Burpple - Good Eats, Good Deeds: 15 Places to Dine for a Cause
This week, we shine the spotlight on F&B entrepreneurs who are determined not only to serve tasty food, but also ignite the spark for social change. From a coffee bar that trains disadvantaged women and youths in life skills to a hawker training school for the disabled and a cafe that donates groceries to the needy, this guide is chock full of establishments that play an immensely inspirational role in making Singapore a better place. For us foodies, what better way to earn extra karma points while keeping our tummies satisfied than to dine for a good cause? So go on, eat well, pay it forward and do your part! . This article was originally published on burpple.com. Download the app for iPhone and Android now at burpple.com/getapp!
1. Soul Food Enterprise
For European Food with Heart in Redhill
Located in The Enabling Village (near Redhill MRT), a community of individuals and organisations that serve people with special needs, Soul Food Enterprise is a modern European restaurant that trains youths with learning disabilities in kitchen skills. Founder Gerald Png was inspired by his daughter Cheryl, who has learning disabilities but a keen interest in cooking. Today, Cheryl is one of nine kitchen trainees coached in various cooking methods and techniques. The cosy 40-seater restaurant opens for walk-in lunch from Tuesdays to Fridays (noon-2pm). Lunch is often a two or three-course affair ($25-$30) with dishes like potato and leek cream soup, barbecued prime pork ribs with fusilli pasta and salad and salted walnut chocolate brownie with caramel sauce. Dinners and Saturday meals are by reservation only. The restaurant is closed on Sundays, Mondays and public holidays. Avg price: $30 per person2. Bliss Restaurant
For Affordable Western Grub in Ang Mo Kio
Bliss Restaurant is not just another Western restaurant. It's an encapsulation of what a social enterprise in Singapore ought to be — providing employment opportunities to all without discrimination, donating groceries to the needy through Aljunied GRC and even reducing its own carbon footprint by using biodegradable disposal corn ware for catering services, all while dishing out tasty and very cost efficient food. Located within the grounds of Cheng San Community Club, Bliss Restaurant serves a variety of Western grub mostly under $20 — perfect for cash-strapped days! Start with the Skinful Chicken ($6) — thin slices of crackly, crispy chicken skin that you won't be able to stop snacking on once you start popping them into your mouth. For mains, order the crowd favourite Smoked Duck Aglio Olio ($14) and the Gratin Sirloin Steak ($17) — the latter comes with baby potatoes on the side and a slice of gooey, melted cheddar cheese blanketing the meat. Avg price: $20 per person3. Bettr Barista Coffee Academy
For a Holistic Three-in-One Coffee Experience
A coffee roaster, a training academy for the disadvantaged and a place to enjoy specialty coffee — three good omens for those who want their cup of joe to do more than just caffeinate them. Located in the industrial area of Macpherson, this unassuming coffee house gives back to society by taking disadvantaged women and youths through a holistic six-month programme. The training not only empowers them with work skills, it also combines professional coffee education with life and emotional management skills, plus physical training. Make plans to stop by on the weekend to enjoy a cup of coffee (be sure to ask for the Bold Heart house blend) while getting some work done. Coffees are not priced and rely on tips — a great opportunity to give generously!4. Dignity Kitchen
For Excellent Rojak in a Wheelchair-Friendly Food Court
This may seem like a regular food court, but look closely and you'll find height-adjustable counter tops for the wheelchair-bound, braille markings on the cash register for the visually impaired and even simple sign language placards for you to sign to the hearing impaired. Just a five-minute walk from NEX in Serangoon, Dignity Kitchen is the first hawker training school for disabled and disadvantaged people. Come for Roger's Rojak ($3.50) and opt for the tasty prawn paste (there's plum paste for vegetarians too!). Expect a generous heap of fried you tiao, pineapples and cucumbers, all sliced and mixed together by Roger. Previously a successful financial advisor, Roger suffered a stroke in 2010 which left a part of the right side of his body paralysed and his speech affected. Then, learn to sign your favourite local drink to the hearing impaired drinks stall uncle with the help of simple sign language placards. To opt for less sugar or have it kosong, simply point to the signs under each drink. Pro tip: Stop by on Mondays from 4 to 6.30pm for their weekly Halal buffet dinner, no payments expected — it's their way of giving back to the community! Avg price: $5 per person5. Garçons (Essen at The Pinnacle)
For Casual French Food in Tanjong Pagar
Expect unpretentious and hearty European food at this hawker-bar run by chefs Enoch Teo and Immanuel Tee — it also champions social change by hiring young ex-offenders and youths at risk. Previously a troubled teen with brushes with the law, chef Teo was given an opportunity by his chef mentors and he wants to return the favour to as many people he can; to date, about 20 beneficiaries have gone through the training programme. Social mission aside, let's not forget that the food here is really good. Start with either the French Onion Soup ($7.90) that comes baked with cheese croutons, or the Black Miso Foie Gras ($16.50), an imaginative appetiser of foie gras coated in a black miso and furikake crust, then move on to their signature 12-Hour Belly of Pork ($16.90) — this highly rated main by the Burpple community sees crisp-skin pork belly served with mashed potato and a balsamic glaze. They also do a pretty tasty French Duck Leg Confit ($16.90). Avg price: $20 per person6. New Rasa Singapura
For Upmarket Hawker Eats in Tanglin
Located at Tanglin Post Office, across the road from where the iconic Rasa Singapura food centre used to stand in the 80s, this restaurant-bar employs the less fortunate — these include those suffering from hearing impairment to recovering stroke patients — all of whom work together to dish out local hawker eats in a breezy alfresco space. For best value, come with your colleagues for their weekday lunch special, where dishes like fried carrot cake, black pepper char kway teow and beef rendang with rice go for a very affordable $8 each (top up $2 for a drink). Dishes change daily, so visit their website for updates. You can also pop by for a post-work beer (from $6) and nibbles — try the New Rasa Chicken Wings (from $12 for six) and Satay (from $12 for six sticks). Prices no doubt reflect its more upmarket setting, but take comfort in the fact that the money goes to a good cause. In support of FestivalForGood!, receive a $10 return voucher with every $50 spent in the month of August. Avg price: $15 per person7. Crossings Café
For Cafe Delights that Never Disappoint
Located within the same building as Catholic Welfare Centre (Crossings Cafe is on the first floor), this light-filled cafe serves delicious brunch grub alongside local favourites, and all profits are channelled towards charitable and social causes. On weekdays, swing by with your colleagues for lunch and order the Signature Chilli Crab Pasta ($16) — fettucine tossed in a homemade spicy chilli crab sauce, topped with a deep-fried soft shell crab. On weekends, catch up with your girlfriends over brunch fare like the fluffy Pancake Stack ($12) with fresh fruits and drizzled with your choice of maple syrup or gula Melaka, or share the hearty All Day Energy Booster ($18), which comes with two eggs (scrambled or sunny side up), sausages, bacon, mushrooms, toast and hash brown. Avg price: $15 per person8. Joan Bowen Cafe
For Western Fare and Cheery Service in the Northeast
Set up by the parents of Joan Bo Wen, a young lady with special needs, this social enterprise in Jalan Wangi (Potong Pasir is the nearest MRT station) trains and imparts kitchen skills to youths with special needs, and the cafe is run almost entirely by its team of young staff with special needs. The menu is pretty basic but the food is beautifully plated, generously portioned and delicious — it can certainly rival any cafe at the same price point! — and the service is cheerful and heartfelt. Out of our several favourites here, we highly recommend the Chilli Crab Pasta ($18), with a sauce that strikes the perfect balance between sweet, spicy and umami, and the delectable Rosemary Lemon Chicken ($12). For something less heavy, try the Oriental Chicken Salad ($12). Avg price: $20 per person9. Professor Brawn Cafe (Novena Square)
For a Child-Friendly Lunch in Novena
Originally from the corporate world, Professor Brawn Cafe's founder Roland Tay left his job after 30 years to set up this social enterprise, which helps to provide employment opportunities to people with special needs. Professor Brawn is a superhero drawn by his son, Jun Yi, who has autism. By maintaining a routine from the preparation of food to cooking, his team of staff (some of them suffer from autism) now dishes out delectable Western fare. Come with your family for the Weekend Special Lunch Set (from $18.90), where your choice of main (either chicken confit or striploin steak) is accompanied with a complimentary soup and drink. If available, opt for the tender Pork Ribs ($18.90) that Burpple Tastemaker Russell Leong loves. For a lighter bite, nibble on their finger-licking good Crunchy Calamari ($7.90), served with a tasty salsa dip. Avg price: $20 per person10. Art Bar (Enabling Village)
For an Artsy Coffee Break
Ideally, an afternoon at Arts Faculty by Pathlight in Enabling Village should involve you taking an arts workshop (whether it's building your own terrarium or painting) and shopping for mugs and pouches that are specially designed by children with special needs. Then, when the tummy rumbles, refuel with small bites and coffee at Art Bar. An initiative backed by Starbucks, the takeaway stand helps to train young adults with special needs to operate a fully functioning coffee stand, including handling cash and working the coffee machine. Get the Cafe Latte ($3.50 tall) and be sure to add an additional shot ($0.50) for an extra boost. It pairs well with the Double Chocolate Chip Muffin ($3.50). Rich, chocolatey and moist — ask to have it heated up before you tuck in! Avg price: $5 per person11. Out Of The Cake Box (Telok Blangah)
For Inspiring Bakes that Ignite Dreams
Nothing compares to a handmade confection picked up at a homey bakery, better yet, while you're doing good at the same time. As part of giving back to the community, youths with disabilities from Rainbow Centre go on attachment with Out of the Cake Box, who help to nurture their talents in baking. Freshly baked daily, you should order the Takoh Belle ($50 for whole cake /$6.50 per slice). It's a delectable baked cheesecake that is infused with fresh pandan extract, topped with a frothy sweet corn mousse and a sturdy coconut custard. There's a lot going on, but thankfully the flavours are well-balanced, never overwhelming and it all comes together beautifully — just be sure to get every layer of the cake in a forkful! Pro tip: Keep your eyes peeled for their elusive Mango Sticky Rice ($48.80 for whole cake / $6 per slice) that is only available when Thai honey mangoes are in season! Avg price: $10 per person12. The Malayan Council
For Malay Western Cuisine That Gives Back
Located just a few doors down from the now defunct Rouse, this cosy Muslim-owned restaurant dishes out hearty and tasty eats, and donates a percentage of their sales to the Muhammadiyah Welfare Home. The homey space is small, so it's best to come with an intimate group of friends for dinner. Start with the spicy Malayan Wings ($13), marinated with kicap chili padi, and be sure to order the Roti Kirai Beef Ribs ($39) — short beef ribs slathered with a finger-licking good secret glaze, served with a roti kirai (Malaysian net crepes) salad on the side. For mains, the massive portion of Salted Egg Softshell Crab and Mudcrab Linguine ($28) feeds two easily. Don't leave without the Classic Ondeh Ondeh Cake ($8), infused with chantilly cream. Avg price: $35 per person Reservations highly recommended13. Ugly Cake Shop
For Cakes For a Cause
Nestled in Geylang Bahru, this humble bakery channels a part of their profits towards feeding the children in Shallom School, a school set up by Brazilian missionaries and supported by Agape Baptist Church in Singapore. Unlike its name, the bakes here are delicate and beautiful. Come for their legendary cupcakes like the Sally ($3.80) and the Vicki ($3.80). The former is a dense, dark chocolate cupcake frosted with a lusciously rich and creamy peanut butter frosting while the latter is a buttery cupcake with a surprise centre — flowy, golden molten salted egg yolk custard. While you're there, show some love to Desmond ($7.50) — a grilled butter cake with orange blossom cream and sour cherry compote that is best eaten on the spot. Some of the cupcake flavours have been upsized to whole cakes, so you can pay it forward and do good on your birthday! Avg price: $5 per person14. Soon Huat Bak Kut Teh 顺发肉骨茶 (Bedok)
For a Meaningful Bak Kut Teh Meal
This successful bak kut teh restaurant is all about giving people second chances — especially ex-convicts and the homeless. The founder, Jabez Tan, is too, an ex-convict who has successfully managed to turn over a new leaf, and hopes to pay it forward. The Bak Kut Teh ($6 per person) is the unanimous order amongst all the tables — a claypot of pork ribs boiled in a unique herbal yet peppery soup, a mash up of both Singaporean and Malaysian styles. What is good, possibly better, is the Dried Bak Kut Teh ($7 per person). The same comforting soup is reduced to a thickened gravy, infused with black sauce and topped with ladies fingers, dried chillies and crispy fried cuttlefish for so much umami goodness! Avg price: $10 per person15. NOX - Dine in the Dark
For a Dining Adventure in the Dark
Apart from the fact that eating in complete darkness is a unique dining experience we recommend trying at least once in your life, NOX also supports and provides employment to visually impaired individuals, all of whom have been trained to guide and serve — which they do with utmost professionalism! Like NOX aptly writes on its website, "it is a truly human experience when the roles are reversed and the blind become your eyes". The meal begins with a cocktail in the warmly lit romantic lounge (this place is perfect for a cheeky date night!), after which the prix fixe dinner ($88 per person) is a mystery menu consisting of 12 dishes set over three courses. Trust us — it is perfectly okay to dig in with your hands. You can choose to add on wine pairing (from $30 for two glasses) and request for a vegetarian or vegan menu. Bring your sense of fun and adventure. Reservations highly recommended. Price: $88 per person
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