SINGAPORE


A DAY IN JOO CHIAT & KATONG


‘Easties’ — residents of east Singapore — often declare that their side of the island is home to the best food, and you’d be hard-pressed to argue. A case in point is the vibrant Peranakan (Straits Chinese) enclave of Joo Chiat and Katong. Amid the neighbourhood’s colourful shophouses and colonial bungalows, you’ll discover traditional cafes alongside modern restaurants and hip bakeries. For the quintessential Singaporean


breakfast, grab a table at Chin Mee Chin Confectionery, where you can sink your teeth into kaya toast (charcoal-grilled bread slices slathered with handmade coconut jam). Reopened in July after a two-year closure, the coffee shop retains its old-school decor, right down to its distinctive green-and-white tiles. Next, cross the road to Cat Socrates, a


quirky boutique purveying books, stationery and locally designed trinkets. From here, it’s a 10-minute walk to what’s undoubtedly the neighbourhood’s most-photographed attraction: a row of pretty, pastel-coloured heritage shophouses along Koon Seng Road.


Once you’ve taken your photos, head


back to East Coast Road for lunch at 328 Katong Laksa, where you can slurp up its namesake dish: noodles in a spicy coconut soup, topped with prawns, beansprouts and cockles. Then, cool down with a refreshing scoop of gelato from Birds of Paradise next door. The botanical-inspired range of flavours on offer includes strawberry basil and white chrysanthemum, both of which pair perfectly with the shop’s signature thyme-infused cones. For an immersive history lesson, check


out Katong Antique House, an impeccably preserved Peranakan abode filled with antiques and artefacts such as crockery, jewellery and lanterns. Visits are by appointment only. Come evening, walk over to East Coast


Park for dinner at Long Beach UDMC, which is famed for its black pepper crab. Order additional dishes such as barbecued cuttlefish, crispy whitebait and steamed razor clams for a decadent seafood feast.


FINE DINING


Odette Three-Michelin-starred Odette is arguably Singapore’s most celebrated restaurant, and with good reason. Chef Julien Royer sources top-notch ingredients from artisanal producers to create immaculate French-Asian plates such as the signature Normandy brown crab with wasabi oil and nashi pear. The interiors — a combination of pale pink terrazzo, grey velvet and natural timber — are equally delectable. odetterestaurant.com


Restaurant Euphoria Despite being less than a year old, this elegant space — owned by acclaimed local chef Jason Tan — has become a destination restaurant. In line with Tan’s ‘gastro- botanica’ culinary philosophy, plant-based ingredients take centre stage; even meat and seafood dishes like lamb and langoustine are elevated by sauces derived from vegetables. restaurant-euphoria.com


Nouri This inventive restaurant specialises in what it calls ‘crossroads cooking’ — food that lies at the intersection of various cultures. A meal here will take you on a world tour: expect dishes such as acaraje (an Afro-Brazilian fritter), cha ca la vong (Vietnamese grilled fish) and pan-seared Hokkaido scallops, all served up at a marble communal table (there are also individual tables for small groups). nouri.com.sg


NATIONALGEOGRAPHIC.CO.UK/FOOD-TRAVEL


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IMAGES: HOSANNA SWEE; GETTY; EK YAP


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