Kaya Toast with Foie Gras and Scrambled Egg (Photo: The Quarters’ Facebook page)
Singapore’s food and beverage (F&B) sector has seen an improvement in productivity levels over the past five years. The real value added per actual hour worked has increased by 1.4 percent per annum. Yet, this figure is lower than the productivity levels in other service sectors such as retail trade.
According to the Singapore Senior Minister of State for Trade and Industry, Mr. Chee Hong Tat, this is due to the rapid growth in F&B establishments and rising competition. In the same vein, he encouraged F&B enterprises to “go beyond technology to thrive”.[1]
He highlighted the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) by Restaurant Associations from Singapore, Cambodia, Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, and Vietnam as one of the ways to help F&B sectors in Singapore and in the region in promote the sharing of best practices including the use of interesting ingredients or cooking methods.[2] The MoU will result in more innovative dishes and dining concepts from Southeast Asia. Several innovative concepts may be found in The Quarters – a restaurant which celebrates Modern Singapore Cuisine. It has come up with a diverse mix of dishes including Kaya Toast with Foie Gras and Scrambled Egg, and a dessert called durian can-boleh (a play on creme brulee).[3] Another diner, the Tiong Bahru Bakery – a café that sells pancakes, viennoiseries, other desserts – has also given a new spin to its dining experience. Late last year, it introduced an African safari theme at its Dempsey Hill branch which is in line with natural greenery in the area.[4]
Tiong Bahru Bakery’s Dempsey Hill branch (Photo: Tiong Bahru Bakery Facebook page)
- https://www.mti.gov.sg/Newsroom/Speeches/2019/03/Speech-by-SMS-Chee-Hong-Tat-at-Restaurant-Asia-2019
- https://www.straitstimes.com/business/companies-markets/asean-fb-sector-set-to-cook-up-a-feast
- http://freshgrads.sg/index.php/articles/lifestyle/food/2702-the-quarters-foie-gras-kaya-toast-durian-creme-brulee-and-other-honest-to-goodness-local-fare-with-an-atas-twist
- http://danielfooddiary.com/2018/11/22/tbbsafari/