27 February 2004:

Yeo Hiap Seng and Makansutra today launched foodculture – a new lifestyle eatery that marks yet another milestone in their joint efforts to champion Singapore’s rich culinary heritage. Mr Lim Neo Chian, Deputy Chairman and Chief Executive of the Singapore Tourism Board, was the Guest of Honour at the official opening.

Located in the middle of the Central Business District at Far East Square, foodculture celebrates the tasteful blend of the old and the new by housing Singapore’s finest heritage foods under one roof in a modern foodcourt environment.

Taking a walk through foodculture reminds one of a nostalgic stroll through a food museum. The eatery showcases local hawker favourites that have changed little since their recipes were first perfected and enjoyed by our forefathers in the streets.

The sense of fierce culinary pride is further reinforced through the use of info-panels that fringe all 11 Makansutra-rated stalls, detailing their respective pedigrees and the histories behind their food, stall and creator.

“We are pleased to be partnering Makansutra in the celebration of our local food culture,” said Mr Anthony Chia, Executive Vice President – Operations of Yeo Hiap Seng. “This project provides us with an excellent platform to promote the successful pairings of Yeo’s Asian drinks with Singapore’s favourite foods.”

"Good makan and good drinks will always be a natural combination, so this is an ideal partnership", quipped Mr K F Seetoh, Chief Executive of Makansutra. "Best of all, everyone's invited to join in the daily celebration of local flavours and favourites, without burning a hole in their pockets!"

Mr Chia Boon Pin, Chief Operating Officer, Retail & Lifestyle Concepts Business Group of Far East Organization added, “Our long term development plan is to open more outlets at strategic locations in Singapore. In addition, we intend to introduce foodculture overseas where feasible, establishing it as a brand name for Singapore heritage food.”

In conjunction with the Official Opening, the Guest-of-Honour presented prizes to winners of the Yeo’s Drink Matching Contest, in which Singaporeans voted for the best Yeo’s drinks to be paired with their favourite local food.

Far East Square is a conservation project that integrates past architectural and traditional elements with modern structures and amenities. The once derelict shophouses have been transformed into a vibrant 21st century city complex with modern offices, retail and food and beverage outlets, a state-of-the-art cultural pavilion as well as two heritage sites, the Fuk Tak Chi Temple and Chui Eng Free School. Today, besides foodculture, Far East Square also houses an array of local eateries steeped in rich tradition, making it a destination for heritage food.

A globally recognised commercial complex, Far East Square has the distinction of being awarded the FIABCI Prix d’Excellence (Specialised Category, 2001), the highest honour in the international real estate arena. At the national level, it has bagged the 1999 Architectural Heritage Award conferred by the Urban Redevelopment Authority of Singapore.

foodculture by yeo’s & makansutra
34-36 Pekin Street, #01-01, Far East Square, Singapore 048765
Open 7am-10pm daily

Featured stalls at foodculture include:

Nam Seng Noodles This is the popular wantan noodle stall that cooked up a storm at the old coffee shop located outside the National Library on Stamford Road. Started some 38 years ago by the late Mr Tang and his wife, Mdm Leong, queues of hungry patrons continue to line for their cravings of Wantan Noodles and Beef Hor Fun to this day. At the age of 82, Mdm Leong still whips up a mean noodle dish.

Marine Parade Laksa Franchises beware! The original Katong Laksa spices up the heart of Singapore’s financial district. Started by a man nicknamed “Janggot” (due to his beardy outlook), he pedaled the business in the early 60s after learning the culinary skill from his in-laws. His grand nephew continues the legacy at East Coast Road. Amidst others who have laid claim of being the original Katong Laksa, the owners of Marine Parade Laksa have stood unwavering in their standards and serves delicious spoonfuls of laksa.

Liang Seah Street Prawn Noodles Mr Tan and his family have been selling his version of prawn noodles for almost 50 years at Liang Seah Street. The style is typically Hokkien with a sweet broth that is derived from hours of simmering pork and prawn stock. The hallmark of a good bowl of prawn noodles is the tasty stock from the prawns and pork bones. Mr Tan ensures that his soup meets his stringent taste-test before he even considers selling it.

KuCinta Nasi Lemak Safie started selling Nasi Lemak during his days as a teenager in the 1970s. He honed his skills by learning from his mother who was the chief cook. Safie believes a good, authentic nasi lemak only uses the choicest of ingredients. There can be no compromise when it comes to the home-made chilli sambal.

Annie’s Peanut Ice Kachang Annie started her version of smooth-as-snow ice kachang back in the mid-90s at the Tanjong Pagar Market and Hawker Centre. She sprinkles finely crushed nuts to top off the ice kachang. Each mouthful is packed with the smooth and sweet taste of the nuts and syrup.

Haron Satay Specialist With more than 30 years experience in the business, Haron is so well-known for his tasty satay that he has even been engaged as a food consultant for a Florida-based food corporation. His satay is meaty, tender, succulent and well grilled. Best of all, it comes served with his trademark nutty peanut gravy.

Teck Kee Pau The pau with the history. Commonly known as the Tanglin Pau where many grew up with, Teck Kee Pau is making a big come-back.

Yeo’s Drinks Stall You can mix and match the full array of Yeo’s drinks with your favourite food. Who says you need wine, when you can now pair traditional food with Yeo’s traditional drinks.

About Yeo Hiap Seng (YHS)
A household name in Singapore and Malaysia, YHS is a leading food and beverage manufacturer, notably the Yeo’s Asian drinks such as Soy Bean Milk, Chrysanthemum Tea, Winter Melon Tea, H-Two-O brands and drinks such as Pink Dolphin. With factories in China, Malaysia, Singapore and Thailand, YHS also produces sauces, condiments canned foods and instant noodles, and bottles Pepsi for the Singapore market. Yeo’s is found in more than 100 countries around the world.

About Makansutra (S) Pte Ltd
Makansutra promotes and celebrates the best of Asian food culture and lifestyle through six business arms, namely: Publishing, Information Technology, Television Programming, Merchandising, Events & Consultancy and F&B Operations. By taking a holistic approach to community fostering, content building, awareness and branding, Makansutra seeks to expand into the region and become not just Singapore’s, but Asia’s premier food and lifestyle guide. For more information, please visit www.makansutra.com or email us at contact@makansutra.com

About Far East Organization
Founded in the 1960s, Far East Organization is Singapore's largest private property developer today. Its operations span the full spectrum of the real estate market, from the residential and retail, to the hospitality, office and industrial sectors. FEO is a four-time winner of the FIABCI Prix d'Excellence, a world first in the history of the highly regarded international real estate awards. Its projects that have earned the awards’ top honours are: The Fullerton (Leisure Category, 2003), Gardenville (Residential Category, 2002), Far East Square (Specialised Category, 2001) and The Bayshore (Residential Category, 1999).

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