On The Menu | May 23, 2018

If you’re a foodie like us, then you probably follow one (or a hundred) Instagram accounts that fill your feed daily with drool-inducing images. You might have even tried replicating some of them yourself. Somehow, you just can’t get your bowl of ramen to look half as good. Ever wonder how these Instagrammers manage to take such perfect pictures?

Here are seven quirky tips that might sound a little strange or bizarre, but are guaranteed to help you nail that perfect #foodporn shot.

1. Soft, Natural Light Is Your Friend

Cr: @sarkababicka

You’ve probably heard this before: soft daylight is the best lighting for food (or any) photographs. So if you want to take advantage of the best lighting conditions you can get, always ask to be seated at a table that is close to a window or door. If your dining companions get suspicious of your need to always be seated by a window, tell them that you simply like watching the world go by while sipping on your cuppa.

2. Stuck in the Dark but You’re My Flashlight

Cr: Tom’s Guide

We’ve all tried taking a picture in a candlelit dining room. And when we can’t seem to get enough light, we turn on the flash, and voila! Your picture turns out dull and flat, so you give up and dig in before your White Alba Truffle Risotto gets cold. Sounds familiar?

If your cell phone’s flash won’t cut it, why not ask your friends to turn on their cell phone’s flashlight and hold it above your food instead? Lighting a little too harsh now? Simply put a thin napkin between the light source and your food, to diffuse the light and get it just right. Want a more even lighting? Always keep a piece of paper or a sheet of aluminium foil (essentially a makeshift bounce card) in your handbag or backpack. By placing your makeshift bounce card on the shaded side of your dish, you can brighten up the dark areas and soften the shadows of your food!

3. Light Up Your Drink

Cr: @epicurious

You know how we suggested using a friend’s cell phone flashlight to light your food from above? The same trick can be used to illuminate your drink (It goes without saying that this only works with beverages served in glassware. Duh.) by lighting it from the side or behind! The waitstaff might think that you’re checking the drink for impurities but what you’re really getting is a beautiful glow ‒ which really highlights the effervescence in a fizzy drink ‒ that you usually see in those slick Coca-Cola commercials. Pro tip: a pinch of salt right before you take your picture, reinvigorates the bubbles in carbonated beverages like beer, champagne, and sodas.

4. Look Alive!

Cr: @saveurmag

Food is alive and sensual, so it goes without saying that it doesn’t always have to sit perfectly still either. You can show it being sliced, served, with a bite taken out of it, or held out to the camera. And contrary to what you might think, the perfect #foodporn shot doesn’t necessarily mean that the picture of your food should only be taken the way the chef intended it to look. So don’t worry about that lime wedge that is slightly off-kilter after your waiter brought your fish tacos to you, or that you have water rings dotting the table which your egg benedict is sitting on. In fact, professional food photographers have stylists that create these “imperfections” in order to make a scene more realistic ‒ case in point, a slightly messy table top with a summer barbecue spread suggests an epic get-together with family or friends.

So go ahead, embrace the chaos, and stand out from the sea of “perfect” food images (Disclaimer: we are not encouraging you to make a mess at your table). These “action” shots and “imperfections” are guaranteed to add a certain je ne sais quoi to your feed.

5. Pops Of Colour

Cr: @taramilktea

Not every restaurant or cafe has gorgeous marble counters, colourful plates, or a stunning feature wall to add colour to your #foodpic. But fret not, you can always introduce colour to your photo via other ways.

Having spaghetti bolognese? Ask the staff for a couple of sprigs of parsley and some extra shaved parmesan cheese to add life to your brown-hued plate. Dining out with a friend who’s got nicely manicured nails, or multi-coloured bracelets and rings? Get them to hold your plate of food or cup of coffee. Getting some ice cream? Always, ALWAYS ask for sprinkles on top (only if it makes sense of course. You can’t have rainbow sprinkles on a scoop of Mao Shan Wang ice cream. Or can you? Hmm…).

6. Show Your Good Side

Cr: @grubspot

Everyone has a “good side” when it comes to taking pictures, so it’s no surprise that different foods will look their best at different angles. Food with height (like burgers and sandwiches) are best photographed from the side, so you can better see all the glorious layers and textures; while two-dimensional options (like açaí bowls and pizzas) look best in overhead shots.

The rules aren’t exactly fixed, so always take pictures from different angles and also play with both landscape and portrait modes in order to choose the best image. This might require you to stand on a chair for the ultimate flat lay shot of your brunch, or for you to squat in front of a tiled counter to get the perfect backdrop for your ice cream. Either way, get comfortable with the judgemental stares and finger-pointing because it’s all worth it for the Gram!

7. Phone-Ception

Cr: @glazeteriyaki

If you’ve tried all our tips so far and still have friends or a partner who’s willing to dine out with you, cherish them because you’ve found a keeper, and you’re going to need to borrow their phone again…

Besides experimenting with angles, ever thought of experimenting with frames? Well, instead of taking a photo of your food, the most meta thing that you can do is to take a picture of YOURSELF taking a picture of YOUR food. And it would really help if you or your friend has a colourful cell phone cover (no cracked cell phone screen protectors please!), or if one of you has nicely painted nails or accessories to boot. You will also want to pay attention to what is within the frames of your photos. And if the shot is too hard to nail, involve the afore-mentioned friend and get them to frame the food shot, while you take the phone-ception shot.

Now that you’ve got your #instaworthy picture, why not tag it with #ChopeBites* and be part of the largest food collage in Singapore that will be revealed in mid-June!

Oh, and make sure that your Instagram page is visible to the public so that your picture will be part of the collage.

*By posting your picture(s) on Instagram with the hashtag #ChopeBites, you consent to your photos being used in the Food Collage, as well as for other Chope marketing campaigns, including (but not limited to) both online and offline collaterals and editorials.

Considering our ever-evolving palate and a burgeoning interest in learning about the origins of our food, it’s unsurprising that Singaporean foodies would be curious about the story behind our coffees, cocktails, and now… beers. More specifically, our ever-growing obsession with independent craft breweries from right in our backyards to all over the world. And why not? The myriad of craft beers available means that you’ll always have a medley of amazing flavours, aromas, and colours to choose from. So much so that you’ll often find yourself spoilt for choice.

Here’s a list of ten places offering craft beers where you can hang out with your BFF (Beer Friends Forever), find the next cult favourite to call yours, or simply to just kick back and relax in after a long week at work.

1. The Armoury

First on the list is The Armoury, which has international craft beers on tap, and is situated in the up and coming South Beach Quarter. The brews on offer have a strong American focus, so if you make this your regular watering hole, you could very well drink your way around all 48 contiguous states. Besides the East-Meets-West menu offerings like Salted Egg Chicken Burger and Chilli Crab Mantou, the real star is The Armoury Burger: a perfectly seared 200g house-ground wagyu beef patty between a toasted brioche bun, topped with caramelised onions, bacon, American and cheddar cheese, and lettuce.

Find it at 36 Beach Road, Singapore 189677
Earn 2X Chope-Dollars with the code TASTYBLOG.

2. Alchemist Beer Lab

Need something exciting to perk you up after a dreary week at work? Introducing the first beer infusion bar in the world: Alchemist Beer Lab (Yes, you read right. Beer Infusion.) Ingredients like fruits, flowers, and snacks (think chocolate, marshmallows, and caramel popcorn) are placed in a fusion chamber, where a compressed gas is released and finally, beer is injected into the contraption. This allows optimal flavour extraction from the ingredients and produces delicious concoctions like, “Honey Trap” (Honey Mead, Ginger Root, and Lemongrass) and “Pomiscuity” (Pomegranate, Tangerine, and Ginger Beer). The bar has eight signature infusions available daily, and eight other infusions that change regularly to keep the adventurous intrigued.

Find it at 26 Beach Road, #B1-16, South Beach Avenue, Singapore 189768
Earn 2X Chope-Dollars with the code TASTYBLOG.

3. Brewerkz

Brewerkz has been a mainstay on Singapore’s craft beer scene since 1997 and has won awards like the World Beer Cup gold medal for its English-Style India Pale Ale (IPA), along with eight Australian Beer awards and three Singapore Asia Beer awards for its internationally recognised craft beers. So if you’re a serious beer connoisseur, you’ll definitely find something to your liking at Brewerkz. They also have an extensive menu, which features crowd favourites like the Spicy Chicken Satay, 3 Little Pigs Pizza (pulled pork, bacon, and spice house fennel sausage), and the King Brew (a hearty two patty beef burger with bacon, cheese, sautéed mushrooms, and a house made beer chilli).

Book a table at these outlets and earn 2X Chope-Dollars with the code TASTYBLOG:

4. Druggists

Cr: spiritedsingapore.com

Housed in an 80-year-old shophouse, you might just walk past Druggists if you didn’t know that that it shares the same premises as the Singapore Chinese Druggists Association ‒ the latter’s a leading expert of Singapore’s Traditional Chinese Medicine scene. But Druggists is no slouch either, considering that they’re leading Singapore’s craft beer scene with a healthy mix of eclectic and speciality brews like Mikkeller, To Øl, and Prairie Artisan Ales. So if you’re ever feeling the midweek blues, Druggists’ got the perfect remedy for your weary soul.

Find it at 119 Tyrwhitt Road, Singapore 207547
Click here for more information on Druggists.

5. Freehouse

With 16 craft beers and ciders on rotation, as well as an extensive bottle list from all over the world, Freehouse is strict on their “No Strangers Here” policy, so count on the friendly staff to make everyone feel right at home. We recommend the Tasting Paddle, which will most likely get you an IPA, a Lager, a Stout, and a Cider ‒ feel free to pick and choose whatever you would like to try though. They also have a decidedly Asian selection of bar bites, like The Bacon Tempura and Cereal Frog Legs, that will expedite your ascent to #craftbeerheaven.

Find it at 21A Boon Tat Street, Singapore 069620
Earn 2X Chope-Dollars with the code TASTYBLOG.

6. The 1925 Brewing Co. Restaurant

Cr: the1925.com.sg

If there’s ever an award for an establishment that takes beer seriously, then The 1925 Brewing Co. Restaurant would win hands down. Besides brewing their own beers ‒ like the well-balanced Yellow Van Pale Ale, the hoppy Small Monster IPA, the creamy Blk 622 Dark Ale, The General (a spicy ginger beer), and the honeyed Manuka Stout ‒ even their food and recipes are beer inspired. Their grilled meats are enhanced with special house-made beer reduction glazes and the pasta is handmade with the same grains used to brew their beers. This place is definitely up the alley of beer geeks, who can explain what “sessionable” is without looking it up (hint: it means suitable for a lengthy drinking session).

Find it at 261 Joo Chiat Road, Singapore 427515
Click here for more information on The 1925 Brewing Co. Restaurant.

7. LeVeL33

LeVeL33 is literally the world’s “top” brewery. How lofty is its perch you ask? Well, it’s located on the 33rd floor of the Marina Bay Financial Centre so you can bet that the view of Singapore’s skyline is pretty sweet. A carefully curated Modern European menu pairs beautifully with the five signature craft beers ‒ 33.1 Blond Lager, 33.15 India Pale Ale, 33.3 Stout, 33.4 House Porter, and the 33.9 Wheat Beer ‒ available, and really elevates the experience (see what we did there?). Great food, delicious brews, a spectacular view; this one’s going to be hard to top.

Find it at 8 Marina Boulevard, #33-01, Marina Bay Financial Centre, Singapore 018981
Earn 2X Chope-Dollars with the code TASTYBLOG.

8. Little Island Brewing Co

Located on the easternmost edge of Singapore, Little Island Brewing Co is where brew-master Steve Spinney serves eight innovative, hand-crafted beers. Some of the options include a malty Singapore Pale Ale, a bittersweet Irish Dry Stout, and a honeyed Red Ale. If you ever fancy pulling yourself a pint, or simply have exacting standards when it comes to dispensing your favourite tipple, you’ll be pleased to know that all brews are dispensed via a self-service system. The brewery also offers a 15-Hour Smoked Beef Brisket, a crispy Ale Battered Sea Bass, and a melt-in-your-mouth Pork Belly that all pair perfectly with your beverage of choice!

Find it at 6 Changi Village Road, #01-01/02, Singapore 509907
Earn 2X Chope-Dollars with the code TASTYBLOG.

9. Necessary Provisions

Cr: timeout.com

Deep in the heart of Bukit Timah is where you’ll find Necessary Provisions. The establishment is run by a group who is passionate about excellent coffee, fine teas, great food, and you guessed it: craft beers. They’ve partnered with British brewery Moor Beer Co. and Melbourne’s Mornington Peninsula brewery to offer a solid selection of ales on tap. Come in the afternoon for brunch and coffee, and return in the evening for drinks and a great time.

Find it at 21 Eng Kong Terrace, Singapore 598993
Earn 2X Chope-Dollars with the code TASTYBLOG.

10. TAP Craft Beer Bar

Cr: drinksomewhere.com

TAP Craft Beer Bar is an open concept bar, which features 20 rotating international craft beers on draft, as well as 80 different bottled varieties of craft beers, wines, spirits, and juices ‒ which should keep any craft aficionados happy, whatever your poison of choice may be. On tap are cult favourites like Lost Coast, Modern Times, and Strand, while the bottled options feature names like Black Market, Green Flash, and Left Coast. Best of all, TAP is offering pints and wines for $10 (before service charge and GST of course) all day, every day.

Find it at 26 Beach Road, #B1-16, South Beach Avenue, Singapore 189768
Click here for more information about TAP Craft Beer Bar.