5 trending food items that are here to stay
‘No love sincerer than the love of food’, someone once said. Whether you belong to camp ‘Live to Eat’ or ‘Eat to Live’ – this adage still holds.
Here are 5 of the best foods in the universe, in our humble opinion. The diet begins another day, just not today.
#1 BBT, a.k.a. Bubble Tea
This is not newly trending, but it's HUGE. There's definitely a BBT fan in every group of family members, friends or colleagues. We scoured the island for unforgettable bubble teas and found a few we unanimously loved. If you’re into the brown sugar boba craze, try the Brown Sugar Deerioca Fresh Milk at The Alley in Jewel Changi Airport, where the chewy tapioca pearls are said to be made from scratch. Hailing from Taiwan, arguably the motherland of the best BBTs, The Alley has outlets in Hong Kong, Korea, Japan, Thailand, Paris and Los Angeles; and is now here for the first time in Singapore.
For something more unorthodox, try the first ever alcoholic bubble teas in Singapore at HEYTEA in Clarke Quay. Already, the flagship at ION Orchard drew long queues when it first opened, as it’s China’s most popular tea brand and claims to be the original creators of the iconic Cheese Tea. But if you’re heading to the Clarke Quay outlet, try The Royal’s Romance and Scarlet’s Heart alcoholic teas which are Singapore exclusives.
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The Alley
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HEYTEA
We also tried the Taiwan Spring Rose Cloud Tea at MuYoo in Raffles City Singapore. The Rose Cloud is a slight deviation from the Cheese Cream we're more familiar with; there’s a subtle floral fragrance that adds a very palatable touch to the drink. If you’re an Eastie, try the brewed teas and signature fruit teas at Teafolia in Bedok Mall. We recommend the Strawberry & Peach Duo for being so refreshing, light and thirst quenching.
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MuYoo
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Teafolia
#2 Burgers (sandwiches count, too)
Burger lovers usually belong to one of two groups; the ones who prefer the traditional patties and mandatory melted cheddar cheese, and the ones who're happy to chomp on more adventurous and unconventional flavours. If you're in the former group, you'll love this - Shake Shack, the hottest burger joint in NYC, has made its way to Singapore shores. Queues may be long at this outlet in Jewel Changi Airport, but many will tell you their signature burgers, hotdogs and fries are worth the wait. If you want something different, check out PINK FISH™, Norwegian restaurant chain which recently made its debut in Singapore at Jewel Changi Airport too, which goes by the motto 'From Fjord to Fork' and presents sustainable sourced salmon deliciously wedged between burger buns. We were on a roll and ordered all three of their burgers - the European Burger with smoked bell peppers and a zesty aioli, the American Burger with coleslaw and juicy BBQ sauce, and the Asian Burger with spicy soya and mango salsa. And all delivered on taste and quality.
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Shake Shack
Photo: @juliuslim
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PINK FISH
Sandwiches count, too - as long as they check the boxes for fluffy bread and mouth-watering patty ingredients. If you're in town, grab the signature 52 Grilled Cheese sandwich or the decadent Bacon Mac N Cheese sandwich at 52 Sandwich Shack at Raffles City, or a Bulgogi MVP or Hot Tteokgalbi MVP at Isaac Toast at Plaza Singapura (yes these ingenious flavours are Korean-cuisine inspired).
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52 Sandwich Shack
Photo: @singaporeliciouz
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Isaac Toast
Photo: @gloriaseng
#3 MALA (麻辣) everything/anything
The Mala hype is definitely not dying down anytime soon. What started out as the concept of you picking and ordering your favourite meat and vegetable ingredients to go into a stir-fried wok with three varying degrees of spiciness - mild, medium and super spicy - has now expanded to take on more varieties and forms. There's the traditional Sichuan style hot pot if you like your Mala steamy and soupy, and there are also specific dishes that are cooked with the spice, like grilled fish and fried chicken, so you don't feel your tongue for the rest of the meal. If you haven't challenged yourself to this yet, you might think it weirdly torturous at first; but really, there's an unexplicable sense of satisfaction with this one.
This taste profile is such a hit with chilli and spice lovers that it's no surprise the new kid on the block is in the form of Mala flavoured snacks. Potato chips - Mala flavoured? Evidence that Mala is definitely a thing.
If you understand our preoccupation with Mala everything/anything, you'll like that we've rounded up the best ones to try across the island.
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Hai Di Lao
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Riverside Grilled Fish
#4 Premium chocolates
So chocolates have always existed, but it wasn't until more recent times that people started to see the potential behind the humble cocoa product and how it can be repackaged to create a niche premium experience. The most luxurious gourmet chocolates today are big not just on taste and texture, but also on aesthetic appearance - and they can be in themselves, a fine work of art.
Janice Wong at Raffles City exemplifies this concept of edible art. Chocolates come in delightful colours, shapes and textures, so creative and beautiful they truly challenge the conventional notions of dessert. Grab a box of chocolates here for personal enjoyment, or gift it to someone special - it's bound to bring a smile either way. At Läderach Swiss Chocolatier in Jewel Changi Airport, chocolates are crafted fresh in Switzerland and airflown to Singapore. Our favourites are the handcrafted FrischSchoggi slabs, which come in interesting flavours such as Fudge Caramel, Raspberry-Blackberry, Florentine Milk and Confetti.
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Janice Wong
Photo: @joa_gramk
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Läderach Swiss Chocolatier
Photo: @laederach_singapore
#5 Acai bowls and shakes
Pronounced 'ah-sah-EE', acai bowls and shakes have caught on like wildfire in the world of mindful and healthy living. At home, they're easy to whip up and can be customised to include your favourite fruits, nut butters and toppings. If you've ordered an acai bowl while you're out, high chance it's also great for the 'gram, along with being a delicious treat.
The healthy movement is definitely here to stay. Check out Acai Beach Club, a beach-themed acai cafe at Plaza Singapura. Or fall in love with the options at An Acai Affair in Westgate, and take your pick from a variety of 100% natural granolas, housemade nut butters, organic chia seeds and many more.
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Acai Beach Club
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