The founder and CEO of Spa Esprit Group, one of Singapore’s largest lifestyle and beauty empires, reveals her soft spot for Dempsey
Sitting on a sprawling 35,000 square feet expanse in Dempsey is Open Farm Community, a unique horticultural hub that houses a restaurant, a garden, a retail store-slash-bar and play areas. In this edition of Hello Honey, we catch up with Cynthia Chua, Singapore’s undisputed lifestyle maven and the brains behind the project, as she shows us around the lush enclave, which is also home to her first dining venture, House (8D Dempsey Road).
Open Farm Community is…
an experiential green space and urban farmland in the heart of Singapore. It’s a place for city dwellers to connect with nature as they learn more about food, its origins, and the role it plays in a modern eco-system.
The idea of urban farming…
was introduced to me three years ago by a talented chef, who wanted to to build a local urban farm where he can harvest his own produce. I never thought that was possible in Singapore until I met the passionate group of farmers from Edible Garden City.
I fell in love with Dempsey’s…
amazing greenery and tranquility. It’s not typical to find a sprawling farm in the city. You feel like you’re in Bali here in this neighbourhood. At Open Farm Community, you’ll see farmers with straw hats and chefs harvesting and picking produce for the kitchen. It’s a visual treat that warms my heart.
Dempsey was formerly…
A nutmeg plantation, until blight destroyed the crops. The British Army converted it into Tanglin Barracks, which was also used by the Japanese military during World War II. In the late 1980s, the barracks was turned into a headquarters for the Ministry of Interior and Defence (MINDEF) and a base for Central Manpower, until the ‘90s saw the area transformed into a retail enclave.
Not many people know that…
Dempsey’s actually brimming with wild life, including kingfishers, woodpeckers and monitor lizards. It’s wonderful to kick back over a meal at any of the café’s alfresco seating areas and soak in nature’s wonders.
My five favourite Dempsey spots are…
1) Culina, which offers great food made with quality produce. 2) Powermoves – this pilates studio whips my body into shape. 3) Beauty Emporium for quick waxes and great facials. 4) House for a mean cup of red tea latte and Asian sliders. 5) Samy’s, which serves flavour-packed Indian food.
Open Farm Community, 130E Minden Road, Singapore 248819, p. 6471 0306.
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