Join “Let’s Makan” Food Trail by Food Republic!

Food is undoubtedly an important aspect in Singapore. With a multitude of colourful cuisines, each with its own unique flavour and aroma, Singaporeans are bonded through food.

Just two weeks ago, we were invited to “Let’s Makan” food trail organized by Food Republic. Held at the newly revamped Food Republic at Wisma, not only are there increased dining options offering 27 stalls of best local food under one roof, there are also exhibits that highlight various icons from 1960s which brings nostalgic memories for many.

We were divided into groups and our first task: DRAW OUR OWN TEAM FLAG! We call ourselves “Crabby Republic” (because we love crabs!) and I drew a crab while the ladies helped with the colouring.

Before the games began, we started with a range of local food such as Popiah & Chicken Wings from Huat Huat BBQ; and Fried Hokkien Mee from Thye Hong.

Huat Huat’s chicken wings are specially ordered from the States or from Europe as they come in the most ideal size and there are even ‘chilli specialists’ to handpick each chilli used to prepare the sauce. The juicy BBQ chicken wings are paired with an addictive chilli sauce. We also had a popiah which gives you a burst of flavour with its sweet sauce, chilli paste and peanut toppings.

If you are a fan of Fried Prawn Noodles, Char Kway Teow and Fried Oyster Omelette, then Thye Hong is touted to have one of the best. With over 40 years of history, Thye Hong insisted on serving its fare on Opei leaves specially imported from Malaysia and Indonesia. The leaf infuses a subtle, woody fragrance to enhance the taste of the noodles. Flavourful, sticky but not gummy, the stock holds the dish together and keeps it good till the last bite.

No, you are not only there to stuff yourself crazy with the local food. The Food Republic team has also planned a series of mini games for us to play and interact. One of the games was to guess the coffee orders for these four cups of coffee. Thank goodness I am a coffee drinker, so our team conquered it quite easily! *flips hair*

Another game that we played was to piece a jigsaw puzzle and find the correct stall to collect the food. This is quite simple, isn’t it? *drum rolls*

It’s my favourite stall – Nasi Lemak from Indonesian Padang! This brings back so much memories because its sister outlets, Padang Padang, at ION Food Opera was crowned one of the top 3 Hawker Kings when I was judging Food Republic Hawker King Challenge 2012!

There are more than 40 dishes available daily which include their signature Beef Rendang, Chicken Curry and Ayam Merah. These, when paired together with Indonesian Padang’s homemade sambal chilli, gives the true Indonesian taste that the owner holds fondly close to her heart. The dishes here (right down to the sauces) are prepared from scratch and ingredients are sourced from Indonesia.

Continuing with our makan trail *rubs tummy*, we also had a delicious bowl of Bak Chor Mee from Capitol Puay Heng and Sergeant Hainanese Chicken Rice. Started in 1979 at a coffee shop behind the old Capitol cinema, the bak chor mee offers scallops, fish dumplings and bream fish to cater to the palettes of the younger generation. Sergeant Hainanese Chicken Rice is a plate of greasy goodness. The uncooked rice grains are first pre-fried in delicious chicken fat before being cooked in chicken broth to give it a nice shine and aroma.

The ladies in my team love the plate of Roast Meats from Guan Chee Hong Kong Roasted Duck. One of them was sharing with me how she would queue for it during lunch time! Boasting more than 30 years of history, Guan Chee has indeed established itself as the roast duck connoisseur. The fragrance of the roast meats is said to be derived from a secret recipe sauce passed down from the first generation. It’s indeed smoky and succulently juicy!

Last but not the least, we get to make our own Ice Kachang! This is an instant gratification to tropical Singapore’s hot and humid weather. The dessert shop also offers other cold desserts such as Ice Kachang, Bubur Cha-Cha, Chendol, Ice-jelly and Cheng Tng.

Two hours of laughter, we had so much fun trying all the local food that Food Republic @ Wisma has to offer. At the same time, it was some interaction time with my friends as we challenged to complete the mini games together! Thank you Food Republic for planning this!

Address: Wisma Atria Level 4, 435 Orchard Road, Singapore 238877
Opening hours: 10am –10pm (Monday –Thursday, Sunday, Public Holiday); 10am-11pm (Friday, Saturday, Eve of Public Holiday)

As a proud homegrown brand, Food Republic is celebrating the nation’s golden jubilee by giving Singaporeans a hearty epicurean adventure featuring signature hawker favourites. If you enjoy eating and love to have fun, sign up for “Let’s Makan” food trail that will happen 29 August and 5 September. You will be able to reacquaint yourself with local food delights that are freshly prepared, fun and interactive mini-games and quizzes, as well as the hands-on experience of creating dishes such as Ice Kachang!

Related Link : https://www.chuankain1.sg-host.com/food-republic/

Session 1:
Date: Saturday, 29 August
Time: 1pm to 3pm
Venue: Food Republic @ Wisma Atria

Session 2:
Date: Saturday, 5 September
Time: 1pm to 3pm
Venue: Food Republic @ VivoCity

Registration and participation are both free! Head over to www.foodrepublic.com.sg to register. Only 40 slots are available per session. JOIN NOW: http://www.foodrepublic.com.sg