TRAVEL FOCUS TOURS Eat Like a Local… in Singapore 2020

5 NIGHT FOOD TOUR | 22-27 MARCH 2020 | Land PRICE $2,690*pp

with Jacqueline Weiley, and our local guides, Masterchef

Singapore judge and celebrity chef Bjorn Shen & Roxanne Toh

Join us on a five day

foodie adventure in

Singapore and explore

this modern Asian city…

like a local.

Experience the best of

this island nation’s

ethnic heritage; where

Malay, Chinese, Arab,

Indian and English

blend to create a

cultural and culinary

tapestry like no other

destination!

INCLUSIONS 5 nights’ twin/double

accommodation* at

30 Bencoolen

Option to extend an

extra night pre, post or

both - recommended

Daily breakfast, 1 lunch

and 2 dinners

MRT travel card with

initial travel credit

Unlimited internet

access at hotel

Hosted activities with

expert local guides plus

Australian Tour Leader

Excursions/entrances as

per the itinerary

Join Jacqueline Weiley of Eat Like a Local Tours, along with local hosts,

Chef Bjorn Shen of Artichoke – and judge on Masterchef Singapore –

and Artichoke business manager Roxanne Toh as they take us on a

fun-filled food adventure and show us their Singapore.

Welcome dinner at Artichoke, with owner/chef and our local

Singapore co-host, Bjorn Shen

Visit hawker centres and explore local neighbourhoods, engage

with stallholders and sample their specialties

Lunch at Candlenut, the only Michelin-starred ‘Peranakan’

restaurant in the world

Enjoy a Singapore Sling, Singapore’s signature cocktail, at Raffles

Long Bar

Bike ride around Marina Bay

Free time: relax by the hotel rooftop pool, enjoy a massage or go

shopping.

TOUR HIGHLIGHTS

TRAVEL FOCUS TOURS Eat Like a Local… in Singapore 2020

TOUR ITINERARY

Tour Day 1: Sunday 22 March: Arrive Singapore

Arrive at leisure into Singapore and make your own way to the hotel

where check-in is available from 2pm.

In the evening we meet in the hotel lobby for the short walk to

Artichoke where we enjoy a celebratory welcome dinner and are

greeted by one of our local hosts, Chef Bjorn Shen.

Overnight: 30 Bencoolen (D)

Tour Day 2: Monday 23 March

Breakfast in hotel or at leisure.

Meet in the lobby after breakfast for a short walk to Tekka Market. Our

local guide Bjorn will join us for a walk around the stalls to engage with

the stallholders and enjoy brunch, Indian hawker style.

Following brunch we’ll take a stroll around Little India and then continue

by foot toward Arab Street (or a short 2-stop metro ride) for a guided

walking tour of the Arab Quarter.

In the afternoon you will have free time to explore the textile shops in

the Arab Quarter, book in for a massage, go shopping, or head back to

the hotel for a swim in the rooftop pool.

For our evening meal we’ll head out for one of Singapore’s signature

dishes - ‘chicken rice’. Bjorn and Roxanne know the best in Singapore

and have uncovered a local gem for us for us to enjoy… ‘like a local’.

Overnight: 30 Bencoolen (B, D)

Tour Day 3: Tuesday 24 March

Breakfast in hotel or at leisure.

Meet in the lobby after breakfast and we’ll set out for a morning

exploring the Gardens by the Bay, including entry to the Cloud Forest

and Flower Dome.

Then you are free to relax for the afternoon prior to our evening bike

tour. Perhaps wander through the Super Tree Grove and gardens, shop

in Marina Bay Sands, drink in the view at Ce La Vie on top of the

building or visit the ArtScience Museum.

TRAVEL FOCUS TOURS Eat Like a Local… in Singapore 2020

In the late afternoon we meet in the hotel lobby and travel to our bike

tour start, perhaps with a pre-biking snack on the way.

We arrive to meet our guide and grab our bicycles for our evening tour

by bike (electric scooters available at surcharge). At the end of our bike

tour it’s time to head back to our hotel or perhaps grab a sneaky little

beverage prior to retiring for the evening? The decision is yours but we’ll

point you in the right direction either way!

Overnight: 30 Bencoolen (B)

Tour Day 4: Wednesday 25 March

Breakfast in hotel or at leisure and enjoy a free morning. You might like a

massage or a refreshing swim after last night’s bike ride!

Late morning we meet in the hotel lobby ready to depart for our

Candlenut lunch at Dempsey Hill.

Bjorn and Roxanne will join us for this special dining experience, the

world’s first Michelin-starred Peranakan restaurant. Serving up refined

Peranakan cuisine, chef Malcom Lee is committed to preserving the

essence and complexities of traditional Straits-Chinese cuisine. Using the

freshest seasonal produce available, Candlenut takes a contemporary

yet authentic approach to this traditional cuisine and its spices.

After lunch return to the hotel for some free time.

Early evening we’ll meet in the lobby and then set out to enjoy

Singapore’s signature cocktail, the Singapore Sling at the place where it

was created and made famous, the Raffles Long Bar!

Following drinks you are free to enjoy your evening – grab a local hot

pot dinner or make your way to one of the restaurant hotspots.

Overnight: 30 Bencoolen (B, L)

Tour Day 5: Thursday 26 March

Breakfast in hotel or at leisure and afterwards meet in lobby to transfer

to Tiong Bahru market.

For our final full day Bjorn & Roxanne will meet us at the Tiong Bahru

market for a walk around the market and wet market prior to a tour of

the hawker stalls. Here we’ll enjoy specialties such as char kuay teow,

roti john and carrot cake – which is nothing like the carrot cake you

might be used to!

TRAVEL FOCUS TOURS Eat Like a Local… in Singapore 2020

Following brunch we’ll take a stroll around the district before heading

on to Chinatown. There we’ll pop into the shop of Anthony the Spice

Maker and browse his amazing range of spice mixes, then visit a 100

year old bakery to sample their famous egg tarts.

This evening we meet in the hotel lobby ahead of our final meal

together. We’ll head away from the usual tourist areas to East Coast

Lagoon Food Village, where we’ll join locals and families at a hawker

market famous for its BBQ chicken wings, satay, chilli crab, pepper

crab… the list goes on. Right on the beach, we’ll say our final farewells

and thanks to our local hosts for showing us their Singapore.

Please note that in the case of inclement weather an alternative dinner

venue will be selected.

Overnight: 30 Bencoolen (B)

Tour Day 6: Friday 27 March: Tour ends

After breakfast we say our official goodbye to our new found friends and begin to reminisce about what

was a spectacular culinary journey. (B)

Optional Cooking class to Pre-book: Let’s Go Cook Singapore

Let’s Go Cook Singapore is the ‘sister’ company to our bike tour hosts for the Marina Bay Evening Cycle

tour. They offer 3 cooking classes per day and previous guests have raved about the experience. Should

you wish to do a cooking class while in Singapore, we can book one of the following for you. Depending

upon your scheduled return flights we would recommend taking a class on Friday 27 March or Saturday

28 March 2020.

Flavours of Singapore 1: 9am, 3-4 hrs duration; SG$129 (approx. AU$140-145*)

Start with a local market tour and light breakfast, then return to the kitchen to create 2 local main dishes

and 1 dessert/side.

Flavours of Singapore 2: 2 or 5pm, 2 hrs duration; SG $99 (approx. AU$105-110*)

In this class you’ll create a local main dish and a dessert/side. Note there is no market tour.

*Australian dollar equivalent is dependent upon the currency exchange rate at the time.

DETAILS SUBJECT TO CHANGE We endeavour to have all the details of our tours correct at the time of printing however sometimes

factors beyond our control, such as the availability of requested hotels and restaurants, and the

operation of activities and services may affect the final inclusions and price. Therefore items mentioned

in the brochure and itinerary such as quoted prices, hotels and inclusions are subject to change.

Although it is rare and we would only do it as a last resort, tours can sometimes be cancelled if minimum

TRAVEL FOCUS TOURS Eat Like a Local… in Singapore 2020 numbers aren’t reached.

MEET YOUR TOUR LEADERS

Restaurant owner and chef Bjorn Shen chose an alternative route to get to his dream job of being

a chef. Completing both a Bachelor of International Hotel & Tourism Management and an

Advanced Masters of Business degree, Bjorn opened Artichoke in 2010, which he says is “the least

‘Middle Eastern’ Middle Eastern restaurant ever”. Bjorn has won multiple awards, including Best

Local Chef 2015 and was a finalist in the World Gourmet Summit Chef of the Year 2018. He has

appeared in and hosted several TV programs, and is a judge on Masterchef Singapore.

After spending a decade in public relations, Roxanne Toh gave up her preppy heels and dresses

to join husband Bjorn in the business in 2012. Together, they opened overdoughs; a Middle Eastern

inspired bakeshop and deli for a year, before calling it a day. Since then, Rox mostly oversees

continued learning, change management and business strategy at Artichoke. She enjoys

travelling with Bjorn; eating their way through different cities, and bringing back fresh perspectives

and new ideas to the table at Artichoke. Like Bjorn, Rox is 100% born and bred Singaporean and

hopes to eventually move back to live in her family neighbourhood of Serangoon Gardens.

Jacqueline Weiley is an experienced traveller and passionate foodie. She

believes the best way to discover a destination is through its local cuisine.

Jacqueline was the founder and owner of a food and wine tour company

based in regional NSW and has also led tours and treks to India.

She is passionate about Singapore and the amazing ‘melting pot’ of culinary

experiences it offers. It was during recent trips to Singapore with friends, and

being shown the local spots and delicacies by Bjorn and Roxanne, that the

idea for Eat Like a Local Tours was ignited.

TRAVEL FOCUS TOURS Eat Like a Local… in Singapore 2020

TOUR EXCLUSIONS

HOW TO BOOK

WHY TRAVEL WITH US

Travel Focus Group can also assist with your flight bookings,

pre- and post-travel including extended stays in Asia, or onto Europe,

along with travel insurance.

International airfares

Travel Insurance

Meals and excursions not listed in the itinerary

Please note: we provide some sampling while at the hawker markets during brunch however

not full meals. Similarly the final evening meal will be up to each guest to choose a stall and

their meal. You should budget around SG$100-150 in cash for these activities/meals

Beverages - all drinks to be purchased separately except for our Singapore Sling

Optional tours and activities

Porterage at airport and hotels

Airport transfers

Any service not specifically listed under "inclusions”.

Contact Travel Focus Group on 1300 733 323 or 02 4234 1175 or via email at

office@travelfocusgroup.com to request a booking form and the Terms and Conditions

Tour price is $2,690pp twin/double share

Ask about single supplement rates, pre and post tour accommodation and airfares

Pay a $250 per person deposit to secure your place

Balance due 23 January 2020.

Small group size — around 10 to 12 guests guarantees an intimate experience.

Unique Itineraries — your guides have selected the best of the best in curating this tour to

provide experiences that offer a truly local insight into life in Singapore.

Local Authentic Experiences — know that you will experience something special on our tour,

visiting locations and vendors not on the usual tourist trail.

Fully escorted by expert local guides — our tour leaders are experienced and capable,

entertaining and considerate. Your guides will always ensure a mix of structured activities along

with free time to allow you to enjoy a little down time to shop, explore, indulge or be pampered!