Singapore Update 2022

It seems that everyone is riding on the price -hike game. Prices of food has risen 20-30%. For example: Malay Lontong ( rice cakes smothered with vegetable coconut broth) once cost a mere $2.00, then crept to $3.60 in 2021  and now at $4.50. Roti Prata, a local South Indian breakfast favourite cost $5 for two pieces of roti, what used to be $1.20 each. 

Roti Prata and Teh Tarik
Sunday breakfast has become an expensive affair for a family of four. And I am referring to eating at the neighbourhood coffeeshop.  Even restaurants have hiked their prices: Five Star Kampung Chicken rice has a  three-tiered pricing for its chicken rice: breast meat ( $7.50), thigh ( $7.00) and back ($6.50) which shock the daylights out of me. What used to be once priced at $3.50. 




Joo Chiat Road, a former enclave of Straits Chinese ( Peranakan ) families in their pretty  two storey houses have since given way to commercial redevelopment. Coffee bars, fitness clubs, bakeries, restaurants and retailers of wines and cheese have mushroomed.

Queuing up for croissants on Joo Chiat Road




A current craze among the Gen X, Y and Z is cheese and wine.  A cheese platter for two persons can cost up to $100+. It consist of an assortment  of European cheese carefully selected by a cheese "expert ". 
The rise of coffee bars? Gourmet coffee with coffee beans from around the world, roasted and brewed in all kinds of manner is available. The new buzz word is " Drip coffee"  What is that??
Filter coffee, actually. And..Starbucks is passé. 

On Joo Chiat Road, another fresh development is the omnipresence of young mums in branded gym gear with strollers dropping off junior at nursery before heading for boxing or pilates classes. It's street wear OOTD and nobody bats an eyelid at the midriff tank top and skin tight leggings. Lululemon, the cult gym wear store is just a stone's throw away.
 
Wine-pairing dinners at Michelin-star restaurants seem to be the penchant of local high flier executives.  A dinner can cost $600 per person. It caught me by surprise that on the whole, the cost of living especially eating out has risen and yet, there are many more people who have the means to indulge in expensive dinners. 

In my case, I'll leave western cuisines for when i'm in Europe and stick with the local fare, even if it is $4.50 for Lontong and Teh-Tarik ( local pulled- tea ) 


My dad enjoying local Mee Rebus


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