Do your body (and the Earth) a
favor—and eat at places that offer healthy and tasty food. By
Belinda Wan
Admit it: How often have you
guiltily craved for an oh-so-sinful plate of char kway teow? As the
old adage goes, forbidden food is often the yummiest, but also the
worst for you. Maybe it’s high time to take your overall well-being
and health into account (what with recent food scares and all) by
making a conscious effort to eat more healthily. And yup, healthy
food can be tasty, as our sessions at these healthy, new
hangouts have proven. Check these out.
Fresh
Origin
Where: #01-01 and 5/F, One George, 1 George St.,
6536-5669.
The vibe: At first glimpse, the first-floor Fresh
Origin looks much like any other café with its bright interior and
busy vibe. But on the fifth floor, there’s a gleaming pool and a
charming alfresco space with greenery and a lovely view of the
skyscrapers in the vicinity.
Health pitch: The menu comprises breakfast items,
soups, paninis, pastas, pizzas, desserts, salads, ice-creams and
even sorbets. All ingredients are fresh and the food isn’t prepared
far in advance—hence the tagline “Naturally Tasty.” And certain
items stand out from the menu for their healthy properties.
Taste test: The caprese salad (buffalo mozzarella
and tomatoes with basil pesto, $9) is a great choice to start your
meal. Proceed to the not-too-tomatoey penne Arrabbiata with
tomatoes, fresh chili, garlic and herbs ($7) or the super healthy
ciabatta with grilled eggplant, tomato, zucchini and mozzarella
($7), which is extremely light and subtle, yet filling. The fruit
salad ($3), with watermelon, pineapple and grapes is a lovely
substitute for a sinful dessert, with its sweet-sour taste and
lovely blend of flavors.
In 10 words: Serves unpretentious but good
food—with a view to boot.
Naïve
Where: 99 East Coast Rd., 6348-0668.
The vibe: Two month-old Naïve is an unexpected
find in the long stretch of eateries opposite Katong Mall. Cleanly
furnished, with neutral shades of brown and beige, quirky graphics,
and long benches and tables made from real wood, Naïve is a
soothing oasis amid the bustle of the area.
Health pitch: Co-owner Phyllis Ong explains that
the concept behind Naïve is healthy, flavorful food with a positive
and an uplifting attitude to boot. Oil is used sparingly in the
meatless menu (that includes some organic dishes), and there are
plenty of greens and mushrooms. Ong says, “These days, people don’t
just look for good food—they also want food that uplifts the
spirit, and that is something we try to achieve at Naïve.”
Taste test: Serving “modern Asian food” (with
Thai, Japanese and Malaysian dishes) with starters, mains, sides,
and rice and noodles, the star ingredient here is the monkeyhead
mushroom—which enhances one’s memory, is low in cholesterol and
extremely tasty. There are six dishes with the monkeyhead mushroom,
in fact. Soup lovers will love the eye-enhancing wolfberry soup
($3.80) for starters. The robust Enchanted Forest ($12.80,
monkeyhead mushrooms braised with wolfberries, Chinese “tang gui”
herbs and broccoli), monkeyhead fried rice ($8.80) and an awesome
side dish, battered organic oyster mushrooms ($9.80), will make
mushroom maniacs very happy. Don’t miss the delicious tamarind tofu
cake ($13.80) and the super refreshing Sour Power drink
($3.50).
In 10 words: Healthy, tasty food chockfull of
mushrooms and feel good vibes.
Oomphatico’s
Where: #01-35 Tanglin Mall, 163 Tanglin Rd.,
6733-9088.
The vibe: With its quirky, colorful, feminine
furniture and feel (think stylishly mismatched sofas, bright,
eye-catching tables and whimsical cutlery), Oomphatico’s is a café
that funky ladies will dig on first sight. It’s pretty, attractive
and a lovely place to sit down and have a relaxing meal.
Health pitch: The menu here has been revamped
completely—and now head chef Akhil Prabhu serves modern European
grub; bringing a new twist to classics. Menu items highlighted in
green signify vegetarian dishes, and gluten- and dairy-free options
can be prepared upon request. The menu is brimming with entrées,
salads, pizzas, soups, pastas, risottos, sandwiches, desserts, fish
and seafood, and meat and poultry—plus a vegetarian section. Many
menu items feature a generous use of greens and healthy additions
like beetroot, artichokes, Sakura free-range chicken, and even
organic quinoa.
Taste test: The feta spinach pie in crispy pyllo,
served on almond gazpacho and crème friache ($14) makes a fab
entrée with its good blend of soft and crispy textures; and
delicate balance of flavors. The salad Nicoise with blackened
yellow fin tuna ($20) makes a nice alternative to a normal salad,
and another intriguing dish is the salad pizza topped with
tomatoes, rucola, avocado, feta cheese and balsamic glaze ($16).
And vegetarians will instantly dig the vegetarian stack of grilled
tofu, sweet and sour shiitake, Portobello and oyster mushrooms,
Fontina cheese baked ($17)—it’s light, delicious and healthy. For
something more robust, the herb and vegetable risotto with
coriander and pistachio vinaigrette ($16) is a healthy, tasty and
not too heavy bet.
In 10 words: Reasonable prices, inviting ambiance,
truly delicious food and slightly offbeat.
Skinny Pizza
Where: #01-002 Suntec City Galleria, 3 Temasek Blvd.,
6333-9774.
The vibe: Small, busy but cozy, Skinny Pizza, in
case you haven’t heard, is by the smart folks at Spa Esprit. This
serves a large selection of Skinny Pizzas, soups, desserts and
drinks. The space is imbued with the trademark funky décor, chirpy,
helpful service, and wry socially-conscious humor characteristic of
the Spa Esprit Group.
Health pitch: Skinny Pizza is a crackly, airy and
super crispy version of the thin-crust pizza most of us are
acquainted with. As such, that means less carbs—something that we
can definitely do with. With its inspired, fun, fresh and tasty
toppings (vegetarian flavors included), this is the best place to
visit when you’re on a diet but have a mad craving for pizza.
Taste test: The star here is the pizza—but the
soups are pretty wholesome too. Two soups are available every day,
so what you get depends on when you go, but expect yummy flavors
like butternut pumpkin, watercress and spinach, green lentil,
cauliflower and parsley, and classic leek and potato vichyssoise
(all $5.50). As for the 12” pizzas, they’re so light that you can
comfortably wolf down a few slices before even feeling vaguely
full. In fact, the more veggie ones also feel more like salads than
pizzas! Check out the yummy and healthy Chorizo Almond ($18),
Classic Caesar ($16), Macadamia Roasted Pumpkin ($16) and Wild
Truffled Mushroom ($18) flavors—which particularly caught our fancy
with their inventiveness.
In 10 words: Tasty soups, guilt-free pizzas,
friendly service and good prices.
Old Timers
Just can’t get enough? Here are more places where you can fill up
on healthy grub.
The Garden (The
Sentosa Resort and Spa, Sentosa, 2 Bukit Manis Rd.,
6371-1130)—Boasting a concept called “conscious dining,” The Garden
is a lovely, chic restaurant that’s big on health and taste too.
Organic and bio-dynamic ingredients are incorporated into dishes
like the watermelon-organic daikon roll, “chicken rice,” organic
soy milk pannacotta, and DIY salads and juices.
KO Japanese
Restaurant (G/F, InterContinental Singapore, 80 Middle
Rd., 6825-1064)—Yes, Japanese chow may already be healthy, but in
the hands of Kobe-born head chef Hideto Setomoto, macrobiotic
cooking almost trumps normal Japanese method of cooking. Try the
maguro steak and the lobster ebi miso yaki (charcoal-grilled
lobster with savory prawn sauce).
Original Sin
(#01-62 Chip Bee Gardens, Blk. 43 Jalan Merah Saga, 6475-5605)—This
Mediterranean vegetarian is an institution in Holland V. Don’t miss
their top selling items, the Principessa salad (with avocado,
pumpkin, asparagus and much more), Magic Mushroom (Portobello
mushroom stuffed with cheese, spinach, pesto and pine nuts) and
Bosco Misto (spinach, feta and tofu patties) here.
Whole Earth Vegetarian
Restaurant (593 Geylang Rd., 6841-3319)—
Serving Thai, Peranakan and vegetarian food, Whole Earth shows you
that vegetarian Asian food need not be about mock meats. Their
inventive menu includes dishes like Szechuan monkeyhead mushrooms,
nonya curry and assam pedas.
