SOULFOOD, a local stall, shares how perfecting a soul-satisfying Nasi Lemak starts with its ingredients

The eighth edition of Backyard Production’s Taste and Dine event presents SOULFOOD, a renowned establishment that has been serving up soul-satisfying Nasi Lemak. The Taste and Dine series capture the local food aura of Singapore through the lens of prominent chefs and restaurants.

This series in collaboration with SOULFOOD highlights the intricacy behind creating the ultimate Nasi Lemak experience for their patrons through the fusion of Aussie-style barbeque meats with our local staple of nasi lemak ingredients. Established in 2017, SOULFOOD has been serving up delicious Nasi Lemak and barbeque meats that satisfy the soul of their customers. They take immense pride in creating the perfect Nasi Lemak experience for their patrons, prepared with ingredients of the highest quality.

Today we discuss how local produce can elevate the taste of a staple dish like Nasi Lemak.

When did SOULFOOD start using local produce? What drove that choice and how has it been? 

The driving force behind this choice was the desire to support local farmers and to provide customers with the freshest, most flavorful produce available. When we use local produce, we are not only getting high-quality ingredients, but also ingredients that were farmed using sustainable methods. 

What are some local produce that SOULFOOD uses?

At the moment we are using locally farmed barramundi and eggs.

Does SOULFOOD have any advice for other F&Bs who are looking into local produce? 

First and foremost, it is important to understand what’s available in our local backyard. Take a visit to the local farms! Visiting the farms was an enlightening experience for us of what is available in our backyard and seeing the fresh high-quality produce firsthand was inspiring. However, as the availability of local produce may vary, F&Bs should be prepared to be flexible with their menus and offerings, but this also presents the opportunity for us to be creative!

What motivates SOULFOOD to create the dishes it does? 

Our main motivation for creating the local dish is our passion for food and our desire to serve our customers the best Nasi Lemak and grilled meats and seafood. While there is a cost associated with supporting local farmers, we believe it’s important to make our dishes accessible and affordable for all customers to enjoy.

What are SOULFOOD’s values and missions, and how does it align with the collaboration? 

Our collaboration with local farmers and suppliers to use locally farmed products aligns perfectly with our values and mission. By sourcing our ingredients locally, we can ensure that our dishes are made with fresh and high-quality ingredients, while also supporting the local economy and reducing our environmental impact.

How do you think restaurants can help promote sustainability to a wider audience? 

In addition to educating our customers through our menu and signage, we also train our staff to be knowledgeable about the origins and benefits of our ingredients. It is important to make these sustainable options accessible for customers to choose from.

What do you think are some more sustainable steps that SOULFOOD can take?

We are looking to expand our plant-based menu options and promote more vegetarian and vegan dishes to reduce our carbon footprint and promote sustainable eating habits.

How has working with Backyard Productions on using local produce been?

Working with Backyard Productions to source local produce has been an incredibly positive experience for us. We believe that supporting local farmers and producers is essential to promoting sustainable and ethical practices within the food industry, and Backyard Productions has been instrumental in helping us to achieve this goal. Additionally, working with Backyard Productions has allowed us to develop closer relationships with local farmers and producers, which has been a rewarding and fulfilling experience for our team.

About Taste & Dine

Taste & Dine is a series of dining events brought to you by Backyard Productions in collaboration with the best restaurants in Singapore to highlight our homegrown produce.

By working together with chefs to create a menu that uses locally grown and farmed produce, Backyard Productions aims to bring our homegrown gems to the forefront of the industry, making it accessible for all.

Enjoy these dishes conceptualised by SOULFOOD and filled with local produce as part of our eighth edition of Taste & Dine, available from 9 June to 25 June!