Reflections on Singapore heritage food

WITH National Day upon us, what is it that really makes you feel Singaporean? For a lot of people, it's got to be the food. Whether it's chicken rice, bak chor mee or roti prata, there's always a favourite dish that makes us feel we're home, truly.

But even as we find comfort in flavours we grew up with, there's always this niggling question: So what's next? With a new generation of chefs and home cooks in the narrative, should heritage cuisine stay rooted in the past or is there a new story to be told?

In tomorrow's BTLifestyle, we get several chefs and cookbook authors to reflect on their favourite local dishes and what the future holds for our much-loved heritage cuisine.

After food, there is homegrown design. A range of local creatives have been busy crafting made-in-Singapore merchandise that makes great National Day souvenirs as well as knick knacks to brighten up your home. With the likes of shoulder bags, playpens for pets, mahogany dining tables and whimsical crockery, there's something for every taste. Rather than kitschy Merlion key chains, these are thoughtful and stylish products that also reflect the growing sophistication of Singapore design.

And if you're planning to stay home with some takeaway food, get into the mood with heritage hawker fare prepared by professional chefs. We check out two who have decided to embrace their roots in new set-ups serving old school Hakka yong tau foo and charsiew wantan mee.