Name: Roxannie Teo
Restaurant: Bespoke Japanese Vegetarian Dining
Location: 91 Bencoolen Street, #01-50, Sunshine Plaza
Tel: 63377050
Hours: Daily 11.30am-3.00pm, 5.30pm-10.00pm
Tel: 63377050
Hours: Daily 11.30am-3.00pm, 5.30pm-10.00pm
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| The tatami room at Bespoke |
August 2013 – I recently had the honour of sitting down with the owner of Bespoke Japanese Vegetarian Dining, Roxannie Teo. Below is my full interview with her:-
Q. What is your career background?
A. I started off my career in the printing/illustration business. I made the decision to switch to working in the vegetarian industry, as all the elements seemed to align and point to that direction. I don’t like killing, so I wanted to share the concept of a cruelty-free lifestyle with Singapore, especially with the younger generation.
A. I started off my career in the printing/illustration business. I made the decision to switch to working in the vegetarian industry, as all the elements seemed to align and point to that direction. I don’t like killing, so I wanted to share the concept of a cruelty-free lifestyle with Singapore, especially with the younger generation.
Q. Why did you choose to focus specifically on Japanese cuisine?
A. As I wanted to focus specifically on the younger generation, I decided that Japanese cuisine would appeal to this market. If we present Japanese vegetarian food, we can let the younger generation know that vegetarian food is not so ‘boring’ or ‘scary’.
A. As I wanted to focus specifically on the younger generation, I decided that Japanese cuisine would appeal to this market. If we present Japanese vegetarian food, we can let the younger generation know that vegetarian food is not so ‘boring’ or ‘scary’.
Q. Are you a vegetarian yourself?
A. I don’t consume any meat or seafood.
A. I don’t consume any meat or seafood.
Q. Is this your first time owning a vegetarian eatery?
A. Yes, this is my very first time.
A. Yes, this is my very first time.
Q. I see you have opened a second outlet in Sunshine Plaza called Café Duomo. What can customers expect from this eatery?
A. Right now this eatery just has a limited Italian menu, along with serving coffee and other drinks items. At the moment our focus is 100% on Japanese food.
A. Right now this eatery just has a limited Italian menu, along with serving coffee and other drinks items. At the moment our focus is 100% on Japanese food.
Q. Upon looking at the entire Bespoke Vegetarian menu, do you have a personal favourite dish?
A. I love all the dishes we have at Bespoke, but I would say that I am most proud of our sashimi dishes.
A. I love all the dishes we have at Bespoke, but I would say that I am most proud of our sashimi dishes.
Q. Where is your head chef from?
A. Our head chef was originally from Zen Japanese Restaurant, he is now working as the head chef here. We have another seven or eight chefs excluding him.
A. Our head chef was originally from Zen Japanese Restaurant, he is now working as the head chef here. We have another seven or eight chefs excluding him.
Q. Can customers expect any changes to the menu in the future?
A. Yes, there are going to be significant changes to the menu of Bespoke, which will be happening in the next few months. In total, there will be over 20 different set meals in the future, along with several other new dishes.
A. Yes, there are going to be significant changes to the menu of Bespoke, which will be happening in the next few months. In total, there will be over 20 different set meals in the future, along with several other new dishes.
Q. If you were to eat one final dish in your life, which dish would you pick?
A. Avocado Maki!
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Questions from Readers
A. Avocado Maki!
Questions from Readers
Q. Perhaps there may be some frustration from vegan customers, who might find it that the menu doesn’t have enough vegan options for them. Is it easy to adapt/change dishes that have dairy, so that they can become vegan friendly?
A. For our dishes, we do our best to cater for every one and every diet. For those who have a vegan diet, most of our dishes can be changed to remove the dairy, and still will be delicious when served.
A. For our dishes, we do our best to cater for every one and every diet. For those who have a vegan diet, most of our dishes can be changed to remove the dairy, and still will be delicious when served.
Q. What do you use to replicate the texture of your sashimi?
A. This sashimi is imported from Taiwan, and is made from a mixture of green bean and seaweed; it is mainly those two ingredients that give it the authentic texture.
A. This sashimi is imported from Taiwan, and is made from a mixture of green bean and seaweed; it is mainly those two ingredients that give it the authentic texture.
Q. Does your restaurant serve any organic ingredients? If not, do you intend to use more organic ingredients in the future?
A. Currently we don’t use any organic ingredients. Unfortunately organic ingredients are very costly; we would like to keep our dishes as affordable as possible, so that more people have the opportunity to try our food. If we were to add more organic ingredients, then the cost of every dish will increase substantially.
A. Currently we don’t use any organic ingredients. Unfortunately organic ingredients are very costly; we would like to keep our dishes as affordable as possible, so that more people have the opportunity to try our food. If we were to add more organic ingredients, then the cost of every dish will increase substantially.
Q. In the future, do you think you could create sushi made out of brown rice?
A. Maybe this is something we can try in the future; it is definitely worth thinking about!
A. Maybe this is something we can try in the future; it is definitely worth thinking about!