The Straits Times Podcasts

askST@NLB Ep 4: The new normal in restaurant dining during Covid-19 pandemic

29:06 mins

Synopsis: This is the fourth episode of the askST@NLB podcast series brought to you by the National Library Board. The monthly talks by The Straits Times correspondents were previously held at the Central Public Library but due to Covid-19 safe distancing measures, we are converting the sessions into a podcast series done remotely.

Listen to the correspondents you follow, more intimately, through our podcasts.

For this episode, The Straits Times' senior food correspondent Wong Ah Yoke invites his guest - hotelier-restaurateur Loh Lik Peng - who owns the Unlisted Collection of restaurants such as Zen, Burnt Ends, Majestic Restaurant and Meatsmith.

They discuss the new normal in restaurant dining and how the Covid-19 pandemic has transformed the food and beverage landscape in Singapore.

1. How are restaurants working within the new rules, to improve the experience? (2:00)
2. How can small restaurants still make money, especially those with cramped spaces that seemed in vogue during pre-Covid times? (3:17)
3. What to consider now if you are considering opening a restaurant in this Covid-19 pandemic? (6:15)
4. Which foods suit delivery better? (8:25)
5. How islandwide delivery changes the game for both diners and restaurants (10:30)
6. How can restaurants be sustainable, balancing manpower and 7-day work weeks, while juggling dine-in and delivery revenue streams? (14:30)

We tackle selected readers' questions: (17:30 onwards)

1. From ST reader Mdm Tang Wen Yu: "Post-Covid-19 and the looming recession, is there wiggle room for fine dining? How do you cater to the few with lots of money to spend on food, without coming across as insensitive?"
2. From reader Mr Victor Lim: "In your opinion, did Phase Two come too soon, before F&B players were ready? Have the authorities done well?"
3. From another reader Ms Teresa Chen: "Presently, only a group of five from different households are allowed to dine together. This does not cater to families with more than three children. I understand the need to limit but if it is the immediate nuclear family (parents and children all living together in the same household), there is no reason not to let the whole family dine together."
4. From reader Ms Baoxuan: "What is the most underrated local produce used in restaurants today? What do you project for the farm-to-fork movement in our Singapore restaurant scene?"

Look out for the next episode of askST@NLB podcast series on July 17 and you can submit advance questions now: str.sg/JW9R

Download NLB mobile app: go.nlb.gov.sg/nlbmobile

NLB Website: https://www.nlb.gov.sg

Produced by: Wong Ah Yoke (ahyoke@sph.com.sg) & Ernest Luis

Edited by: Adam Azlee

Discover ST & BT podcasts:

Channel: https://str.sg/JWVR

Spotify: https://spoti.fi/2PwZCYU

Apple Podcasts: https://apple.co/2Lu4rPP

Google podcasts: http://str.sg/googlestbt

Websites: http://str.sg/stbtpodcasts

https://bt.sg/moneyhacks

Feedback to: podcast@sph.com.sg

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Big Story Podcast: PM Lee to see Singapore through crisis

7:03 mins

Synopsis: This is a special episode of The Straits Times' video series The Big Story.

Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong pledges that he will steer Singapore through the current Covid-19 crisis alongside senior Cabinet colleagues and the fourth-generation ministers, even as the People's Action Party ensures there is continuous leadership renewal.

Hosts Dylan Ang and Olivia Quay speak with deputy political editor Royston Sim, who shares his insights on the latest developments.

Produced and edited by: ST Video team

Discover The Straits Times Videos: https://str.sg/JPrc

Discover ST & BT podcasts:

Channel: https://str.sg/JWVR

Spotify: https://spoti.fi/2PwZCYU

Apple Podcasts: https://apple.co/2Lu4rPP

Google podcasts: http://str.sg/googlestbt

Websites: http://str.sg/stbtpodcasts

https://bt.sg/moneyhacks

Feedback to: podcast@sph.com.sg

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Editor's Take (July 6): Parties fighting hard, 'almost as if their lives depended on it'

6:29 mins

Synopsis: This is The Straits Times' snappy GE2020 podcast analysis - Editor's Take.

The heat of the hustings on the campaign trail for GE2020 was dialled up a few notches over the weekend.

The editor-in-chief of Singapore Press Holdings' English, Malay and Tamil media group and editor of The Straits Times - Warren Fernandez - sums up what the PAP and the respective opposition parties' positions are, on several hot topic issues.

Produced and edited by: ST Video team and Penelope Lee

Discover The Straits Times Videos: https://str.sg/JPrc

Discover ST & BT podcasts:

Channel: https://str.sg/JWVR

Spotify: https://spoti.fi/2PwZCYU

Apple Podcasts: https://apple.co/2Lu4rPP

Google podcasts: http://str.sg/googlestbt

Websites: http://str.sg/stbtpodcasts

https://bt.sg/moneyhacks

Feedback to: podcast@sph.com.sg

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Big Story Podcast: PAP and opposition feud over Covid-19 response measures

5:40 mins

Synopsis: This is a special episode of The Straits Times' video series The Big Story.

Both the People's Action Party and opposition continue to attack each side's handling of the Covid-19 crisis.

Hosts Dylan Ang and Olivia Quay speak with news editor Zakir Hussain on the latest developments.

Produced and edited by: ST Video team

Discover The Straits Times Videos: https://str.sg/JPrc

Discover ST & BT podcasts:

Channel: https://str.sg/JWVR

Spotify: https://spoti.fi/2PwZCYU

Apple Podcasts: https://apple.co/2Lu4rPP

Google podcasts: http://str.sg/googlestbt

Websites: http://str.sg/stbtpodcasts

https://bt.sg/moneyhacks

Feedback to: podcast@sph.com.sg

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

When All This Is Over: Ep 4

19:44 mins

From a birthday Zoom call to lamentations for a lost year, listen to poetry and prose about the Covid-19 pandemic by local writers Aaron Maniam, Jinny Koh, Amanda Chong, Diana Rahim and Gwee Li Sui.

This is part of the 30 Days Of Art series, supported by the National Arts Council, to inspire and uplift listeners as the country emerges from the Covid-19 circuit breaker.

To see the rest of the works, go to str.sg/30Days. For more local digital arts offerings, visit a-list.sg to appreciate #SGCultureAnywhere.
Things To Do In A Pandemic by Aaron Maniam - 0:33

Unbroken by Jinny Koh - 2:38

Lamentations by Amanda Chong - 6:11

A List Of Things That Can Still Travel Great Distances by Diana Rahim - 9:01

The Lost Year by Gwee Li Sui - 14:46

Performed by: Aaron Maniam, Olivia Ho, Amanda Chong and Diana Rahim

Produced by: Olivia Ho and Penelope Lee

Edited by: Penelope Lee

Discover ST & BT podcasts:

Channel: https://str.sg/JWVR

Spotify: https://spoti.fi/2PwZCYU

Apple Podcasts: https://apple.co/2Lu4rPP

Google podcasts: http://str.sg/googlestbt

Websites: http://str.sg/stbtpodcasts

https://bt.sg/moneyhacks

Feedback to: podcast@sph.com.sg

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.