a silky pandan custard with hints of rose and raspberry preserve encased in a buttery crust. Interested parties can place their order on Nesuto's website. Royal Host Apart from Singapore's 60th birthday, this year also marks Royal Host's first anniversary in Singapore. For the double celebration, the Japanese restaurant chain has one-for-one dining specials from Aug 6 to 8 that will be available at both their Jewel Changi Airport and Takashimaya Shopping Centre outlets. On the menu is Flame Shell Symphony Pasta, which brings together fresh seafood with a house-made chilli reduction, a balanced fusion of oceanic sweetness and local spice. There's also the Laksa Flame Duet Grill which features juicy chargrilled chicken and laksa-marinated prawns, paired with either a rich laksa sauce or creamy truffle sauce. Another laksa-inspired dish is the Laksa Crunchy Slaw, which offers a refreshing and tangy side with a Nyonya-inspired twist. For dessert, there's the Cendol Delight with housemade Gula Melaka. And if you're craving a sweet drink, order the alcohol-free Singapore Sling or Vanda Miss Joaquim Tea. Address: Ngee Ann City Singapore, Takashimaya, Orchard Road 391, #B2-25/26, Singapore 238872 Opening hours: 10am to 10pm Address: 78 Airport Blvd, Jewel, #03-219, Singapore Changi Airport, Singapore 819666 Opening hours: 10am to 10pm Saint Pierre For a more luxurious dining experience, Singaporeans can book themselves a table at two-Michelin-starred Saint Pierre. Chef-owner Emmanuel Stroobant has crafted two celebratory menus for the nation's 60th birthday — a four-course lunch ($288++ per pax) and a seven-course degustation dinner ($688++ per pax). The lunch starts with Imperial Oscietra Caviar and the highlight is the main of barbecued Omi Beef, served alongside a rendang-inspired sauce. For dinner — which will be served while guests take in the National Day Parade fireworks — standout dishes include Hokkaido Hairy Crab served with chilli crab sauce and fried mantou, and Brittany Blue Lobster, garnished with discs of fresh coconut flesh atop coconut puree and finished with a laksa-inspired consomme. The exclusive menus will only be served on Aug 9. Address: 1 Fullerton Road, #02-02B, One Fullerton, Singapore 049213 Surrey Hills For August, Surrey Hills celebrates Singapore's birthday with a campaign called A Taste of Home. The dish at the heart of this is the Laksa Shakshuka ($38), which features a rich rempah (Malay for spice paste) made in-house with dried shrimp and spices, simmered into a luscious stew with fresh prawns, squid, clams, Spanish chorizo, and tteokbokki. Two eggs are poached in the stew and topped with crispy tau pok, a nutty cashew laksa leaf pesto, and served with toasted ciabatta for the perfect dip-and-savour experience. Besides this, Surrey Hills Grocer is also rolling out initiatives as part of this SG60 celebratory campaign. The first is Spend & Win, where customers who spend $60 in a single bill (inclusive of one Laksa Shakshuka) stand a chance to win $150 worth of Surrey Hills Grocer vouchers. There will be a total of 25 prizes, with five winners per outlet. If you're born in 1965, you're in for a treat too as diners who share the same birthday year with Singapore can enjoy 60 per cent off their Laksa Shakshuka order. The campaign runs from Aug 1 to 31 and is only available for dine-in. Surrey Hills Grocer has five outlets islandwide at Ion Orchard, Raffles City, The Woodleigh Mall, One Holland Village and VivoCity. Takagi Ramen Inspired by the humble bak chor mee, Takagi Ramen has come up with its own rendition of the classic Singapore dish. The Japanese chain's rendition comes in two styles ($6.90) — soup and dry. Both are available in spicy and non-spicy versions and come loaded with ingredients like minced pork, braised mushrooms and meatballs. Diners can add $3 for Australian abalones. From now until Aug 9, Takagi Ramen is also rolling out 60 cent specials to "fuel the National Day spirit". Some menu items that will be available for just 60 cents are Scallion Oil Ramen, Lemon Tea and Fried Gyoza. Takagi Ramen has 13 outlets across the island in places like Dhoby Ghaut MRT, E!Avenue@Downtown, Eastpoint Mall, Jurong West Street 41 and Connexis. Tim Ho Wan From July 22 to Aug 31, Tim Ho Wan is celebrating National Day with a slew of local-inspired dishes as well as e-vouchers. The limited-time menu features dim sum like Crispy Shrimp Cake with Nonya Sauce ($8.80), Mao Shan Wang Durian Sesame Ball ($6.80) and Sambal Seafood Fried Rice ($12.80). Cool down with a glass of Iced Tamarind White Peach Oolong Tea ($4.80), The Hong Kong dim sum specialist will also have a booklet of National Day vouchers which are available in the National Day Fun Packs. Some examples of discounts are three pieces of Signature Baked BBQ Pork Buns for $6 (U.P. $7.50), a Hong Kong dessert for 60 cents (U.P. $3.80) and a Dim Sum Fun Pack for four pax at $60 (U.P. $70.20). Not going to the parade? Fret not as the vouchers are available online too. Tiong Bahru Bakery and Lau Pa Sat Just for the occasion, Tiong Bahru Bakery and Lau Pa Sat are collaborating on a limited-time menu that reinterprets some of Singapore's most beloved flavours. The menu is a heartfelt tribute to our little red dot's past, present and future and features five pastries — Satay White Chocolate Kouign Amann, Satay Beef Croissant, Nasi Sambal Danish, Milo Dinosaur Shio Pan and Teh C Shio Pan. Prices range from $5 to $12. Anchoring the collection is a special satay sauce created in collaboration with Lau Pa Sat that is to be paired with the bakes. The menu is available from Aug 1 to 31 at all 20 Tiong Bahru Bakery outlets islandwide and select delivery platforms. Shio Pans will only be available at select outlets: Centrepoint, Foothills (Fort Canning), Plaza Singapura, Raffles City and VivoCity. Apart from the bakes, Tiong Bahru Bakery, along with its sister brand Common Man Coffee Roasters (CMCR), invites diners to rediscover Singapore through its TBB x CMCR SG60 Sip & Stroll cafe hopping trail. From Aug 1, guests can pick up a Sip & Stroll map at participating Tiong Bahru Bakery and Common Man Coffee Roasters outlets and collect stamps at each stop. Most of the featured stops are Tiong Bahru Bakery cafes situated near Singapore's most iconic landmarks, such as St. Andrew's Cathedral, Fort Siloso, and Geylang Serai Market. After collecting five unique stamps, guests will be rewarded with two $10 vouchers (one from Tiong Bahru Bakery and one from Common Man Coffee Roasters. Each visit also comes with a complimentary coffee with a minimum $6 spend. [[nid:720274]] melissateo@ national daySG60Food and DrinksF&B This website is best viewed using the latest versions of web browsers.
AsiaOne
07-07-2025
- Entertainment
- AsiaOne
From blogger to Singapore's top influencer: Naomi Neo celebrates 1m Instagram followers after 14 years, Lifestyle News
PUBLISHED ON July 07, 2025 4:37 AM By Melissa Teo Fourteen years ago, Naomi Neo started out as a humble blogger. And just a few days ago, the local content creator hit 1 million followers on Instagram. Naomi ecstatically shared the news in an emotional Instagram post on July 3. "In today's world, 1 million may not mean much — where a single viral moment can make anyone famous overnight," she wrote. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Naomi Neo 梁文珊 (@naomineo_) "But to someone like me, who's been here for 14 years and started with 10,000 on May 27, 2012… who's shared, overshared, held back, grown up, broken down and rebuilt publicly — this number means everything." The 29-year-old said that the achievement is "not just a milestone", but "a timeline of phases, faces, mistakes, growth and everything in between". "From a girl with a big voice who wrote as a nobody online, to a mom raising two children while building brands, to the woman I'm still becoming. "Whether you've followed me since my thin-eyebrows era (please never bring this trend back) or just joined — thank you," she wrote. Naomi also urged others like her to not give up. "To every aspiring creator, dreamer, or just anyone figuring it out: May you be brave enough to begin, find the space to grow and the strength to start over again - as many times as it takes," she wrote. Naomi started blogging in 2009, writing about fashion, beauty and more personal thoughts on her blog. Her last post there was on May 22, 2017. She uploaded her first YouTube video on Sept 15, 2012, and has around 49,000 subscribers on the platform. On TikTok, she has about 1.9 million followers and posted her first video on Jan 8, 2020. Amongst her fellow local influencers, Naomi has one of the highest following counts on Instagram. Jianhao Tan, who entered the industry around the same time as Naomi, has around 738,000 followers on Instagram, while Xiaxue, also one of Singapore's popular bloggers, has about 572,000 followers on the platform. In December last year, Naomi emerged as Singapore's top influencer once again, according to a report by media intelligence and data analytics firm Meltwater. At that point, Naomi had around 930,000 followers on Instagram and around 450,000 on YouTube. [[nid:644575]] melissateo@ Content creatorsonline influencersInstagramSocial media This website is best viewed using the latest versions of web browsers.
AsiaOne
15-06-2025
- Health
- AsiaOne
Singapore's Covid-19 wave subsides after weekly infections climbed to 26,400 cases in April, Singapore News
PUBLISHED ON June 15, 2025 4:09 AM By Melissa Teo Sharing the news in a Facebook post on Saturday (June 14), Minister for Health Ong Ye Kung said: "I am happy to update that our recent Covid-19 wave is subsiding. "When the wave started in late April, we saw estimated weekly infections climb to about 26,400 cases. Our healthcare institutions experienced increased patient load, with daily Covid-19 hospitalisations reaching around 174 cases." He added that ICU cases remained consistently low throughout this wave and there were just about two to three cases daily. "This shows how our healthcare system has built up stronger resilience in managing Covid-19," said Ong. Latest data showed encouraging trends such as estimated weekly infections dropping to 15,300 cases, hospitalisation numbers decreasing to around 118 cases daily, and a decline in wastewater surveillance readings. Ong said this experience reminds us that Covid-19 waves, similar to seasonal influenza, can still put pressure on our healthcare system. "While we have become more resilient in managing these surges, we must continue to fortify our defences and prepare for future waves or any new pandemics," he advised. "We will keep monitoring the situation closely, particularly the emergence of new variants, and update the public accordingly." In a joint statement earlier in May, the Ministry of Health and Communicable Diseases Agency said Covid-19 infections had increased but there was no indication that the variants circulating locally were more transmissible or may cause more severe disease. It was recommended that individuals aged 60 years and above who were medically vulnerable or residing in aged care facilities should receive an additional vaccination dose around a year after their last dose. Healthcare workers and persons living or working with medically vulnerable individuals were also encouraged to get themselves vaccinated. Covid-19 vaccinations are available at Healthier SG General Practitioner clinics and Polyclinics. Appointments can be made at The public is also advised to observe precautionary measures and practise personal and social responsibility. melissateo@ Ong Ye KungCOVID-19healthHealthcarehospitalCovid-19 patients
