Has it been a year already?
The Geylang Serai Ramadan Bazaar will be back next week, slated to be held from 3rd May (Fri) to 5th June (Wed) 2019.
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Last year, food items such as Satay Meatball buckets, Ondeh Ondeh Pancakes, “Crispy Rendang” (remember the MasterChef incident?), Durian Churros, Raclette Cheese and Grilled Beef Cubes were some of most popular, with customers queuing at these stalls for up to an hour.
Based on feedback from the previous years – that food is too “hipster” and rental is high, there will be some changes that will be implemented.
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There will be about 60% of the food stalls offering “traditional Malay food”, while the other 40% can sell “contemporary” or “hipster” options.
Also, these stalls are required to be certified Halal by MUIS, fulfill a set of Halal criteria, or need to be Muslim owned. Vendors need to be responsible for ensuring that food products are Halal.
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Organised by cultural heritage hub Wisma Geylang Serai, a cap has been put on rental costs at $14.000.
This is in contrast with vendors who paid up to $15,000 in 2017, and $20,000 in 2018.
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There will also be less stalls this year, at 500 compared to 800 in 2018.
With these measures in place, hopefully price of food items will be more affordable, there will be more space for visitors to walk around, and the feeling of nostalgia will return to the bazaar.
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In terms of the food, it is interesting to note (at least for me) that many vendors remain tight-lipped about what they are going to sell until the time ‘is right’, partly for fear that there will be copy-cat versions.
However, the Catch 22 situation is that stalls which start marketing their food earlier generally gain more media attention, and thus publicity and long lines.
(I know I will be expecting loads of emails next week onwards with regards to tastings, but I say on the onset that I queue and pay for my own food.)
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It will be interesting to see how stalls get creative enough to incorporate traditional aspects into food that can appeal to younger customer base. I thought last year’s Satay Meatballs and Ondeh Ondeh Pancakes were great examples.
The one stall we can look forward to is BURP Live Station Catering which will be offering Lobster Rolls ($19) using Maine lobsters. (Okay, so this is part of the 40% hipster food.)
The Lobster Rolls come in 2 different flavours – London Lobster Roll with coating of melted lemon butter, and Laksa Lobster Roll with a local Singapore twist.
The rolls are served with a side of Cassava Chips.
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Also available is White Rabbit bucket drink that could bring back childhood and old school memories, and provide a refreshing respite from a hot weather.
For first timer visitors, remember to wear casual clothes, hydrate yourselves, bring enough wet tissue, cash and coins, and just immerse in the celebrations. Have fun!
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How to get to Geylang Serai Market
MRT: Paya Lebar Station
Bus: 2, 7, 13, 21, 24, 26, 28, 30, 51, 67, 76, 154 and 155
(Click PLAY for highlights of Geylang Serai Ramadan Bazaar 2018.)