(Wikipedia) ‘An Expatriate (often shortened to Expat) is a person temporarily or permanently residing in a country other than that of their citizenship. The word comes from the Latin terms ex (“out of”) and patria (“country, fatherland”).

This blog aims to discover people who are adventurers like me, venturing out in a new place to call home and creating memories. I have previously lived with my parents and siblings in the Saudi Arabia when I was in high school. I have enjoyed and cherished my memories in the beautiful Sandbox I once called my home. Now, I am in a new adventure with my husband and son here in Singapore.

I am featuring Expats in different countries every two weeks to share their experiences and adventures with you and me. Today I am featuring Ruth, a Filipino Entrepreneur in Singapore and her exciting news of a bbq revolution coming to Singapore very soon. Let’s get to know more about her… “

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1. Can you tell me a little bit about yourself and where you are originally from?

I’m originally from the Philippines. It’s my first time to live outside of the country, and I’m enjoying the independence – from doing my own chores to walking into the hospital A&E alone (hey, it comes with its up and downs). I’d say I’m quite an adventurous soul especially when it comes to travel, food and career. I’m always game to give my goals my best shot, and appreciate the journey just as much as the result.

2. What made you decide to move to Singapore? How long have you been here?

I moved to Singapore for a better opportunity in the finance industry, and have been living here for the last 4 years.

3. What do you miss about Philippines?

 Apart from my family and friends, I miss swerving lanes when on the road; home-cooked Filipino food like dinuguan (pork innards in pig’s blood), pinakbet (assorted vegetables with shrimp paste) and tender juicy red hotdogs; and, boisterous laughter in the office, restaurants and basically everywhere. I make sure not to miss Christmas back home ‘coz there is nothing like it.

4. What are the wonderful discoveries and things you like about Singapore?

I love the vibrant food scene in Singapore – there are always new restaurants opening up so there’s always something new to try. I also really appreciate that it’s a melting pot of cultures – not just Malay, Chinese and Indian, but there are also expats from all over the world here – so I never feel out-of-place. Lastly, I am fascinated by the concept of queuing! I’m surprised at how people are so patient to line up for everything – chicken rice, iPhones and even kopi.

5. What are the 3 advices or tips you can give to fellow expats in Sinagpore?

For new expats in Singapore, I would advice:

• Be open to people of all colours and walks of life. There is an awesome harmony of races and cultures. Try to be part of it rather than being a spectator.
• You will receive a lot of visitors so it would be useful to have a “visitor’s kit” with house keys, MRT pass and map, list of places to visit, list of food to eat and, of course, a pack of tissues.
• People in Singapore tend to be quite opinionated, and they share their views through blogs, social media and reviews. These have been great reference for me when trying to figure out how to do certain things, which restaurant to visit and finding the best deals. Use the internet shamelessly to educate yourself.

6. The LITTLE MISS HONEY community gets inspired through travel, food and books. Can you tell us your current FAVORITE TRAVEL SPOT, current FOOD/RESTAURANT DISCOVERIES and current FAVORITE BOOK?

It’s difficult for me to name favourite spots, but in general, I enjoy venturing outside of the usual tourist destinations. It is in places like farms, fishing villages, and townships that I get a better understanding of the culture and day-to-day lives of the locals and have a taste of fresh produce that’s home-cooked. Some of the most interesting experiences for me so far have been making dinner of bread and butternut squash on the braai (grill) while back-packing in the seaside region of Cape Town, living in a cave with no electricity during an archaeological expedition in Granada, and shepherding lamb during a farm stay in Margaret River.

My taste in books reflects my interest in people – how they think and what they do. Some of my favourites are A Thousand Splendid Suns and The Kite Runner (by Khaled Hosseini), Q&A (renamed Slumdog Millionaire by Vikas Swarup) and The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night Time (by Mark Haddon).

7. Where do you get your inspirations? Who or what inspires you?

I admire people with passion. It doesn’t really matter what they are passionate about – it could be something as simple as operating a lift (there was a video of a lady operating a lift in a shopping mall in the Philippines which went viral because she would greet every passenger “good morning” and announce the names of shops found on each floor!) or perhaps earning millions through currency or equities trading. I am inspired by people who work hard, play smart and enjoy what they do – just like the artisans that we’ve met while creating Stoke. I feel that Stoke, which is a marriage of great food and a relaxing vibe, is a perfect vehicle for me to pursue my passion while being totally me.

8. Tell us more about STOKE.

STOKE aims to be a gourmet BBQ provider, which will bring artisanal non-commercialised meats and appetisers to Singapore homes. We source our produce from artisans and heritage producers who practice ethical farming and truly care for the welfare of their livestock. This guarantees meats with superior taste and eating quality. My partner, Chris, and I decided to launch Stoke in Singapore because we feel that while people here are getting increasingly concerned about their health and fitness, there’s just not enough options for natural produce. Stoke aims to make gourmet BBQ products affordable and accessible through our online store and free home delivery. Plus, we intend to cater for private BBQ parties and events.

9. How can STOKE revolutionized the BBQ scene in Singapore?

Our vision at Stoke is to unite people in Singapore with artisans from all over the world. In the comfort of your home or while enjoying the poolside with friends, you’ll get to enjoy a culinary adventure. We are turning up the heat on BBQ parties by offering exceptional meats and appetisers instead of the usual over-marinated chicken wings and satay sticks. Apart from our free home delivery service, we also intend to offer catering service in case you prefer to have someone else grill the meats for you.

 10. Lastly, can you share with us what is your inspirational mantra in life?

 I try to be the best version of myself by being an upright human being, by continuously exploring, and by chasing my dreams.

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Thank you Ruth for granting us this interview and for sharing your story. For more of Stoke, head over to Facebook page. If you want to help out and support STOKE, head over here and pledge. More featured stories of expats and adventurers around the world to come in my blog.If you are an expat or know any expats that I can feature, please drop me a line at littlemisshoneyblog@gmail.com”