Think of “Food” and “Asia” and what comes to mind is a rich and diverse mosaic of landscapes and sentiments: on the one hand, we can imagine golden fields of rice tended by tight-knit communities, abundant harvests at year-end festivals, and sprawling, animated markets; however, we also have unsavory images of grain rotting in the heat, poverty-stricken and hungry children, and food riots in urban centers.
Is it possible for the region to develop alternative, sustainable and equitable food systems? What opportunities and possibilities can social entrepreneurship bring to address this complex and critical situation?

Dishing out hope
OUR SPECIALTY:
Food at economical prices. Vegetarian mixed rice and noodles go at as low as $2. On top of that, there is a free flow of tonic soups. The popular blueberry cheese tart goes at $1.50 too.
THE INNOVATION:
Providing employment for mild intellectually disabled youths. Employment earns them useful skills like baking, [...]

A cafe by the day and social activist by the night, Food #03 has hosted and provided support for several social causes and projects in the form of publicity on both its website and by word of mouth. Besides being an eco-friendly cafe hidden deep within exotic Little India, the place is also a breeding ground for ideas to happen and groups to gather. Environmental and social groups such as Green Drinks Singapore, Social Enterprise SG and Food not Bombs frequent the cafe for their regular meetings.

The number eighteen is a slang for an active local gang and also the number of chefs Benny hopes to have in his restaurants one day. Eighteen Chefs has since set up a second branch – 54-seat restaurant at Eastpoint Mall equally committed to training ex-offenders as chefs and keeping there away from crime.

Pastries for the sweet soul

OUR SPECIALTY:
Homebaked cakes, muffins, cookies and fruit tarts from $2 onwards.
THE INNOVATION:
The bakery provides training and resources for needy jobseekers especially single mothers to make cakes and other pastries at a kitchen within Bukit Panjang Community Club, which will be later sold at various town centres as well as pushcarts at [...]