Quite like an art piece in its own right, the latest Food For Thought café exudes laidback chic in its new location at SAM at Q8, Singapore Art Museum’s design extension. Nanzinc.Com checks out the youngest cool dude on the grand old Queen Street.
By: Audra Lim
The first thing you notice when you enter the premises is the odd presence of 504 empty pasta bottle jars hanging pretty from above, jars that were instrumental in helping out a few children’s homes in Singapore. Set against a mod industrial-feel ceiling with strategically-placed lightbulbs, this art installation is the first of a variety of clues that point to the social enterprise character of the café.
My companion and I decided to meet there for lunch on a lazy Sunday afternoon. We were very pleased to find out that plain water was free (take note, all you eateries that charge for plain water!). Therein lay the second clue: that all proceeds from cash offered for the free water would go to funding freshwater supply to needy communities.
More brownie points were chalked up when we learnt that there was no service charge. This was in line with its noble mission of ‘cooking for the people’, while doing good at the same time. All these on top of a collection of (p)reloved books, handmade items and other merchandise on sale to help educate Timorese orphans and other international community-building projects through World Vision.
Piqued your interest and warmed your heart? Now for the food.
The café serves European food injected with local flavor, such as Ginger Poached Prawns sandwich ($12), Crispy Curry Chicken & Spicy Chilli Fries ($18), and Hoisin Har Cheong Baby Back Ribs ($24).
The sandwich came with crunchy homemade pickles and a choice of side salads or fries, but the prawns shone with their dressing of kaffir lime mayonnaise and Japanese cucumber. We thought the chicken dish was an instant diet-murderer, but with its buttery corn salad and tender juicy chicken, it was worth every single calorie. The baby back ribs were sweet and succulent, aided largely by the sauce that accentuated the natural flavor of the meat.
Desserts were quite a hit too – the Red Velvet Cake ($6) had a delicious deep red and white contrast, while the Sour Cherry Cheesecake ($6) was light, creamy, with a light biscuit base and just the right touch of sweetness.
Although a tad pricey for a casual café, the food and location make up for it. And knowing that you are doing a good deed for your tummy and the community at the same time, it sure makes it all worth it.
8 Queen Street
Tel: 63389887
420 North Bridge Road, North Bridge Centre #01-06
Tel: 63388724
Leave a Reply 
