Latest news with #VietnameseCuisine
Independent Singapore
27-06-2025
- Business
- Independent Singapore
Singaporean says he supports 'foreign F&Bs over locals,' gets mixed reaction from netizens
SINGAPORE: A Singaporean recently stirred up debate online after saying he supports foreign-run food and beverage (F&B) outlets over local ones. In a post on the r/SingaporeRaw subreddit, he pointed out how people often complain about the increasing number of foreign F&B brands popping up all over Singapore. But from his perspective, they actually bring 'better food and service' to the table than most local places. He then gave a few examples. One of them was CHAGEE, a popular chain selling Chinese-style milk tea. 'CHAGEE — their milk tea is far superior to typical Sinkie brands, which often taste like cheap, overly sweetened syrup with zero innovation.' Another favourite of his is Bahmi, a Vietnamese spot near his home that he says serves big portions of meat for just $7. He praised the value for money, the consistent quality, and the warm service. 'The pretty Vietnamese girl at the counter always greets customers with a warm smile. It's become my go-to breakfast place.' He went on to criticise the service standards at many local establishments, saying that staff often come across as 'moody or disengaged'. 'If you've travelled abroad often, you'd realise how underwhelming service in Singapore's local F&B scene can be,' he continued. 'You'll see middle-aged women or older aunties frowning as they serve, barely making eye contact. Some even display subtle passive-aggressive behaviour, like slamming your tray, mumbling under their breath, or giving a cold stare if you take too long to order. It's as if you're bothering them just by being there.' 'Hawker food used to be cheap and good; now most aren't either.' Unsurprisingly, the post drew mixed reactions. Some commenters agreed, saying that customer service in Singapore can be hit or miss and that foreign F&B brands do tend to 'try harder' because they're new and need to build a customer base. One wrote, 'Some of these foreign F&B provide better value, like free napkins, free-flow rice and sky juice. Most local estab charges for these and they add up.' Another said, 'Only Sinkies stuck in SG would buy into how wonderful the local food scene is. Maybe it used to be, but no longer. Hawker food used to be cheap and good; now most aren't either. And I can't think of a local F&B brand that is worth the hype.' A third added, 'Aside from f&b some stores can have really snobbish or rude af staff like idk what's gotten into some of them.' Others, however, pushed back. They pointed out that many so-called 'local' F&B places actually hire foreign staff too, so blaming bad service on the fact that it's a local brand isn't exactly fair. One commenter explained, 'Most staffs are Malaysians and rarely they are locals. Anyway, not just our FnB is lacking in service even retail. You go to places like Miniso and similar shop the staff will walk away as you get closer to them and some pretend they are busy. I don't expect them to acknowledge me, but as a customer, I will still be turned off by this behaviour.' In other news, a jobseeker recently shared on Reddit that he had a strange and uncomfortable experience during the hiring process with a local SME. Posting on the r/askSingapore forum on Wednesday (Jun 25), the jobseeker said the company asked him to bring his payslip to the very first interview, which already felt like a 'red flag.' During the interview, the hiring manager also mentioned that overtime was 'very normal' in their company, which added to his concerns. But the biggest surprise came after the interview. The HR representative told the jobseeker that if another company offered him a higher salary, the SME would not proceed with the hiring. They also said that if he wanted a written offer, he would need to 'verbally commit' first and reject all other job opportunities he was considering. Read more: 'Is this normal?' SG jobseeker puzzled after SME asks for payslip and verbal commitment without written offer Featured image by Depositphotos (for illustration purposes only)
Yahoo
22-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Are you a fan of Matcha? I may have found the best café for it in Colchester
Are you a fan of Matcha? I may have found the best café for it in Colchester I'VE never understood the hype around matcha. There, I said it. Every so often, I give it another try — convinced by glowing Instagram posts and gushing recommendations — only to be met with yet another overly bitter, grassy disappointment. But scrolling past yet another story of someone sipping a bright green iced latte on a sunny terrace finally pushed me to make one last attempt. This time, I headed to Ella's Ca Phe House on Sir Isaac's Walk — and I'm glad I did. Ella's ca phe house (Image: Newsquest Reporter) A well-known Vietnamese café and restaurant in the heart of Colchester, Ella's has already earned a loyal following for its coffee — so I figured, if anyone can change my mind about matcha, it's them. ADVERTISEMENT I ordered their Strawberry Matcha Latte (£6.50) and, to my surprise, it was fantastic. Strawberry matcha (Image: Newsquest Reporter) Light, creamy, not overly sweet, and without that overpowering grassy flavour I usually dread. The strawberry and matcha actually complemented each other — a rare feat, in my experience. While sipping on my very first enjoyable matcha, I scanned the menu and decided to try something more: their Pork Banh Mi (£9.50). A traditional Vietnamese sandwich, it arrived crisp, fresh, and absolutely packed with flavour — tender pork, crunchy pickled veg, and a kick of spice nestled in a perfectly baked baguette. Banh mi sandwich (Image: Newsquest Reporter) It was easily one of the best things I've eaten in town this month. The venue itself is just as vibrant as the flavours. The décor is colourful and full of personality, with a warm and welcoming vibe. The staff are lovely — friendly, attentive, and clearly passionate about what they serve. ADVERTISEMENT The gorgeous interiors (Image: Newsquest Reporter) It's no wonder the place is always buzzing. With summer here, I have no doubt Ella's will continue to be a go-to hotspot in Colchester. From refreshing drinks to flavour-packed bites, it's a café that delivers — even for the matcha sceptics among us. So if you, like me, have never been sold on the green stuff, give it one more go at Ella's. You might just be converted.
Daily Mail
14-06-2025
- General
- Daily Mail
THE CANNY COOK: Prawn rice-paper dumplings
Full disclosure: this week's recipe repeatedly popped up on my Instagram feed for a couple of months before I tried making my own version. Usually I'm sceptical about trying viral dishes. A few years ago I reviewed some of TikTok 's most popular recipes for this magazine and, although some were better than expected, I didn't rush to remake any. But I'm happy to report that these dumplings are worthy of a Canny Cook appearance. I'm a huge fan of summer rolls – the Vietnamese soft rice- paper rolls stuffed with prawns, herbs and rice noodles, and these use the same rice-paper wrappers but are fried till crispy. Most videos I've seen make it all look very easy, but it did take me a few attempts to get the dumpling assembly right. You need to work quite quickly because the wrappers continue to soften after soaking and you want a roughly even layer on all sides, as they'll tear during cooking if too thin. Making the dumplings bite-sized proved the easiest method (and great for eating), but you can make them bigger if you prefer. In terms of the filling, you could add some grated ginger or shredded cabbage, swap the prawns for minced chicken or pork, or use chopped shiitake mushrooms for a vegetarian option. The recipe here is a very simple but satisfying option. METHOD Finely chop the spring onions and grate the carrot. Tip into a large mixing bowl. Chop the prawns using a large, sharp knife. Keep running the knife through them until they're really chopped. Add to the bowl with a pinch of salt and pepper, 1½ tsp soy sauce and ½ tsp toasted sesame oil. Mix well. Fill a large, rimmed plate with cold water and have a chopping board ready. Soak a rice-paper wrapper in the water for 5 seconds, then lay it on the chopping board. Cut in half. Add a teaspoon of the prawn mixture to the middle of each half. Wrap the dumplings one at a time, folding the top and bottom edges over the filling, then folding one side of the wrapper over the top to seal and the other side underneath, so you have an even layer of wrapper all round. Repeat the process to make all the dumplings (brush the outsides with oil if they're sticking). Heat 1 tbsp vegetable oil in a large frying pan over a medium-high heat. Fry the dumplings for about 4-5 minutes on each side until golden. Serve with extra soy sauce for dipping. *This cost assumes you already have some basic store-cupboard ingredients. prices taken from aldi and correct at time of going to press.
Wall Street Journal
13-06-2025
- Business
- Wall Street Journal
7 Actually Great Cookbooks From Food Brands, From Fishwife to Tito's Vodka
A few years ago, when 'The Red Boat Fish Sauce Cookbook' landed on my desk, I wasn't expecting much more than an ad for a condiment. But here was a cookbook that told the story of Cuong Pham, an immigrant from Vietnam in Northern California, and the company he founded, inspired by the flavors of his mother's cooking. The recipes were as personal and considered as the narrative. This influential title made me look at branded cookbooks with new eyes. And this genre has since become one to take seriously.
Independent Singapore
04-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Independent Singapore
‘Mulan' star Liu Yifei dines at celeb-favourite pho spot in France
FRANCE: Chinese-American actress Liu Yifei was spotted eating pho at a popular Vietnamese restaurant in France. VNExpress , citing Style UDN , reported that the star was dressed casually in a black top, while her hair was tied in a high bun, with minimal makeup, and accessorised with pearl earrings. Photo: Instagram/Liu Yifei Dining quietly until a fan noticed her The actress was initially seen eating at a highly visible spot near the entrance and was comfortable and unbothered by the surroundings. Liu's assistant quickly moved their table to provide more privacy when a fan recognised her. The assistant told the fans not to follow Liu. The Vietnamese restaurant that Liu went to is a favourite choice among international celebrities such as Japanese actor Yokohama Ryusei and director Hirokazu Koreeda. In France for a Louis Vuitton event So, the actress was actually in France for a special event put on by the fancy fashion brand Louis Vuitton . Liu, who's 38, was born in China but moved to the U.S. when she was just 10 after her parents divorced. She even became a U.S. citizen! Later, she headed back to China to chase her acting dreams, and it really paid off. She shot to fame in 2003 with the TV series The Story of a Noble Family. Since then, she's become a huge star, making a name for herself in both Chinese and Hollywood movies. See also Scarlett Johansson on upcoming Black Widow film In 2009, she was even recognised as one of China's 'New Four Dan Actresses,' which is basically a fancy way of saying she was one of the top four most successful and popular actresses in the country. More than just Mulan Liu Yifei is also known as Crystal Liu, who is not only an actress, but also a singer and model. She was born on August 25, 1987, in Wuhan, China, with the birth name An Feng. She was only 15 when she got accepted into the prestigious Beijing Film Academy's Performance Institute, and she successfully graduated in 2006. She gained significant recognition for her roles as Wang Yuyan in Demi-Gods and Semi-Devils (2003) and Zhao Ling'er in Chinese Paladin (2005), which further solidified her popularity. Since then, Liu has really made a name for herself, becoming a major star in both the Chinese movie scene and Hollywood. Her notable film roles include The Forbidden Kingdom (2008), The Assassins (2012), and Outcast (2014). See also A fan did something that caused Alex Man to glare at him She really made her mark on the global stage when she starred as Mulan in Disney's live-action film a few years ago, in 2020. She has also starred in recent TV series like A Dream of Splendor (2022), Meet Yourself (2023), and The Tale of Rose (2024).
