In celebration of Chope’s 7th birthday, we’re shining the limelight on our star foodies on Chope who have dedicated themselves (and their tummies) to a life of food. With countless hours scouring through thousands of lip-smacking food photos, we’ve gathered some of our most outstanding and dedicated foodies to date.
Introducing our first Chope star foodie: Daniel (@duaguthecow)!
Tell us a little bit about yourself: when did your love for food begin?
I have always loved food since I was a kid, especially when I was raised on my grandmother’s homecooked food! That’s why I’ve always been known to be on the heavier side since I was a kid (I weighed 100kg in high school). However, I also love to exercise (so that I can make space for more food) and I love cooking (inspired by Chef’s Table) during my free time.
What’s your favourite restaurant in Singapore and/or overseas?
In Singapore, my go-to for Thai food is definitely Nakhon; The Populus has really great soft-serve desserts which they make in-house; One Man Coffee does an amazing Australian breakie; for chilli crab, it’s Jumbo Seafood hands down!
In Macau, Miramar is the perfect place for Portuguese cuisine; Xing Yi Mei Shi (新益美食) is a must if you’re looking for Cantonese food; lastly, I would highly recommend KAFKA Sweets and Gourmandises (卡夫卡) for traditional and authentic desserts!
Dim sum is a staple in Hong Kong – Lin Heung Tea House (莲香楼) is my favourite spot.
If I could cover Malaysia, Australia, Philippines, Thailand, Korea and other countries, I would, but there’s just too many to account for!
If you could be an ingredient, what would it be and why?
I would say salt. A pinch of salt adds flavour to food – even tequila!
What’s your go-to comfort food?
I’m Chinese so any Chinese dish will do the trick.
What’s one dish that represents you?
The first thing that comes to mind is Mee Kolo. It’s one of the most traditional and simple dishes that every Sarawakian knows and loves, and my friends and colleagues in Singapore love it too!
Tell me: what’s your flava?
Sweet Sour Chilli Sauce (the kind you have with chicken rice) – it’s really amazing!
What’s your idea of a perfect food pairing?
Maggi Mee a.k.a. instant noodle with egg (this is a must)! If you want a more atas version, I’d recommend a medium rare steak with Malbec!
You just won a million dollars. What meal would you splurge it on?
I’d travel the globe to try every cuisine I can get my hands on (isn’t that every foodie’s dream?).
If you could have one cuisine for the rest of your life, what would it be?
Obviously, Chinese cuisine! It’s impressive how different cooking techniques are used in Chinese cuisine that brings out different flavours.
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Daniel considers himself an avid foodie. Born in Sarawak (East Malaysia) and raised in Brunei, he developed a love for global cuisines through his travels. He moved to Singapore in January 2018 for work and began using Chope to discover restaurants and score offers on buffets.
