Chicken rice, quesadillas, falafel and pancakes can’t possibly be healthy, right? YOLO in Singapore proves this wrong
If a bulldog can go extreme by riding a skateboard and embrace the spirit of YOLO, you can too. Also endorsing the ethos of YOLO is Alexis Bauduin, an entrepreneur from France whose affection for said critter manifests on the mural-painted zinc sheet walls of his Icon Village brainchild. Most tend to abuse the saturated YOLO phrase and use it as an excuse to live recklessly and find nourishment in the unhealthiest of places. Bauduin posits an opposite scenario: indeed, you only live once, so make sure you live a life as long and wholesomely as you can. After a harrowing hospital incident five years ago, Bauduin altered his perspective on dietary habits. And as such, healthy food became an obsession for him – one that’s seeped into his vision behind this new Tanjong Pagar hangout in Singapore.
Okay, so we know what you’re thinking. Here’s another locale that’s jumping on the healthy food bandwagon; a hub where social media troopers can congregate to spam their #cleaneats and #healthyliving hashtags on pics of quinoa dishes and fruit salads. And let’s face it – unless you’re a devoted health buff, many of these culinary offerings are often unappeasing to the general public. “It’s not cool to eat healthy,” or so they might think. This is where YOLO shatters the stereotype.
What Bauduin has done – in collaboration with in-house nutritionalists – is change the game of healthy eating. Putting a health-conscious spin on dishes you can find in conventional restaurants or cafes (even hawker centres!), Bauduin hopes to encourage and educate others to take the first step in watching their diet, and have fun while they’re at it. Spread across five unique categories, YOLO’s unusual, takeaway-friendly treats are aimed at benefitting the body through different means. We break it down without breaking a sweat.
Shape up – For that 365-day beach bod
Every dish in this section is capped at 300 calories, so you won’t have to worry about losing ’em abs when you re-enact that Baywatch moment on the beach. The salmon quinoa burger ($13.90) nicely concentrates that rich salmon flavour without being too fishy, served on a generous bed of grapefruit and rocket salad. But for kicks, we’d recommend the cauliflower ‘fried rice’ ($9.90) for a more innovative serving. The cauliflower is chopped so fine that it resembles the grainy texture of rice; it’s pretty convincing with the chunks of chicken and Asian veggies tossed in the mix. Surprisingly filling!
Glow – For that radiant youth
We might never find the fountain of youth, but at least YOLO’s got a good way of keeping those darndest wrinkles at bay. The Thai fish cake ($10.90) is a mushier take on the traditional Tod Mun Pla, foregoing firmness for a pasty consistency similar to otak. While the authenticitiy of the falafel wrap ($9.90) will definitely win points from those infatuated with the Middle Eastern staple. The Israeli salad that comes rolled inside the flatbread also makes this one high-fibre power dish.
Perform – For that extra boost of energy
A food coma can be a real killer when you need to be productive on the grind. Prevent post-lunch knockouts with the coconut chicken on brown rice ($11.90) with cashews and mint – a gravy-based dish that could compete with most Thai curries. Believe it or not, YOLO has even made chicken rice healthy! The health-kicked chicken rice ($10.90) doesn’t skimp on protein (this ain’t no mock meat!) or authenticity of taste, and the chilli sauce even packs quite a garlicky punch. If you’re wondering how these plates don’t drift you off to snoozeland, they actually contain chemicals that make the body release insulin slower. Go science!
Soothe – For that stress-free relief
No need to freak out if you’re edgy about allergy irks. YOLO’s Soothe selections are catered to those who are gluten-, dairy- and wheat-intolerant. And just because they’re lacking these key ingredients, doesn’t mean that they pale in comparison. The salmon tataki salad ($13.90) is a must-have for any Japanese salmon aficionado. Lightly seared and marinated in vinegar, these chunks of salmon unlock an explosion of tastes aided by French beans, brown rice and avocado. But what’s possibly our favourite item on the menu is YOLO’s chicken quesadilla ($11.90) – a cheesy, saucy tortilla that could very well be a bar snack.
Build – For that muscular frame
So you missed bench-pressing those weights during lunch break; not to worry. These protein-heavy offerings will help bulk you up with meaty sustenance. The Arnie’s meatballs ($13.50) taste homely and aren’t too flaky, and a dense tomato-based sauce is poured over them, resembling a Bolognese base with olives, eggplants and springy fusilli pasta. The beef steak nam jim ($13.90) is also a real winner with its exotic Thai marinade, fit for those who like a fusion of sweet and spicy. Oh, and if you happen to have an early start to the day, YOLO dishes out high-protein pancakes ($6.50) for breakfast. Served with banana, blueberries and maple syrup, you can’t go wrong with this sinful, albeit healthy, recipe.
Naturally, we felt like we could take on the world after chowing down on power-ups from YOLO’s five food categories. Even with a couple of sweet treats to wrap up our eye-opening experience – like the banofee and apple pie smoothies (both $5.50) – we took comfort in the fact that we weren’t piling up the calories. YOLO encourages a concept called #eatyourgoals (now that’s one hashtag we can get behind). Whether that goal is to keep up your fitness regime or get acquainted with healthy eating with a peculiar twist, YOLO is a place that’ll help you achieve it.
YOLO, 12 Gopeng Street, #01-01 Icon Village, Singapore 078877, p. 6221 3029. Open Mon-Sat 8am-9.30pm, Sun 11am-3pm.