What: Singapulah & Arôme
In a nutshell: Bakery by day (Arôme) and restaurant by night (Singapulah)
Summing it all up: Soho has a new restaurant and bakery concept on Frith Street – Singapulah & Arôme – which they're claiming to be the UK’s only dedicated Singaporean site.
The low-down
If you’re craving authentic Singaporean food or even East Asian pastries, there’s a new dining destination in Soho to satisfy your needs. Occupying the former site of a Gourmet Burger Kitchen outlet (one of 17 to close when the chain ran up millions of pounds in losses in 2018), Singapulah & Arôme is a bakery by day (12-seater Arôme) and restaurant by night (50-seater Singapulah).
The team behind the concept is led by Singaporean and experienced restaurateur Ellen Chew (of Chinatown’s Rasa Sayang, and Lobos Tapas in London Bridge and Soho). “Singapulah is born out of love for true Singaporean cuisine,” Chew says. "Through my years in the UK it has been challenging to find a place to satiate my cravings for authentic hawker food and Singapulah aims to plug that gap, as well as acting as a platform to share our diverse culture with Londoners.”
During the day at Arôme, expect breads, and sweet and savoury pastries from master patissièr Alix Andre. With French training (Alain Ducasse, Ladurée) and experience at Yauatcha and ROKA, in addition to marrying into a Singaporean family, Andre’s creations include
- Gula Melaka Coconut Bun
- Laksa Tomato Coriander Roll
- Arôme Milk Bread Toast (a caramelised milk loaf similar to both French toast and candied bread)
- Kaya Toast (two slices of Arôme milk bread toasted on the grill and slathered with homemade coconut jam).
By night, the space transforms into Singapulah, where you’ll hear a playlist of popular Singaporean artists of the 1960s while the interior design showcases contemporary Singaporean artist Allison M Low. On the menu are authentic hawker dishes prepared by Singaporean head chef Lynette Zheng. If you’ve not had ‘Roxy Laksa’ before (so-called because it first opened as a cart outside the Roxy Theatre in 1952), this is also the place to try it, thanks to a collaboration with Singaporean restaurateur Willin Low. You can also expect:
- Bak Chor Mee (noodles tossed in a chilli vinegar sauce and topped with minced pork, pork belly slices, pork liver and pork balls)
- Chwee Kueh (savoury rice cakes served with preserved radish, sweet-salty umami and sambal chilli)
For drinks? Yes, you can have a Singapore Sling.
More about Singapulah & Arôme
Where is it? 15 Frith Street, London W1D 4RF
When does it open? Open now
Find out more: Visit their website and Instagram for more on the restaurant @singapulah_london and bakery: @arome_london.
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