To market, to market, to buy all things gourmet.
The farmers' market scene is becoming increasingly exciting, with new entrants and more offerings, adding variety and dynamism to Singapore's food landscape.
These days, there are not only vendors offering organic fruit and vegetables but also ones selling pies and cakes, home-made pastas and sauces, and imported olive oils and vinegars not readily available in supermarkets.
The one to watch is upcoming PasarBella at The Grandstand (formerly the Turf Club) in Bukit Timah. It opens next month.
PasarBella - pasar is Malay for market while bella means beautiful in Italian - will be the first multi-vendor gourmet farmers' market that will be open seven days a week, from 9am to 7pm.
PHOTO: PASARBELLA
The 30,000 sq ft market, its walls painted with murals of gourmet produce, is inspired by some of the world's most beautiful markets.
These include Mercat de Sant Josep de la Boqueria in Barcelona, New York's Chelsea Market and Queen Victoria Market in Melbourne.
Also in the works is the Circle Of Life farmers' market and creativity hub, which will also offer accommodation. The project, slated to launch next year, is being put forth by the Kranji Countryside Association, a group of agricultural and horticultural farms here. It hopes to secure an empty building at the corner of Lim Chu Kang and Neo Tiew Roads. Negotiations with the authorities are on-going.
These add to a handful of other foodie markets including the new monthly weekend Rochester Market at Rochester Mall that starts today, the fortnightly Loewen Gardens Market in Tanglin Village and the monthly John's Premium Market at myVillage mall in Serangoon Gardens.
Over the years, there have also been a few ad hoc fairs and markets, as well as one that used to take place at Robertson Quay, which has since fizzled out.
At PasarBella, shoppers can look forward to about 50 vendors, some of whom have opted for more than one unit to better showcase their wares.
There will be a fruit and vegetable section, as well as a seafood area - Oceans Of Seafood - where shoppers can buy imported fish and seafood from areas such as Japan, Scandinavia and Australia, and even have it cooked to be consumed at the market. The seafood section will also double up as a wholesale market for trade customers who want to purchase fresh catch for their restaurants. This will take place each morning, before the farmers' market opens to the public.
Partners who will be taking up stalls here include the Da Paolo Group, which will showcase Italian deli items including fresh pastas, sauces, antipasto and other Italian products; fine foods purveyor Little Provence that offers everything from olive oils to vinegars; and Huber's Butchery, which will offer a selection of hams and bratwursts that can be cooked and eaten at the market.
Other things to look forward to are: The Cheese Ark, a walk-in 500 sq ft cheese "cave" offering cheeses from Italy and other parts of Europe; Le Patio, a stall selling French crepes and Spanish paella; wines from The Merchant; local coffee roastery Dutch Colony Coffee Company; and a stall dedicated to tea by Clipper Tea.
More vendors are still being recruited locally and overseas, but marketgoers can also expect vendors offering charcuterie and more cooked food as well as other complementary services such as a barber. Food can be consumed at used Spanish wine barrels that will double up as tables.
Last year’s vendors at John’s Premium Market included Sarah’s Loft (above), which sold homemade confectionery, andTeddy Bears by Esther Lee, offering artisanal teddy bears. -- PHOTOS: JASON QUAH FOR THE SUNDAY TIMES
Behind the $4-million market is entrepreneur Clovis Lim, 23, a co-founder of the Sugar Daddy Group, which is behind patisserie-restaurants Antoinette and Pique Nique. He has since sold his shares in the venture. The finance graduate made his own money with other F&B ventures and investments, and is also a shareholder of a new nightspot, Dom Lounge, at Marina Bay Sands. There is also another silent partner behind the market.
The fact that a Western-style gourmet market did not yet exist in Singapore, was one of the reasons why Mr Lim was keen to start one.
On the decision to open at The Grandstand, a spokesman for PasarBella adds: "We decided to open here because it is a family-centric enclave - the whole idea of PasarBella is to create a happy, fun experience for the whole family."
Its owners had been hunting for a 50,000 sq ft space for about three years to no avail. When a large space at The Grandstand became available, they jumped at the opportunity.
Bukit Timah's more affluent catchment area, the spokesman says, is also a plus, though the plan is for PasarBella to be a destination for everyone, not just Bukit Timah residents.
He adds: "There are not many places where you can get all your gourmet needs from a gourmet market, then head downstairs to a hypermarket to pick up other items such as toilet paper."
Well-travelled foodies say they are looking forward to the opening of more farmers' markets.
Bukit Timah resident Brenda Ong, 35, a sales consultant, says she is keen to see a local interpretation of markets such as Mercado San Miguel in Madrid or The Farmers Market in Los Angeles.
She says: "It is about time we see more farmers' markets here. I love the Loewen Gardens one for its cosy vibe and interesting things, but one that you can go to any day of the week will be a big help.
"There are gourmet shops here, but many do not sell raw produce, seafood or meats. A one-stop market will meet a lot of consumers' needs."
Last year’s vendors at John’s Premium Market included Sarah’s Loft, which sold homemade confectionery, andTeddy Bears by Esther Lee (above), offering artisanal teddy bears. -- PHOTOS: JASON QUAH FOR THE SUNDAY TIMES
Mrs Gladys Lim, a housewife in her 50s, adds: "The little weekend markets we have now remind me of the ones in Australia. The atmosphere is very homely - there is a sense of community.
"Sometimes there are things that you can find only at these types of markets, and those items are real treasures. I hope we will have more of these markets."
NEW MARKETS
Rochester Market
Where: Rochester Mall, 35 Rochester Drive, ground floor
When: Today, 9am to 2pm. Every first Saturday and Sunday of the month, starting next month
Info: Call 6684-6733
A supermarket-cum-retailer of gourmet and organic products, also called Rochester Market, is behind this new monthly event. The supermarket is partly owned by Four Seasons Gourmet Market.
Mr Joe Tan, general manager of Rochester Market, says there will be 15 vendors today offering items such as organic rice and baked goods, while the supermarket will set up a stall selling natural and organic produce, as well as condiments such as olive oil.
He adds that the market, which takes place on the first weekend of every month, also has plans to bring in farmers and their produce directly from countries such as Australia, so that customers can have that special first-hand experience of meeting the people who grow the produce they eat.
Mr Tan, 28 says: "There has been increasing interest from customers, keen to find out where their produce is from."
John's Premium Market
Where: Location to be decided. Previously held at myVillage in Serangoon Gardens
When: The next one will be in March. Venue and date to be finalised.
Info: Call 9004-1800 or e-mail jpm90041800@gmail.com
Aside from Rochester Market, there is also John's Premium Market, a monthly gourmet, home decor and accessories market, that has been taking place at myVillage since October last year.
The market takes a break this month, and is likely to open at another venue from next month.
It is organised by Mr John Chan, owner of Western stall Pasta J at Moonstone Coffee House in Opal Crescent in the Woodsville area.
This market usually has about 10 stalls each time, including a stall run by Mr Chan, where he sells his home-made pesto, soups and other sauces.
Other stalls there include cakes by Abby Loves Cakes, The Korea Food Company which sells Korean condiments and products, and a stall selling hand-crafted artisanal teddy bears.
This article was first run in The Straits Times newspaper on February 3, 2013. For similar stories, go to sph.straitstimes.com/premium/singapore. You will not be able to access the Premium section of The Straits Times website unless you are already a subscriber.