Wednesday, 30 October 2024

[Post 823] Where Is Hainanese Chicken Chop (Sometimes With Baked Beans) Really From? | Deep Dive


Summary

So what’s the deal with Hainanese chicken chop? The Deep Dive team is pretty sure that they do not exist on Hainan Island. Even though Vic and Thet are still stuck on Christmas Island, their investigation must go on. The duo enlists the help of their awkward intern and trusty editor. 

As the Singapore team go on a Hainanese chicken chop spree, they discover the origins of Hainanese chicken chop in Singapore through chats with chefs and a Hainanese history buff. But more importantly, the Singapore team presses on to answer Vic’s burning question: Why the heck are baked beans a side dish in Hainanese chicken chop? 

[Post 822] Eating 31 Plates Of Fried Rice In 1 Week To Check This Fried Rice Chain's Outlet Ratings | Deep Dive


Summary

Curious about the rapid expansion of a particular fried rice chain, Thet and Vic decide to investigate the challenges of franchising a business. They speak to a franchise trainer, who shares the challenges of setting up a franchise in Singapore. This leads Thet and Vic to wonder - Is the standard across the multiple fried rice outlets consistent? Are online reviews a good representation of the taste, quality and service of a store? 

To put their theory to the test, they get a food taster to try out 31 plates of fried rice within a week. 

Tuesday, 29 October 2024

[Post 496] How Budget Stores Can Afford To Sell Snacks So Much Cheaper Than Supermarkets | Deep Dive


Summary

Intrigued by the low prices at budget stores like Valu$, Thet and Vic investigate if there is any difference in taste and quality between budget store food products and their supermarket counterparts. 

Food samples are sent to a lab and a ‘legitimate’ test taste is done by the Deep Dive team. To figure out how the budget prices came to be, the investigative duo speak to Radha Export, the company behind the import of some of these budget products. 

Saturday, 26 October 2024

[Post 495] Hawker Sells Cheap Healthy Food To Feed Her Neighbourhood's Needy | On the Red Dot - Secret Heroes


Summary

In the face of rising costs from the GST hike and inflation, Hani Isnin-Racine remains committed to her mission, running a $2.50 hawker stall in the Jalan Kukoh neighbourhood. She provides affordable meals to elderly residents and those in one-room rental flats, even if it means running her business at a loss at times.

Friday, 25 October 2024

[Poat 494] Where To Get Higher Yield For Your Cash As Interest Rates Start Going Down | Money Mind | Interest


Summary

Where to get the best returns for your cash, as interest rates trend downwards. We look at the pros and cons of the different options. 

[Post 493] What Brain Cancer Taught Me About Critical Illness & Long-Term Planning Care | Money Mind


Summary

34-year-old Edwin Gan was diagnosed with an aggressive brain tumour two years ago. Financial planning helped cover the burden of his $350,000 hospital bills. But looking back, he still wishes he did some things differently when he was younger.  

Monday, 21 October 2024

[Post 492] School Work: The non-teaching staff who keep Singapore’s schools working | Full series





Summary

Schools are not just run by teachers. We shadowed various professionals for a day to see how they each play a part in schools.