No extra Marmite? Singapore eating places seek for alternate options

SOURCING FOR ALTERNATIVES OR DISCONTINUING THEIR DISHES

For Keng Eng Kee Seafood, which has branches in Bukit Merah, Tampines, and Punggol, Marmite hen has been on their menu for over 20 years. 

“We didn’t want to just let it go,” mentioned Paul Liew, the third-generation proprietor and front-of-house supervisor of the household zi char restaurant. “So we’re currently testing Vegemite as a replacement. It’s the closest match to Marmite’s savoury, yeast-extract flavour, even though its flavour profile is different.

“We’re nonetheless adjusting the recipe to get the stability proper earlier than we’re glad placing it on the menu.”

If supplies do not return, some restaurants said they will begin looking for replacements or removing their Marmite dishes altogether.

“We’re aiming to maintain our Marmite hen dish alive with the Vegemite model. If it would not meet our commonplace, we might slightly retire the dish than serve a compromised one,” Liew said.

Dian Xiao Er said it is considering alternative products that can achieve a similar taste and quality.

“This might embrace adjusting the recipe or, if we’re unable to discover a appropriate various that meets our style and high quality requirements, discontinuing the dish,” Soh said. “As for potential alternate options, we’d first must conduct additional inside analysis and improvement earlier than exploring any replacements. No determination has been made at this level.”

Two Chefs Eating Place said it has already begun searching for different Marmite suppliers online and across the border in Malaysia.

“If we will not discover a appropriate substitute that matches the style and high quality, we’ll have to switch the dish or take away it from the menu,” the restaurant’s representative said.

Wen Kee Live Seafood, a casual Chinese restaurant in Clementi, said it is also sourcing Marmite from alternative suppliers.

“If we nonetheless cannot get it, we’ll quickly mark the dishes as unavailable,” the consultant mentioned.