Be tickled millennial pink
From ramen to pink tequila, millennial pink food catches on in Singapore.
NOW that rainbow- and unicorn themed food is losing its shine on Instagram, it is time to turn to “millennial pink” fare instead. The global trend, which is clearly targeted at the millennial generation, is fast catching on in Singapore.
It is not a stark, hot pink, but more a muted, rosy shade that conveys a touch of class.
An article in The Washington Post in August says: “Food is fashion and fashion is food and that’s why pink food became gradually, then suddenly, a thing.”
Last year, colour authority Pantone named Rose Quartz one of its colours of the year. Shades of pink are already on everything from shoes to clothes and bags.
Pink is often used in desserts and cocktails, but food-and-beverage operators and chefs are finding new ways to think pink – from pink tonkotsu ramen to pink cactus smoothies.
They say they picked the colour not because of the trend, but to stand out – preferably using natural ingredients.
At Ramen Champion, it is about being in the pink of health. Its general manager Kensuke Onishi says pink ramen was created for health-conscious diners.
He adds: “The pink tonkotsu ramen broth is infused with fresh beetroot and blueberries, giving it a natural pink hue. The response has been great – with up to 500 bowls of ramen sold in a day – because the ramen is very pictureworthy.”
Among others that have embraced pink is two-month-old A Juicery at 21 Lorong Telok, off Boat Quay. Picking rose pink as the shop’s colour was a no-brainer for its creative director Stephanie Er, 33, as she loves the colour.
It is also the original colour for the cold-pressed juice brand, which started out as an online business. She bought it over last year.
Although she did not plan the colour theme to coincide with the millennial pink trend, she notes that it has helped the store gain attention on social media.
She says: “Guys and girls come into the store, some even dressed specially in pink. They use the space to take photos and it makes me happy. We understand the need for the modern-day person to have both a coffee and a photograph.
“The hype may die after a while, so we’ll see what it’ll be like then.”
Student Cassandra Lim, 19, says: “Pink is my favourite colour and a lot of my clothes and accessories are pink. I wouldn’t purposely look for cafes that serve pink food, but if it’s on the menu – such as a pink macaron – I’ll definitely order it.”
Where to get tickled pink
Tonkotsu pink ramen
Ramen Champion’s Special Tonkotsu Pink Ramen (S$15.80/ RM49) comes with noodles, sliced char siu, ajitama egg, black fungus and scallions. Its hue is the result of infusing beetroot and blueberries in the broth for several hours.
Where: All Ramen Champion outlets, including Bugis+ and Changi Airport Terminal 3.
Rose almond cream bird’s nest
Bird’s nest brand NestBloom’s Rose Almond Cream (S$21/RM65 promotion price, S$27/RM84 after Nov 9) is infused with rose and fresh almonds. To eat, place the rose-shaped bird’s nest in a bowl, pour hot water over it and steep for five minutes. Where: 13 Bussorah Street.
Keep on shrimpin’
One of Maki-San chain’s signature rolls, Keep On Shrimpin’ (S$9.90/RM31) comes with rice, tempura ebi, mixed vegetables, sweet corn and wasabi mayonnaise wrapped in a pink soya wrap.
Where: All Maki-San outlets including White Sands and Jem.
Bandung babycino in a cone
The Coffee Academics cafe is giving its Coffee In A Cone a local twist with the Bandung Babycino In A Cone (S$8.90/RM28), which it launched recently.
The hot milk is infused with rose syrup and poured into a chocolate coated ice cream cone. It’s a caffeinefree option good for children. Available for a limited period only.
Where: The Coffee Academics outlets, 02-01 Scotts Square and B1-12 Raffles City.
Codigo 1530 Rosa
Move over rose wine. The all-natural pink tequila Codigo 1530 Rosa is the pink tipple to look out for. Its colour comes from ageing the spirit for a month in uncharred French white oak Cabernet barrels from wineries in Napa Valley, California. This process enriches the natural agave juice while imparting soft floral Cabernet notes to produce a distinctive taste.
The Rosa is one of five in the Codigo 1530 family of premium tequilas, which includes Blanco, Reposado (aged for six months), Anejo (aged for 18 months) and Origen (aged for six years).
Where: Rosa available at Lulu’s Lounge, Pan Pacific Singapore, 7 Raffles Boulevard.