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Sunday, June 8, 2025
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Little Island Brewing Co

 

If you’re planning to cycle around the east coast of Singapore, keep pedalling up to Changi Village. Anchored near Tekong Seafood, the laidback microbrewery is positioned at a key spot in the village – with a view of Changi Creek Reservoir.

While this place has been open since July last year, the microbrewery’s location has been the only cause of “I’ll get to it some other time”. Costs for this amount of space closer to the centre of the city would have made everything a whole lot more expensive – and it also gives a cooler vibe, more a Margaret River-esque out-of-the-way feel that makes a microbrewery just a little bit more special.

Little Island Brewing Co serves up its own beers in the vessels inside – you might catch one of the employees checking the levels. Nearby said vessels is a row of taps with touchscreens. Drinks are poured yourself with prepaid cards purchased at the counter in $10 tiers. While it leaves the drink-pouring process in your hands, you can have the opportunity to try all the beers on tap if you wish – without ordering a half-pint for each one. You can also watch the cents trickle away as you pour.

From all of the drinks available on tap – including imported British ciders, and wine on tap – I tried the Whiter Shade Pale Ale ($2 per 100ml). This was a tasty, hoppy brew that went down a treat, given the heat. The Sister Golden Ale ($2 per 100ml) was light and slightly fruity. For fans of roasted barley, the Black Magic Irish Stout ($2.40 per 100ml) has a subtler malt taste than most stouts.

The brunch and dinner menus offer a mixture of Western dishes and pub grub – there’s a smoker in the kitchen that cooks up a 15-hour slow-smoked brisket in a sandwich or Balinese pork ribs. The brunch deal ($15) offers a mains dish, along with a free coffee, tea or soda – the homemade (non-alcoholic) ginger beer is fiery and delicious. The chicken salad, while not a massive serving, is a refreshing treat after an 18km-long cycle.

Come to think of it, cycling after drinks is not the best idea, so best enjoy the nearby park before heading back.

Little Island Brewing Co
6 Changi Village Rd
Tel 6543 9100
libc.co

Bao Makers

 
How could we only now have a chili crab stuffed in to pockets of dough? The not-so-subtle gentrification of the Jalan Besar area has given rise to cool cafes with some quirky offerings. One of which serves buns stuffed with different meaty concoctions.

Diners are encouraged to eat with their hands. You need to order at least two (at just over $5 for each one), but three hit the spot. The bun of the bulgogi bao was my favourite, with slightly spicy sliced pork in a fried bun. The teriyaki chicken and Nanban chicken baos are battered, hugged by a soft baked bun.

There are other mains on offer – including pastas and Japanese dons – as well as different sundaes, sides and hot drinks to order while soaking in the hipster surrounds of the concrete walls.

Bao Makers
78 Horne Rd
Tel 6291 2330
baomakers.com

Top 5 Modern SG Restaurants

Wild Rocket

Inside a gorgeous combination of jigsaw puzzle wood and concrete walls is a restaurant serving laksa pesto linguine, iberico pork char siew and pomelo salad with tiger prawns.

10A Upper Wilkie Rd
Tel 6339 9448
wildrocket.com.sg

Labrinth

Focusing on the five taste sensations – sweet, sour, salty, bitter and umami – the restaurant has a version of Hainanese curry rice made with quinoa, chicken mousseline and clay potato.

8 Raffles Ave #02-23
Tel 6223 4098
labyrinth.com.sg

Redpan

Working closely with one of Singapore’s biggest architecture firms, the newly opened restaurant offers chilli fries with char siew ragout, prawn and ‘hae bi hiam’ pasta and beef short rib satay.

12 Raffles Blvd #02-03/04
Tel 6255 5850
redpan.sg

Ding Dong

A great East-meets-West interpretation of dishes – like crispy duck curry with cauliflower and passionfruit – and cocktails with a twist in the heart of Ann Siang Road.

23 Ann Siang Rd
Tel 6557 0189
dingdong.com.sg

Violet Oon’s Kitchen

Aiming for authentic local food in the surrounds of elegant Peranakan tiles and chandeliers, there’s Nyonya Kueh Pie Tee cups, spicy beef rendang, dry laksa and sugee cake to try out.

881 Bukit Timah Rd
Tel 6468 5430
violetoon.com

Top tips on choosing the best school for your child

Choosing the ideal school for your child can be one of the most important and daunting decisions that a parent will make. Navigating schools in Singapore is especially challenging as the cost of international schools can be considerable and fewer ‘expat packages’ are available to incoming families.

When accompanied by a relocation agent or arranging school visits yourself, the school tour can often be confusing. What should you be asking? What is the difference between the curriculums? What does a quality school actually look like?

When evaluating a school, here are 4 Top Tips that parents should consider:

1. Class size and teacher ratio

The number of students in a class and the teacher-to-student ratio offers a good indication of what the everyday learning environment is like for your child. Ideally in Preschool parents should aim for a 1:8 teacher-to-student ratio or less and by Primary school a 1:11 ratio is considered positive.

Take a moment to check the ratio is not described as ‘adults’. An ‘adult’ ratio usually means a non- professional whereas if the school promotes ‘teachers’ you can be sure you only have fully qualified educators in the classroom.

2. Quality of teachers

It is the teachers that will have the biggest influence on your child in school. Studies have shown that excellent teachers can accelerate the rate of learning among their students, therefore it is crucial to look at the school’s teachers when considering a school.

When walking around the school review the enthusiasm and engagement in the room. Are the students interested, listening, communicating, on-task? All teachers can have a bad day (!) but the overall classroom engagement across the school is a great indicator of quality educators.

3. Academic performance coupled with Well-being Programmes

Good exam results are one of the clearest indicators of a school’s effectiveness in educating its students. Parents should review the exam results of the school and request them if they are not made freely available.

However, a school’s academic track record should not be the sole consideration. Parents should look out for a holistic curriculum that nurtures a healthy inquisitiveness in students and encourages the development of non-academic skillsets (often called a ‘Well-Being Programme’ or ‘Positive Education Programme’) which support a child’s long-term personal development.

4. School culture and environment

Ideally tour a school during regular school hours to gain a real insight into the school. It is very hard to get a feel for a school with empty classrooms.

There are small things a parent can look out for while looking around a school, such as are they politely greeted, by students and staff, as they walk around? Are the children happy and engaged in their learning? Can you see and hear the learning taking place? How are the Values of the School embedded as you walk around? Even the school’s display boards can reveal a lot about the school. Are the display boards relatively new? Is the children’s work valued? What is the quality of writing like?

These points are often overlooked but are a good indication of the school’s commitment to high quality education.

Ultimately, choosing a school is a very emotive decision. Follow your heart and best of luck!

Written by Kirsty Dewhirst
Assistant Principal
Avondale Grammar School
www.avondale.edu.sg

Feeling great with Pilates

Pilates has become increasingly popular in recent years as a low-impact strength and conditioning exercise. Renowned for it’s focus on core control, Pilates also offers an abundance of other benefits which complement today’s lifestyle.

Pilates for whole body toning

Pilates exercises systematically work throughout the entire body so that muscles become stronger and more toned, from your head right down to your feet. The deep abdominal muscles are also activated and strengthened with the Pilates breathing technique. By working these muscles, the pelvis and spine are trained to support the trunk during movement, which will help to prevent injury.

Pilates corrects posture and eliminates ‘new’ pain

Pilates movements address deviations in posture, which are caused by every day tasks such as sitting at your desk, playing sports or twisting and bending to pick up shopping. By stretching and strengthening tense or weak muscles, Pilates can help to correct posture and create awareness for good postural habits. Pilates exercises bring your body back to a stronger and leaner state, and fosters good movement habits such as activating the stomach muscles whilst bending and lifting, which will eliminate back pain and reduce the risk of injury.

Pilates promotes flexibility

By encouraging the spine to move in different directions, within the safe range of motion, Pilates exercises help to develop both strength and flexibility. Pilates stretches create space in the joints, hence increasing flexibility, length and mobility of the hips, hamstrings, back, front and sides of the body. This increased flexibility is important as it helps to reduce tension so you can carry out daily tasks pain-free.

For more information on Pilates and how you can incorporate it into your lifestyle, please visit www.focuspilates.com.sg.

About Focus Pilates

Focus Pilates is the largest integrated Pilates and physiotherapy studio in Singapore and South East Asia. Established in 2004, they have since been providing world-class Pilates classes as well as physiotherapy designed for fitness and rehabilitation. Focus Pilates has two studios conveniently located in Orchard Road and Raffles Place, both of which are fully equipped with the latest Pilates equipment and dedicated physiotherapy treatment areas.

You haven’t lived in Asia until you’ve tried these dishes

Food is a big thing in Southeast Asia. We’ve all tried Nasi Goreng, but what about the less familiar ones? Sometimes the really good ones are in restaurants that are no more than just a hole in the wall but you know they are good because the locals frequent them. If you are the kind of guy/ gal that likes to check these places out but don’t want to put a dent in your wallet, there is a way to do it on the cheap if you know how. Let’s start with these four:

1. Patin Pak Usop, Temerloh, Malaysia

Patin is such a signature dish in the country that it was even served to President Obama when he came to Malaysia. Temerloh, Pahang is THE place to go for you to sample the Patin or Silver Catfish. Cooked with durian, it can be an acquired taste to some, but those that love it say Pak Usop serves the best iteration of the dish. Temerloh is easily reachable, just hop on a bus or a plane to Kuantan and travel to Temerloh via bus or hired transports. Expedia and BusOnlineTicket can hook you up with travel an accommodations. For further discounts, Saleduck has coupons and deals available on their site to give you further reduction on your ticket prices.

2. Pempek Beringin, Palembang, Indonesia

Pempek, a savoury fishcake delicacy, is a must try if you visit Palembang, Indonesia. Served with yellow noodles and kuah cuko (vinegar sauce) it is the quintessential Palembang dish and can be eaten as a main course or as a snack. Pempek Beringin is one of the more popular joints and is worth a visit. Most direct way to Palembang is via a 1.5 hour flight from Singapore, with about 5 flights to the city a week. Bookings can be made via Expedia to find the most economical flight option.

3. Buffalo Thai Restaurant, Ko Lipe, Thailand

Not exactly serving traditional dish, but if you are having some fun in the sun in Ko Lipe, check out Buffalo Thai for the best burgers in town. With quite a decent menu on offer, it is their Mega Burger that fans has been waxing lyrical about all over the internet. With fluffy sesame buns and and amazingly juicy patty covered in melted cheese, it is just way to good to pass over. Easiest way to get to Ko Lipe from Singapore is via Langkawi Island. AirAsia has daily flights to Langkawi from Singapore and once you arrive in Langkawi, you can take the ferry to Ko Lipe at the jetty which is only 10 minutes from the airport. Pro tip: Check out Saleduck’s AirAsia page for further discounts for your flight ticket.

4. Bun Cha Dac Kim, Hanoi, Vietnam

People say that when you go to Hanoi, don’t forget to eat Bun Cha. There are 2 places that are famous for their Bun Cha in Hanoi and their names are almost similar. The only thing differentiating them is the colour of their awnings, one blue and one orange. Both have great Bun Cha, but I think their spring rolls are more special. You may think that spring rolls are a “taste one and you’ve tasted them all” sort of affair. Not so in Hanoi. It used to be that a new bride is judged by how well she could roll spring rolls so you know that there is something really special about the rolls here. Hundreds of netizens have vouched on how good they are. If this has piqued your curiosity and you want to make your way over, there are many decent accommodations for you to choose from. Check out Saleduck’s discounts for hotels to get you an even better deal for your bookings.

There you have it, 4 interesting foodie places that you can check out in South East Asia. Most of the time, these places are not one of the fancier ones that you can find, but the most important thing is that the locals vouch for them and their prices are relatively decent, perfect for that budget trip you are concocting. Others may disagree, but that’s the beauty of the whole exercise, to become passionate about food in the region and creating your own opinions. And in that, I think I am successful.

4 Tips For The Right Health Insurance

1. Get The Right Level Of Cover

Knowing you have medical insurance that provides adequate coverage is one important factor that can help you feel at ease. Determine your level of coverage comfort zone: basic, medium or comprehensive. In Singapore, a basic policy will cover hospitalization and inpatient costs, including surgery. The next tier will usually cover outpatient services (GP), but excludes specialists and restricts you to a specific list of local primary care doctors. Comprehensive plans typically cover all your medical expenses and will rarely leave you out-of-pocket by reimbursing costs for specialists, dental, maternity, physiotherapy and/or routine screenings.

2. Alleviate Exposure To Financial Risk

The treatment costs for the unexpected can be exorbitant. You need to know if you are adequately protected should you be diagnosed with a critical illness or require treatment after an unforeseen accident. If you are underinsured, the bill will fall to you for payment once your expense limits are exhausted. Top-Up health insurance is available for employee health benefits program holders and their families. Usually these benefit programs only offer minimum coverage for the policy holder with little or no support for major accident or crucial illness expenses.

Private hospital stays in Singapore average $500 per night and should you be admitted to the ICU, you are looking upwards of $600-$900 per night for the room charges alone before including any treatment costs. This is why we buy medical insurance: to protect ourselves from the financial burden of hefty hospital bills when life throws us a curve ball.

3. Understand Hidden Exclusions

Within your medical policy, your advisor will point out any hidden exclusions that will leave you vulnerable to large, uncovered medical expenses. The most common exclusion is pre-existing conditions. Depending on the type of condition and severity, insurers may offer to include the condition by charging an additional premium. In many cases, this additional charge is less than if you were to bear the costs of the condition out of pocket.

Also keep in mind, pregnancy and newborn insurance come with a waiting period of 12-24 months. Often newborn babes need a little extra care and paediatric attention or spend time in neo-natal ICU for even minor matters like jaundice. Daily visits back to the doctor to check levels after discharge can be ongoing and expensive.

At Expat Insurance we have seen bills exceed $180,000 in the first 30 days for extreme cases. Even in routine delivery, typically the bills for baby will exceed $2,000 just for the routine care immediately following birth while in hospital 3-4 days.

4. One Plan Doesn’t Necessarily Suit All

For families, keep in mind that it is not necessary to put all members on the same plan or with the same insurer. The employed spouse may just need a top-up plan because work provides basic cover, the other spouse may have a pre-existing condition best served by another policy and, while the kids are healthy, they tend to frequent the doctor’s office for minor accidents and illnesses. Expat Insurance, Singapore’s leading brokerage for expatriates can provide this flexibility for you.

Expat Insurance Pte Ltd, Call +65 6401 9201 Email: [email protected]
20 Upper Circular Road, The Riverwalk, #B1-52, Singapore 058416
Web: www.expatinsurance.com.sg

Top 5 Healthy Food Deliveries

Healthy eating without the fuss – our pick of the top 5 healthy food deliveries.

1 Grain

Average cost per meal: $10.95 – $12.95
Delivery fee: $9.50 islandwide
A weekly rotation of healthy Asian and Western grub, complete with nutritional info on the box, is sent to your email weekly. Delivery is free around the CBD area.
grain.com.sg

2 Spinacas

Average cost per meal: $9-$17
Delivery fee: $4-$6 ($30 order minimum)
The salad delivery service with ten different dishes offers less carbs and more protein in their diet. Prepared daily, the meaty salads are delivered via red Vespa scooter.
spinacas.com

3 Fitthree

Average cost per meal: $12.90
Delivery fee: Free
This bi-weekly service caters to active gymgoers looking for three or five prepared meals designed by a dietician are delivered to your gym, ready to be heated and eaten.
fitthree.com

4 Food Matters

Average cost per meal: $7 – $10
Delivery fee: Free
The six meals each day are designed by a nutritionist, ranging from local to Western fare. The service works as a tiered subscription, from once a month to daily.
sg.foodmatters.me (checked on 8 June 2018 and no longer answers)

5 YOLO

Average cost per meal: $10.50 – $17.50
Delivery fee: $3 ($15 order minimum)
The restaurant’s menu serves up purpose to each dish – for example, ‘Energise’ with low GI meals, or ‘Build’ for high protein plates. There are smoothies up for grabs too.
yolofood.com.sg

10 Minutes with…Honor Harger, Executive Director at ArtScience Museum

  

You’ve been with ArtScience Museum for two years now. What a milestone to share with the new Future World exhibition.
Exactly! I was mentioning to a colleague that the media launch for the i Light two years ago was the very first thing that I did as the Director at ArtScience Museum. I was just amazed being at Marina Bay and just realising the opportunity that we had. And just what’s happened in Singapore in the last two years…it’s been a big couple of years for the country.

You were able to bring big tech-focused exhibitions to Singapore like Collider and Dreamworks Animation. Was Future World already in the works when you came on board.
No, but there was always an intention to launch a permanent exhibition. That’s been in the planning since the beginning of the institution. Thinking about how we would go about doing this, what the content would be, this was all ‘to do’. When I joined it was very high on our priority list. The permanent exhibition would have to be permanent, yet changing, which is an interesting concept. The most logical way to approach that challenge is to look at new technology, immersive and interactive digital media, particularly considering this is a museum that doesn’t have its own collection.

We wanted to do something that was an embodiment of our purpose as an institution, which is to show that intersection point between art, science and technology. We didn’t want to tell that story in a pedagogical way, but to show. TeamLab is the embodiment of that, and it became obvious quite quickly that they were a partner we wanted to work with in a big way.

The interactivity of the exhibition is a big highlight. Tech can sometimes be dull on its own, so interactivity could envoke more of an emotional reaction.
That’s very perceptive. The whole philosophy of how TeamLab go about making projects for children is exactly rooted in that analysis. They love technology. Lots of them are technologists, they’re mathematicians, they’re physicists…however lots of them have children, and they see the distancing effect that technology can have with children. If your child has an iPad or phone, chances are their interaction of the outside world is through the screen. TeamLab have seen the effect that it has in children, and found it really distressing. They wanted to get a way for children to play together, but also to play with their parents.

With such a big project, when did you first get to experience Future World in its entirety?
It’s only really been the week of the launch that it’s really stated to operate as an exhibition. Up until then it was a building site – hard hats, cranes, lifters, putting down carpet. It wasn’t until the last two days that we were able to walk through the show and go ‘Wow, there it is. We did it.’ It’s a pretty amazing experience.

Which of the 15 installations was the hardest to put up?
The one that has been the logistical challenge, and we always knew it would be, was Crystal Universe. This is 170,000 individual LED lights that have to be hung in exactly the right position because they’ve all been individually programmed. It’s a gigantic 3D screen, and every light is a pixel – but they’re not pixels, they’re physical objects that need to be hung. To put up and program 170,000 different lights is a challenge.

Future World is currently running at ArtScience Museum. Go to marinabaysands.com/museum.html for more information.

Trapizza

If a meal at the beach sounds like something you and your family would enjoy, look no further than Trapizza on Siloso Beach, Sentosa – facing the South China Sea, located near the Siloso Point Cable Car Station.

Travel by taxi, car or the resort’s shuttle bus from VivoCity, and let time wash away over lunch or dinner. Embracing the peaceful atmosphere at the casual openair Italian eatery, we were seated under white canopies; though on weekends expect a bustling scene. Take a stroll on the smooth sand, wade at the water’s edge, or join in activities like rock climbing, making use of the children’s playground or attempting acrobatic feats on the flying trapeze, all operated by Shangri-La’s Rasa Sentosa Resort & Spa.

Wood-fired thin crust pizzas are a highlight, with the signature Sicilian pizza ($24.90) bursting with flavours from traditional Sicilian pork sausages, salami, capsicum, onion and oregano. I also enjoyed refreshing Siloso prawn salad ($18) for the freshness and juiciness of the colourful tropical fruit, crunchy cucumber and capsicum – complemented by inviting prawns, all drizzled with Italian dressing. Trapizza linguine with prawns, mussels, crab and arugula, tossed in white wine with saffron, tomato and cream is tasty and filling. Another pasta item, the spaghetti aglio olio, is presented with oven-baked tiger prawns, redolent with aromatic herbs and dressed with delightful pesto. A children’s menu includes chicken wings, pasta and suitably sized items for little fingers.

Crème brulee and tiramisu make their appearance alongside ice-cream cones, while the chocolate brownie on offer is lusciously rich.

Thirst-quenchers range from beer, wine and soft drinks to specially crafted mocktails and creative chilled concoctions.

On the two occasions I visited, service was friendly and laid-back, befitting the location. During a weekday lunch, my companions included a handsome peacock out for a stroll.

Trapizza
10 Siloso Beach Walk
Tel 6376 2662
shangri-la.com

REVIEW BY RAELENE TAN. IMAGE COURTESY: SHANGRI-LA’S RASA SENTOSA RESORT AND SPA