{"id":3000010098,"date":"2020-02-24T16:56:40","date_gmt":"2020-02-24T21:56:40","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.wework.com\/ideas\/?p=3000010098"},"modified":"2020-09-03T05:53:24","modified_gmt":"2020-09-03T09:53:24","slug":"eating-in-a-city-where-cheap-delicious-food-is-always-nearby","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.wework.com\/ideas\/community-stories\/member-spotlight\/eating-in-a-city-where-cheap-delicious-food-is-always-nearby","title":{"rendered":"Eating in a city where cheap, delicious food is always nearby"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Lunch is the one meal that brings us together during the workday. <\/em>Lunch Break<\/em><\/a> examines how WeWork members around the world break bread.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Who you are:<\/strong> Mongchin Yeoh<\/p>\n\n\n\n

What you do:<\/strong> Lifestyle and beauty influencer<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Where you work:<\/strong> WeWork Beach Centre<\/a>, Singapore<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Mongchin Yeoh<\/a> was studying accounting in Singapore when she discovered her true passion. While in school, she started modeling part-time for local fashion brands, then taking pictures in the clothes and posting the shots to social media. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

She decided to put her number-crunching skills to work to build her social media following. Her audience grew, and over time she amassed over 240,000 followers on Instagram<\/a> and over 86,000 subscribers on YouTube<\/a>. Her loyal fans now live by her recommendations for the best eye shadows, curlers, and party hairstyles.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Yeoh, who lives in Singapore with her husband, Matthias, and cat, Ash<\/a> (who has close to 3,000 followers on Instagram), brings her world of beauty to life on social media from her WeWork hot desk. While she understands the digital hustle, she also knows the importance of taking a full pause during lunch. And a wonderful thing about Singapore, she says, is that there’s never a shortage of amazing food options within walking distance.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Q: How would you characterize the lunch ritual in your city and country? Sustenance or indulgence?  <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

A: People in Singapore get only an hour or so for lunch, so we usually settle for whatever is cheap and convenient near the office. The indulgence part really is occasion-based. I have noticed that people are making healthier choices in recent years, with the rise in awareness of healthy eating and more options becoming available. 
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Q: What does your lunch break typically look like?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

A: I usually take the full hour, because I prioritize my food a lot, and I eat with my team. The nature of my job requires me to travel a lot and go to meetings, so I really cherish my time with them. It\u2019s only during lunchtime that we get to talk about nonwork things. I can really bond with them. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Q: What time do people generally take lunch?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

A: Around 12 to 1 or 1 to 2. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Q: Do you usually order in, bring food from home, or go out to eat?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Photograph courtesy of Mongchin Yeoh<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

A: I usually go out to eat. Local food is actually really affordable in Singapore. We can get a full meal for about $3, and it\u2019s a good, hearty meal where you can sit down and eat. It does not make sense for people to spend their time cooking early in the morning. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Q: What are the most common lunches that people in your office eat? <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

A: People usually take away those customizable salads from big joints like SaladStop! and Salads & Wraps. Near the WeWork office, there are quite a few chicken rice stalls\u2014if you dine in, you get a plate of rice and a separate plate of chicken that is doused in soy sauce and sesame oil. People go for either those or Thai food or Chinese food because it\u2019s all easy to eat. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Q: Where do you usually eat in the office? At a table in the kitchen, on couches in an open area, or at your desk? Why do you prefer this area?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

A: Most of the time, I eat in the pantry<\/a> because that is where you get to meet other WeWork members. I don\u2019t usually bring my food back to my desk. I don\u2019t see many people eating at their desks, especially at the hot desk areas, so I think it would be a little inconsiderate to eat there. <\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n

Q: Ideal desk lunch? Ideal long lunch?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

A: My ideal desk lunch is a hearty salad\u2014cherry tomatoes, pumpkin, grapes, edamame, and I am really into any sort of yuzu or citrusy salad dressing. My ideal long lunch would be chasing all the new caf\u00e9s in town. If I do this on the weekends, they are all usually super packed. If I had the time on a weekday to do it, I would. The [caf\u00e9s] offer great coffee, those really hipster, Instagrammable pancakes, and good pasta.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Q: What are five of your favorite spots for food outside the office?  <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n