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NDTV
3 days ago
- Politics
- NDTV
Watch: Emmanuel Macron Gets A Taste Of Singapore Hawker Culture
French President Emmanuel Macron had the chance to sample Singapore's famous hawker and street food culture recently. As part of his maiden state visit to the country, the President accompanied Prime Minister Lawrence Wong Lau to Pa Sat, the iconic hawker centre. In a video shared by the Singapore PM, both of them can be seen walking through this locality. They greeted vendors and people around them, and also stopped to taste some of the local delicacies. In one part of the video, Macron and Wong try what look to be soup dumplings served by a particular hawker. "How do you find the taste?' Macron is asked. He replies that it's "very good." Also Read: Here's What French President Emmanuel Macron Ate On His Trip To India After their street food adventure, they had dinner at The Fullerton Hotel in Singapore, as shown in the same video posted by PM Wong. Part of the caption reads, "We began with a visit to Lau Pa Sat to experience Singapore's vibrant hawker culture and local flavours. Over dinner, we had a wide-ranging and fruitful discussion on global and regional developments." Take a look below: View this post on Instagram A post shared by Lawrence Wong (@lawrencewongst) More About Lau Pa Sat: Lau Pa Sat, literally meaning "Old Market," is also known as Telok Ayer Market. It was rebuilt in its present location in the downtown core area in 1894. It is one of the most famous cultural landmarks in the city, and it has significantly evolved over the years. The Victorian-era architecture of the building is quite distinctive, featuring structures made of cast iron. Today, Lau Pa Sat is mainly known for its food hawkers. It houses numerous stalls selling various kinds of local Singaporean delicacies and other street-style favourites, including dishes like satay, chicken rice and char kway teow. One of the most popular attractions here is "Satay Street. Boon Tat Street is closed to traffic from 7 pm onwards. The place is then opened for people to dine al-fresco and relish the satay treats grilled on open flames by many vendors. Also Read: 5 Hawker Centres You Must Visit When In Singapore
Yahoo
26-05-2025
- Yahoo
Island Cafe: Golden turmeric nasi lemak with pork belly & Penang white curry mee at no-GST retro eatery
Blue pea rice might be all the rage, but have you heard of yellow nasi lemak with pork belly? If the mention of the dish left you in disbelief, you can imagine that was my reaction when I stumbled upon Island Cafe at Block 721 at West Coast. Cosy with a retro-style aesthetic, this little cafe is usually packed on weekends. I had casually mentioned it to my colleague, Aaron after I discovered it, and he told me that it was owned by the restaurant Island Penang Kitchen under the same block. While Island Cafe serves mostly Malaysian breakfast staples like kaya toast, wanton noodles and Penang white curry mee, Island Penang Kitchen offers a wider range including char kway teow and rojak. Upon entry, my companion and I noticed a sign on the door that stated 'NO GST & SERVICE CHARGE' in bold letters. A splendid choice for those who would rather view straightforward prices than be jumpscared by an added charge on their bill. I was advised that the Crispy Pork Belly Turmeric (S$8.90) would take about 10 minutes of preparation, and I readily agreed to wait; anything to satisfy my curiosity regarding one of Island Cafe's more unique dishes! No words could describe the delight I felt upon seeing the nasi lemak. It was beautifully plated, with the various ingredients surrounding a pyramid of turmeric-dyed rice so yellow it was almost glowing. While a hint of turmeric was initially present in the rice, a stronger coconut flavour persisted. Some grains remained harder and clumped together as I scooped, but most of the dish was sufficiently fluffy. The Crispy Pork Belly was, well, crispy. Deep-fried in golden-brown batter and topped with crumbs and curry leaves, it was nothing short of indulgent. While the meat wasn't super special, it wasn't too fatty and had a delicious crunch from the batter. To complete the dish and provide some complexity in texture and taste, ikan bilis, peanuts, an egg and fresh cucumber were arranged neatly around the plate. The accompanying chilli was garlicky, had a more liquid-like consistency and lacked the shrimpiness of belacan. Despite this, it was savoury and spicy without being unnecessarily sweet. A bowl of the Penang Seafood White Curry Noodle costs S$6 without cockles and S$7 with. Hoping to make the most of my trip, I decided on the S$7 option. Thin bee hoon and thick yellow mee were used— they aren't my favourite kinds but were most suited for the curry gravy base. They were slippery, and the alkaline yellow noodles gave each mouthful a slightly oily aftertaste. The white curry itself was light and sweet, with a thin and smooth consistency. On its own, it didn't have much spice and had a richer prawn fragrance. The chilli provided the already flavoursome soup a kick. Island Cafe wasn't stingy with its ingredients, as there were plenty of hum, long beans, bean sprouts, fishcake and also a large prawn. The seafood was delightfully fresh – the briny cockles and the sweet, bouncy prawn went amazingly with the broth. 12 best stalls at West Coast Market Square that the Westies shouldn't gatekeep For our final dish, I decided to skip the basic chee cheong fun with sauce and try the Pig Skin Curry Rice Noodle Roll (S$5.50). Unlike the white curry, this one was thick with coconut cream and spicy with hints of ginger. It was visibly more spicy as well; the vivid fiery hue told me everything I needed to know. Spongy pig skin was an interesting choice to go with the silky cheong fun. Like a sponge, it soaked up the curry, resulting in a mini flavour bomb with each chew. The rice noodle roll in my opinion was a tad too soft; each piece almost melted with every bite. For drinks, the (S$1.80/S$2.60, S$3 for Iced) tasted more teh than kopi and wasn't very strong. The Iced Classic Mocha (S$3.50) had a delightful chocolate flavour and subtle sweetness, but the cocoa overpowered the coffee. Island Cafe might be slightly more crowded during the weekends given the small seating space, but I believe it would be a great hang-out spot on quieter days. I feel certain elements of the dishes could be improved, but they were, other than that, pretty satisfactory and made for a delicious (and beautiful) meal. The Penang Seafood White Curry Noodle was a delectable enough treat – tasty, warm and filling. It was my first time trying Penang white curry mee and I can confidently say it left a good first impression. While the Crispy Pork Belly Nasi Lemak wasn't top-notch, it was still a fulfilling dish with potential that I'd be willing to give a second chance to! Expected Damage : S$5.50 – S$8.60 per pax Order Delivery: foodpanda Masala Curry Chicken Noodle: Hearty & spicy curry noodles that taste like childhood The post Island Cafe: Golden turmeric nasi lemak with pork belly & Penang white curry mee at no-GST retro eatery appeared first on
New Paper
07-05-2025
- Entertainment
- New Paper
Phantom Of The Opera's lead actress, who grew up in Singapore, excited about homecoming show
While stage actress Grace Roberts is British, she considers herself an honorary Singaporean. So, returning to the Lion City feels like a homecoming for the London-based performer, who plays the female lead role of Christine in the upcoming Singapore run of the popular musical The Phantom Of The Opera. Her family migrated to Singapore from Britain when she was a six-week-old baby, and she lived here until she was 18, attending local schools and eating local food. Even after leaving what she calls her home city, she returns quite often. Ahead of the show's opening night at Marina Bay Sands' Sands Theatre on May 9, Roberts tells The Straits Times: "It always feels great to be back. "I have so many fond memories here, from watching Imax movies at Science Centre Singapore to playing around the water fountains at Bugis Junction. I have visited the Singapore Zoo at least 50 times and loved its water play area when I was younger." She also enjoys her satay, chicken rice, char kway teow and Old Chang Kee curry puffs. Roberts, who is in her late 20s, has been playing the titular antagonist's love interest on The Phantom Of The Opera's international tour since 2024. She has performed in Chinese cities such as Shanghai, Beijing and Guangzhou, and in Mumbai in India. This will be The Phantom Of The Opera's fifth run in Singapore. It was first performed here at the Kallang Theatre in 1995 and then at the Esplanade Theatre in 2007. Live entertainment company Base Entertainment Asia presented the musical at Sands Theatre in 2013 and 2019. In a full-circle moment, she first saw the 2013 production as a teenager, and fell in love with its story, music and costumes. With music by legendary British composer Andrew Lloyd Webber, the show premiered in London in 1986. It features some of the most iconic numbers in musical theatre, such as its haunting title track, the spellbinding The Music Of The Night and the operatic ballad All I Ask Of You. "The show was so grand," recalls Roberts. "Everyone has heard of it, and everyone knows the organ, the chandelier. As a young performer, you just aspire to be part of something so epic. Being able to sing Think Of Me and Wishing You Were Somehow Here Again every night, it feels so amazing." She adds: "I think I have been practising for this role for more than five years in my bedroom." British actress Grace Roberts as Christine in The Phantom Of The Opera musical. PHOTO: THE PHANTOM OF THE OPERA SINGAPORE 2025 One of her character's defining moments is belting out the ending high note with no accompaniment at the title track's climax. She says: "I get a big chord from the orchestra, sing three Cs, and then I am on my own. I have to hit it well, because it is so exposed. Thankfully, the stage lighting is on me, so I can't see the audience that much. It removes some nerves because it is like there is nobody there. "I sometimes do get nervous, but I have done so many shows now that it feels like second nature." Her family members still live here and have links to Tanglin Trust School, a British international school located in Portsdown Road. Roberts moved here from Britain when she was only six weeks old, and she lived here until she was 18. PHOTO: JENNIE SCOTT PHOTOGRAPHY Her father, Mr David Roberts, still teaches English at the school. Her mother, Mrs Sian Roberts, who is retired, used to teach German there. Both are in their 50s. Her older sister Megan, now a director in a professional services firm in Singapore, also attended the school. Grace Roberts, who attended Parry Primary School (now known as Xinghua Primary School), was from Tanglin Trust School's 2014 cohort during her teen years. She played the female lead Audrey in its production of the musical Little Shop Of Horrors, and was awarded the Tanglin Alumni of the Year Award for Excellence in the Arts in February. Roberts (left) in a production of the musical Little Shop Of Horrors at Tanglin Trust School, located at Portsdown Road, in 2014. In the show, she played the female lead Audrey, opposite her schoolmate Kyle Portnoy (right), who acted in the role of Seymour. PHOTO: TANGLIN TRUST SCHOOL When she turned 18, she moved to London to train at the Royal Academy of Music and graduated in 2018. Roberts, who is engaged to fellow Britain-based theatre actor Simon Whitaker, played The Young Wife in the off-West End production of Hello Again in 2019, and appeared in a concert version of the musical Les Miserables in Guernsey, an island in the English Channel, in 2018. Roberts (front row, in front of cake) celebrating her seventh birthday at a McDonald's restaurant in Hougang with her schoolmates from Parry Primary School, and some family friends. Parry Primary School merged with Xinghua Primary School in 2007. PHOTO: COURTESY OF GRACE ROBERTS The soprano credits her classical training to her former singing teacher Hawk Liu, a Singaporean who gave her vocal lessons when she was 15 to 18. "He shaped my technique and artistry, introducing me to cantatas composed by Bach and works by Mozart. He really pushed me, and I would not have known I could do what I can do, had he not been my teacher. I genuinely believe he is responsible for my voice's trajectory, and we are still in touch." Singapore's melting pot of cultures and diverse arts scene were also instrumental in shaping her artistic journey, she adds. Roberts - who is also the writer and editor of Pixie Dust And Passports, a travel blog which focuses on theme park- and Disney-related content - says: "Growing up here, I saw ballet and opera shows, zitar performances, gospel choirs and Disney On Ice extravaganzas. There were small local shows as well as Wicked and Les Miserables. "There was so much available to me that would not necessarily have been the case had I been living in another country, and I am thankful for all of it." Book It/The Phantom Of The Opera Where: Sands Theatre, Marina Bay Sands, 10 Bayfront Avenue When: May 9 to June 22; 8pm (Tuesdays to Saturdays), 2pm (Saturdays), 1 and 6.30pm (Sundays) Admission: $93 to $298 via Marina Bay Sands ( and Sistic (call 6348-5555 or go to
South China Morning Post
12-04-2025
- General
- South China Morning Post
As Singapore sees a surge of mainland Chinese eateries, is local food culture OK?
In a covered alley in one of Singapore 's first public housing towns, a row of about 10 popular eateries attracts residents and office workers during lunch hour. Advertisement Half of these storefronts display Chinese characters with minimal English translation, offering dishes like biang biang noodles from Xi'an, spicy stir fry mala xiang guo and rou jia mo (pork hamburger). Only three stalls sell local food, such as kueh (a colourful dessert made from rice flour) and roast meat; two of these stalls operate exclusively as takeaways. Jeffrey, a 67-year-old retired civil servant who grew up in the area and declined to provide his surname, told This Week in Asia that it was getting harder to find some of his favourite local delights compared to options like mala xiang guo. 'There's a lot more China-type cuisines than before, it's now harder to find the local favourites like char kway teow (fried noodles) or hokkien mee (a stir-fried yellow noodle dish) or even a decent Singapore Chinese rojak (fruits and vegetables in a sweet-savoury sauce) or Peranakan pork satay with the peanut sauce and a dash of crushed pineapple,' he said. The Chinese eateries are part of a growing trend of Chinese food and drink brands mushrooming throughout the city state, spreading beyond areas usually frequented by Chinese expats such as Orchard Road, Chinatown and Boat Quay to more local neighbourhoods like Toa Payoh. Advertisement This influx has caused anxiety among some residents, who worry it makes it difficult for Singaporean food culture to compete.
Listly
28-02-2025
- Listly
5 Must-See Spots and Experiences in Singapore's Vibrant Heart: Discover Geylang
No visit to Geylang is complete without diving into its world-renowned food scene. Often referred to as a foodie's paradise, Geylang boasts an array of hawker stalls, eateries, and restaurants serving delectable dishes. The famous Geylang Lorong 9 Beef Hor Fun is a standout, drawing both locals and tourists for its tender beef and silky noodles. Craving something sweet? Try durian, known as the 'king of fruits,' at one of the many roadside stalls. Geylang's durian scene is iconic, offering everything from premium varieties like Mao Shan Wang to more affordable options. Don't miss the vibrant Old Airport Road Food Centre nearby, where you can sample authentic local dishes such as Hainanese chicken rice, char kway teow, and laksa.
