Brunch Bandits

11/04/2024

April 13 & 14
11am to 5pm
30 Maxwell Road

21/03/2024

Some snapshots from our markets in Holland Village, Dempsey, Botanic Gardens, Marina Bay and Kampong Bugis

What we are about x

Come join us at Maxwell Farmers Market - Local.Social.Sustain this April 13/14 weekend for more of the good stuff xx

07/10/2020

My sweaty asf post wet market self stops to share some tips on a fast start to a fierce urban edible garden in the tropics - for Cebu Pacific Air xx

The Singaporean food anthropologist and rooftop gardener believes the best gardening philosophy is one that preaches minimum intervention – and next to no money

16/06/2020

Getting ready for Phase 2 - feeling like these Haw Par Villa mermaids xx

09/06/2020

Mexican Tarragon and Lemon Balm Shortbread xx

02/06/2020

DIVERSITY Not DISPARITY

The movement to end racism begins in the acknowledgement of its existence.

In the entrenched systemic disparity and in the casual racism at home and at work.

It starts in your own homes. Pull up and call out friends, families when they are casually racist. Work to make sure your workplaces and friendship circles are diverse across the board - not just that token 1 brown or black friend. That minorities also fill seats of power.

Campaign for diverse representations in media, in publishing and in advertising - especially in multicultural communities.

That’s the steps we all can do, day to day, in our personal lives, in our private lives, in our social and public lives. To continue from

In multiracial and multicultural Singapore, I leave you with two quotes from one of the national newspapers that shows us how much more we have to do. In a country that has been multiracial/cultural since pre independence and tracing back many hundreds of years into its histories.

“Although the overall finding was that Singaporeans try to live out multiracial ideals, less than a quarter (21 per cent to 24 per cent) of Chinese respondents said they would accept Malay Singaporeans and Indian Singaporeans marrying into their family.” (Today, 2016)

““Is it Singapore who is not ready for a non-Chinese prime minister, or is it the PAP (the ruling People’s Action Party) who is not ready for a non-Chinese prime minister?” Asst Prof Walid asked.

While Mr Heng noted that many among the 700 students who attended the ministerial forum organised by the NTU Students’ Union were happy to have a prime minister who is not Chinese, he said that this was not the case for all of Singapore.

My own experience in walking the ground, in working with different people from all walks of life, is that the views — if you go by age and by life experience — would be very different,” the finance minister said.

Nevertheless, Mr Heng said: "I do think that at the right time, when enough people think that we may have a minority leader, a minority who becomes the leader of the country, that is something that we can all hope for."”(Today, 2019)

31/05/2020

Found myself matching with my little growing edible garden corner xx

28/05/2020

Nasi Ulam Onigiris Final Step:
Add Herbs and Seasonings
Optional: Roll into Onigiri shapes with Seaweed

HERBS

Although Nasi Ulam can have up to 15 local herbs or more, about 5 of these herbs would be enough. About 30g or 2 teaspoons of each. Finely slice or chiffonade x
laksa leaves

torch ginger / rojak flower

thai basil, lemon basil or any type of basil

wild pepper leaf / daun kadut

turmeric leaf

kaffir lime leaf

mint leaf

ulam rajah / cosmos

lemongrass

pandan leaf

sawtooth coriander or coriander

spring onions

------- SEASONING
kerisik or serunding or toasted grated coconut - 1 tablespoon (optional)

seaweed for sushi - about 1 full size sheet
Sea Salt and some Black Pepper

Add to rice, stir well and taste for flavour. Always start with less and add more. I like to serve with some sambal mayo or tomato chilli pesto xx @ Singapore

26/05/2020

Nasi Ulam Onigiri Recipe Step 2

Nasi Ulam is a Malayan Herbed Rice Salad. Variations came be found across Indonesia, Thailand, Malaysia and Singapore, including in Peranakan households. It is a wonderful use of nutritious, flavourful herbs that grow plentiful and with ease in Singapore. The herbs used can range from 5 to 25 herbs. It's an incredible dish that adapts well to creative customisation. Perfect to support biodiversity, resilient food systems and food sovereignty - all in your own kitchen.
I came up with the idea of Nasi Ulam Onigiris for a Farm to Table preschooler workshop as a fun sensory snack for 4 year old to make - so rest assured this is a recipe for the whole family!

BLUE PEA SUSHI RICE

Rice, sushi (I like to use koshihikari rice) - 250g

Coconut water 350 ml

Coconut milk 50ml

lemongrass, pounded a little - 1

Pandan leaf, 1 knotted

A couple of drops of roasted sesame oil (this was a trick that Mummy Soh of .kind.house very generously shared - she has many tips - all good!)

Blue pea flowers, dried, 2 tsp or fresh - enough to extract a blue dye in 100ml of hot water. Strain and add to the rice before cooking.

Cook Rice as you normally would over a stove or in a rice cooker with the ingredients above and let cool.

Next round : Herbs and Seasoning xx @ Singapore

19/05/2020

When I first started doing Brunch Bandits sessions on the regular, there was a core team of people that sweated it out for 16 hours in the kitchen multiple days in a row with me, for little to no pay just to help me realise my vision - be it from West Indian to Ethiopian to Asian Superfoods to Kampung Reinterpreted.

My baby brother was one of them who came to slave it at the various pop up kitchens across Singapore xx

19/05/2020

My fan club is tiny xx

18/05/2020

Where you will find me, taking liberties when I visit your house 🤣

Growing up, my grandmother never encouraged me into the kitchen. I was always on the edges plucking moringa leaves or skinning potatoes.

As a woman who raised and fed 8 children in pre independence Singapore, she didn’t want me to get used to being in the kitchen, tied to a stove.
But in encouraging me to seek my freedom and to grow beyond whatever limits or expectations others might project on to you, I also found liberation in taking over kitchens around the world xx