Emerging Food Trends

Words by Jae-lyn Yiew

Photos by Jonathan Lim

Are you tired of the overused rainbow-colored, unicorn-themed food trend? Are crazy milkshakes and truffle-infused grub just not cutting it for your taste buds anymore? Well, fret not! From halal options to eco-dining, we have a plethora of dining choices for you to tantalize your taste buds! If you’re looking for something fresh, new and exciting, read on and jump on the bandwagon with our top five picks of the latest food craze.

Bubble Tea Hotpot

Spice Word

3B River Valley Rd, #-1- 06/07. Singapore 179021 BUBBLE TEA HOTPOT

Spice World's Mala x BBT Hotpot

Photo courtesy of Eatbook

Calling all bubble tea addicts: I’m sure you’ve heard of the famed brown sugar milk tea trend, bubble tea ice cream and even boba pizza! Let’s take things one step further, for Singapore’s love for bubble tea clearly knows no bounds. Introducing Spice World’s Mala x BBT Hotpot! For $39.90, you’ll get to sip on chocolate or matcha milk tea broth in a pot with two long bubble tea straws, whilst waiting for the restaurant’s signature spicy mala bear paste to dissolve in the other. Savory toppings provided include: Oreos, sweet potato, yam, pumpkin, jelly, popping boba and small beef cubes. While milk-tea-marinated beef may sound like an intimidating combination to some, the fact that this mala and milk tea duo remained as a permanent menu item two months after its debut really shows its likability.

Halal Ramen

Ichikokudo Hokkaido Ramen

Suntec City Mall B1-135 NorthWing, 3 Temasek Blvd, Singapore 038983

Searching for the right halal ramen option is certainly no mean feat, let alone one that’s traditional and authentic. It’s time to get your ramen fix! Why not give Ichikokudo Hokkaido Ramen a taste? Known as Singapore’s first halal-certified Hokkaido restaurant, the restaurant serves various types of ramen such as their savory IchiSmoked Duck Ramen and Ichi-Beef Ramen ($12.90), spicy Hokai Jigoku Ramen ($13.90), and flavorful, tangy Tomato Ramen.

The Ramen Stall

787 North Bridge Road, Singapore 198755

Photo courtesy of Daniel Food Diary

Another relatively well-known halal ramen restaurant is The Ramen Stall. Some signatures that are worth trying include the Volcano Ramen ($11) with three spice levels to choose from, Dry Ramen ($11), and Beef Ramen ($12.90) with a rich beef broth. Besides their ramen, this popular supper spot also serves other dishes such as a colorful bowl of Kaisen Don ($16.90) full of fresh sashimi and salmon roe. They also offer an affordable and filling Kushiyaki Bento Set ($12.90) consisting of Chicken Yakitori, a skewered prawn, shiitake mushrooms, quail eggs and french beans in a long rice box!

Cauliflower is the New Kale

Photo courtesy of Food.com

With healthy eating as a rising trend, the cauliflower has been a huge hit in 2019 and is expected to retain its title as the new ‘it’ vegetable in 2020 as well. Serving as a healthier alternative for carbs such as rice and flour, dishes such as cauliflower gnocchi and cauliflower pizza crust have allowed consumers to indulge in their favorite comfort food guilt-free! Its popularity is also attributed to the vegetable’s versatility and mild flavor, making it well-liked when used in various recipes. Why not have some fun experimenting in the kitchen? We challenge you to try and recreate some of renowned chef Jamie Oliver’s distinguished recipes, such as Cauliflower Cheese, Pot Roast Cauliflower, and Cauliflower and Chickpea Stew with Fluffy Couscous!

Sustainable Dining

Salted and Hung

12 Purvis Street, Singapore 188591

Photo courtesy of Time Out

In recent years, sustainable dining has become a hot topic amongst consumers. There is now a need to know if one’s food is sustainably and ethically sourced. With a rise in food waste awareness comes an increase in demand for fresh and locally grown produce, shelf-life extending products, sustainable seafood, and the elimination of single-use plastics. Several restaurants are jumping onto the sustainability train, and here are a few to note!

Stuff yourselves silly with tender meat at Salted and Hung! This modern Australian restaurant was created with the philosophy of minimal waste in mind. Known for their creative use of forgotten parts, their menu consists of dishes using all parts of an animal from the skin to the bone, protein to innards. Some menu items include the Chef’s Selection ($28), an appetizer that comes with five types of cold cuts; the Blackmore Wagyu Tri-Tip ($38) served with liquid nitrogen-frozen beer and corn puree; Lamb Charsiew ($48) and Chilli and Quail ($22) served with sausage stuffing and gravy made from quail bones and stock.

Labyrinth

8 Raffles Ave #02-23, Singapore 039802

Photo courtesy of Daniel Food Diary

If you’re craving for some local cuisine or looking for a fancy restaurant to bring a date, why not treat yourself at award-winning Restaurant Labyrinth? A one-star Michelin restaurant, Labyrinth is known for its new expression of Singapore cuisine and was inspired by Chef LG Han’s memories of growing up in Singapore. Its unique menu consists of dishes comprised of locally sourced ingredients such as clam tarts using clams produced from the fish farm — Ah Hua Kelong, topped with XO sambal and Chinese spinach. They also serve a unique dish, the “Nasi Lemak” Chee Cheong Fan, which uses the skin of the Cheong Fan, egg yolk gel as the filling, and Nasi Lemak sambal, ikan bilis and cucumber as toppings.

Going Meat-free: Impossible Burger

Into greens but always wondered about the taste of meat? Have your burger cravings satisfied with an Impossible Burger! You can barely decipher the imitation from the actual meat! Made from a combination of beetroot, soy, nuts, and tempeh, these plant-based burgers make cheat day everyday possible. The secret ingredient? The iron molecule — heme. Found in plants, where the taste of beef comes from, these vegan burgers not only reduce your intake cholesterol and fat but minimizes animal cruelty as well.

The Tiramisu Hero

121 Tyrwhitt Road, Singapore 207548

Photo courtesy of The Smart Local

Jumping onto the bandwagon, in 2019, The Tiramisu Hero Cafe released two juicy impossible burgers — the vegan and vegetarian Pussibergs ($22) served with criss-cut fries. This pet-friendly cafe is also known for its scrumptious Western mains, and just as its name suggests, a must-try is their famed tiramisu dessert ‘MommaHero’ ($7.50 - $9.50) which comes in over 10 flavors!

Nature Cafe

Suntec City Mall B1- 148 North Wing, 3 Temasek Blvd, Singapore 038983

Serving both Asian and Western cuisines, The Nature Cafe offers Beyond Meats burgers ($16.90) with vegan cheese and a generous helping of crispy potato wedges. This guilt-free burger also comes in four unique flavors: Mayo, Kimchi, Spicy Satay and Black Pepper. Other dishes available in this vegetarian restaurant include the Preserved Vegetable Stew ($7.90) and the Stone Pot Monkey Rice ($12).