Beyond its widely popular tourist attractions, Singapore has always been a top-of-mind destination for its melting pot of flavors and unique dining experiences. From its fine dining restaurants helmed by multi-awarded celebrity chefs to the family-owned heritage restaurants serving local fare, Singapore is always a hit among Filipino foodies. And while people wait for borders to open, they make up for the wanderlust by satisfying the craving with different recipes from around the world.
Blazing the trails of Manila’s gastronomic scene, celebrity and restaurateur Marvin Agustin whets the appetites of Filipinos with the exciting flavors of Singapore. In collaboration with the Singapore Tourism Board, Marvin is joined by Singaporean chef Bjorn Shen in the YouTube series ‘Singapore Reimagined’, where they enlighten viewers about the Lion City through its popular cooking style, Zi Char.
Zi Char (pronounced as tse-chah) is a Hokkien term that directly translates to “cook and fry”. As part of Singapore’s tourism campaign, Marvin and Chef Bjorn reimagine crazy-delicious Zi Char recipes in the web series, including Cereal Prawns, Coffee Pork Ribs, and Seafood White Bee Hoon.
Zi Char has been a staple in the lives of many Singaporeans since the 1930s. Today, many next-generation chefs are keeping this cooking style alive with their unique and vibrant takes on the heirloom recipes.
Zi Char dishes are usually found being served in humble stalls across the city. They are well-loved by many Singaporeans for their huge serving portions, great value, eccentric combinations, and comforting flavors following their home-cooked style. The dishes also make for diverse and exciting must-tries, fusing various influences from Malay, Indian, and Peranakan origins.
In ‘Singapore Reimagined’, Marvin showcases his culinary flair as he reimagines popular Zi Char dishes using easily available ingredients and fusing Filipino flavors. You can have a feel of being in Singapore’s beloved kitchens with the celebrity foodie discovering many new ways to serve noodles, seafood, and vegetable stir-fry, Zi Char-style.
To give Filipinos a crazier surprise, Marvin will also make the featured Zi Char dishes available in his restaurant, Secret Kitchen, starting this May. You can also taste Marvin’s other well-loved creations in his other shops, such as Cochi by Marvin and Mr. Vin Munchies. Find more information here!
Get to know Singapore’s crazy-delicious Zi Char favorites! Watch the first episode of the Singapore Reimagined series starring Marvin and Chef Bjorn here:
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