Packaging Matters @ National Museum of Singapore - Singapore's Food Packaging Story From The Early 20th Century

Knowing Singapore through Packaging Matters: Singapore's Food Packaging Story from the Early 20th Century. Presented by the National Museum of Singapore, this exhibition chronicles the development of food packaging in Singapore, from the early bottling and canning factories in the late 19th to early 20th centuries, to the light industries of the 1960s-70s when food was manufactured in factories. Am I surprised to discover that our canned pineapples were internationally sought after, especially in UK!

One of the exhibition highlights includes Packaging as Media where you will see the iconic Tiffany Glass Coca Cola Bottle in display. Using these containers as means of communicating their brands to the consumers, while mass produced, each container is distinctive in its own ways.

You will also see how packaging can influence consumer choice and how designs developed over the years, from simple illustrations to complex labels with realistic images, such as that of Khong Guan and Kickapoo, which stood out with their eye-catching colours and logos.

One section that speaks to me is the Emergence of Supermarkets. Cold Storage (1903) represents colonial modernity and affluence, it changed retail practices as it shifted from a grocer store to a supermarket in the late 1930s and even started a delivery system in 1935! Foods such as dairy, bread, frozen food and imported products were being introduced to our diets.

Towards the end of the exhibitions, you will find yourself at the Sustainability section, one of the biggest concerns in today's consumerism. Discarded food packaging is the issue to tackle and this exhibition reminds us that what is considered innovative in the past, such as the single clam-shell container, is just as functional in our era. Tingkat isn't just for high tea display, is it?

This exhibition is family friendly too. Kids can learn how to recycle the right materials in the Sustainability section.

In the Family Corner, be awed by this adorable wall mural filled with various food packaging illustrated in creative ways.

Appreciate the recycled crafts created by artists together with seniors from the Alzheimer's disease Association.

Curated by Vidya Murthy, Packaging Matters: Singapore's Food Packaging Story from the Early 20th Century will be held from 6 April 2019 to 15 September 2019 at National Museum's Stamford Gallery on Level one. Admission is free for all. Other programmes highlights includes Food and Craft Market, Film Screenings and Indoor Picnic. For more details, please visit www.nationalmuseum.sg


National Museum of Singapore
93 Stamford Road
Singapore 178897
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Nearest MRT: Bras Basah (CC Line), Bencoolen (DT Line)

Opening Hours:
Daily: 10am - 7pm

Direction: 
1) Alight at Bras Basah MRT station. Take Exit C. Walk to Stamford Road. Cross the road. Walk to destination. Journey time about 5 minutes. [Map]

2) Alight at Bencoolen MRT station. Take Exit B or C. Walk down Bencoolen Street to Stamford Road. Cross the road. Walk to destination. Journey time about 5 minutes. [Map]

Go-Ang Pratunam Chicken Rice @ Vivocity - Thailand Bib Gourmand Awardee Opens 2nd Outlet In Singapore

After the opening of their first restaurant at Nex Shopping Centre, the Michelin Bib Gourmand 2018 and 2019 awardee - Go-Ang Pratunam Chicken Rice has opened its second outlet at Vivocity. Besides the chicken rice, the restaurant also offers a communal dining experience with selection of soups, braised pork, cooked dishes and desserts.

Half Chicken 3.8/5

Since Go-Ang is specialised in the steamed chicken, we definitely have to try it. We ordered Half Chicken ($16) which to my surprise it is very well executed. It is tender with gelatine skin. Unlike the type of tangy and garlicky chilli sauce we used in Singapore, their sauce is a concoction of fermented chilli, fermented soy beans, coarsely chopped ginger,

Fried Tofu Cube with Thai Sweet Chilli Sauce 3.5/5

With a soft innard and crispy exterior is the Fried Tofu Cube with Thai Sweet Chilli Sauce ($8). It is drenched in a sweet chilli sauce and topped with peanuts.

Stir Fried Basil Chicken with Kai Lan 4/5

Cooked to a delectable crunch is the Stir Fried Basil Chicken with Kai Lan ($8). It also comes packed with fish sauce aroma, coupled with hint of spiciness.

Tri-Egg with Poached Spinach 3.8/5

Another vegetable dish we tried is the Tri-Egg with Poached Spinach ($8). The sweetness of the spinach is brought out in the flavourful stock. I enjoyed the scrambled texture of the egg but it lacked the saltiness from the salted egg.

Chai Poh Omelette 4.5/5

Not to be missed is the Chai Poh Omelette ($6.50). It uses sweet preserved radish instead of the salty type. What actually wow me is the fluffy texture of omelette. This is probably one of the best I have eaten.

To be frank, if Go-Ang sells only the chicken rice, they probably will not made it in Singapore. Not that it is not good but there are just too many choices in Singapore for chicken rice. From the crowded restaurant, they probably has found the successful formula in offering other cooked dishes complementing the chicken rice, providing a communal experience.


Go-Ang Pratunam Chicken Rice
Vivocity
1 Harbourfront Walk
#B2-30
Singapore 098585
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Nearest MRT: Harbourfront (CC Line, NE Line)

Opening Hours:
Daily: 11am - 10pm

Direction:
1) Alight at Harbourfront MRT station. Take Exit C or E. Walk to destination. Journey time about 5 minutes. [Map]