Finally a permanent European style farmers market opens in Singapore and PasarBella incorporates Singapore's love of eating out with lots of great dining options. Not only can you stop by to pick up hard to find food items like organic groceries, imported cheese, hearty breads, unique wine, specialty olive oils and fresh seafood, you can also relax and enjoy a great cup of coffee along with pastries, a plate of paella or an extravagant seafood platter.
My husband Tom and I spent the afternoon roaming the isles, sampling the food and shopping until our bank accounts couldn't take it anymore. What we went home with were tummies full of food and bags full of unique goodies. Here is a roundup of our favourite PasarBella "traders".
Oceans of Seafood
Step inside and prepare to be overwhelmed by piles of fresh seafood. South African lobsters flip back and fourth on ice while a crowd gathers around huge USA oysters. With a selection of seafood from around the world you can choose to dine in at one of the restaurants or take a selection home.
The crowd favourite is overwhelmingly the freshly shucked oysters. Served with a slice of lemon or tabasco sauce, the oysters are so big it's hard to resist.
The Cheese Ark
Follow your nose to this shop as it's hidden between The Patio and a bakery. Inside, the aromas slap you awake and the flavours will have you never wanting to settle for cheddar cheese again. Sample a variety of "endangered" cheeses that are not only hard to find, they use traditional methods that are at risk of disappearing.
Gouda, Texel, Spahn, Montebore, Pecorino. The cheese options vary from mild to strong flavours and include a few pasteurised cheeses so there is something for everyone. We left with a block of organic Pecorino Stagionato aged 12 months. This sheep milk cheese won us over with flavours of nut and spice.
The Patio
Two oversized paella pans are hard to miss as you walk by this place. Arrive at the right time and you can watch as they prepare the paella right in front of you. Cooking the rice, then adding the prawns, chicken, and mussels. A little chalkboard sign lets you know when the next batch will be ready.
At $11.90 per serving, it's well worth a try paired with a couple Italian sodas or crepes for dessert. Served in paper takeaway containers, the use of wood forks and spoons instead of plastic is a nice touch.
Dutch Colony Coffee Co.
Sit back, relax and enjoy a cup of exceptional coffee. We decided on Café Mocha ($5) and savoured every sip. Unmistakably good coffee served in a rustic setting of wood crates and vintage glassware.
Bonheur Patisserie
Specialising in macarons, choose from a large selection of flavours ranging from Classic, Asian and Fusion. At only $3 for a big gooey macaron, these pair very nicely with a cuppa from Dutch Colony Coffee Co., located across the way.
The Organic Grocer
The name says it all, lots of organic groceries. Choose from fresh vegetables, meat, fruit, bread, and dry goods. The highlight for us was the organic meat as it can be harder to find in Singapore. Stocked in the freezer section is a range of beef flown in weekly from Australia including ground beef, ribeye, and a must try beef sausage.
Mekhala
A cute shop selling organic teas, rice, curry sauces, honey and spa products from Thailand. Organic brown rice being a staple in our household, we were happy to go home with a bag of Thai black rice from Chiang Mai.
PasarBella
The Grandstand Bukit Timah Singapore
200 Turf Club Road
Singapore 287994
T: +65 6887 0077
W: www.pasarbella.com
Have you visited PasarBella yet? What are your favourites?
Agree that pasarbella is a culinarily exciting addition to the local food scene, however I have to correct the statement of it being the first. There is actually farmmart, a more local farmer market concept locale at kranji that has been around for some years.
Hi John, thanks for sharing! I will definitely have to stop by Farmmart. It looks neat! Would I be correct to say it’s the first “European” style farmers market? I will have to clarify “permanent” farmers market too, since I know there is a farmers market at The Pantry at Loewen Gardens on certain saturdays that has been ongoing.
This place looks amazing. can’t wait to visit on our next trip to Singapore! Great pics!
Thanks Gary! Finally we have our own version of the Granville Island Market. We’re pretty happy.