Everton Road was just announced Singapore’s coolest street of 2022—and for good reason. Nearly one year ago, Elika Tasker saw the opportunity to bring back the kampong spirit and start a community on this very road filled with eclectic shophouses and gorgeous street art murals. We visit the unique and chic Discover Everton to check out this community-in-a-home-away-from-home experience and chat about all things food….
Elika is known for her rebellious approach to making health more realistic by providing lifestyle tools and resources to implement. She has partnered closely with entrepreneurs and the leaders of Fortune 500 companies and studied over 50 dietary theories and practical lifestyle coaching methods at the largest nutrition school in the world. She became a Certified Health Coach before launching an organic health restaurant, Kitchen by Food Rebel, in Singapore, and learning how to maintain health in one of the most demanding working environments. Now, her latest venture at Discover Everton, an event space in Outram park, fosters meaningful connections over homecooked food.
Discover Concepts is one to watch out for. They’re out to build the largest community of professionals that are passionate about personal growth. And their first physical space, Discover Everton, is curating unique communal experiences through breakfast club – women’s mastermind, domestic helpers culinary courses and curated corporate team experiences.
We sit down with Elika to talk about her culinary influences, her experiences at Kitchen by Food Rebel and Discover Everton, and the best restaurant she has ever eaten at in Singapore.
How did your love for food and cooking start?
Elika Tasker (ET): My mum was a working parent but we grew up with homecooked foods and I was encouraged to cook when she was at work. When my grandma looked after us, I watched and learnt a lot.
What were family meals like in your household?
ET: Food was often the joy in our home, it brought us together and was made from locally sourced ingredients as they were inexpensive but easy to add spices and seasoning to for flavour. Rice and meat or fish with vegetables was typical.
What is the best restaurant you have ever eaten at in Singapore?
ET: Candlenut. I feel the depth of flavour is in the food, each dish could have its own story and the environment of the restaurant still creates an ambience that allows you to enjoy the experience. Peranakan is my favourite local food as it still honours the traditional ingredients that are minimally processed and shortcuts are not taken in the cuisine that impact flavour or health.
What is the one ingredient you can’t live without?
ET: Chilli
How was your experience founding Kitchen by Food Rebel?
ET: It was difficult, I had big aspirations and was able to achieve a lot but it came at a huge expense to my health, running the operations of a restaurant and the difficulties created in the employment of staff makes it impossible to have the right balance.
What inspired you to start Discover Everton?
ET: I saw more of my clients needing community and meaningful connections following the separation that was created in covid. Social connection is a fundamental primal need for health and I was able to utilize my love for food, hospitality experience and corporate connections to bring people together. Discover Everton is our first physical space but Discover Concepts works to grow a community of professionals that are passionate about personal growth.
Could you give us a preview of the dishes/menu you currently serve and create a community around?
ET: I host a caribbean cook and dine experience which is halal, gluten free and available in a fully plant based option. I also have freelancer chefs that cover south indian, vietnamese, asian fusion and farm to table western.
Tell us more about the community events you lead under Discover Everton.
ET: Our magical experience – with our freelance magician, sexual education with our hedonist colloboration, pantry makeover – learning how to stock and source ingredients for your kitchen, rum tasting, once upon a vine (wine tasting stories); Singapore Helpers nutrition & culinary 6 week program.
What is the biggest challenge you’ve faced so far?
ET: We’re a community based start up so we have to keep the offering exclusive to curate meaningful connections yet open enough to allow our community to grow.
It’s your last meal—what’s on the menu?
ET: For me, nothing beats a homemade spicy curry thats been cooked down and simmered with love!
FEATURED IMAGE: Elika preparing a meal and the space for an event at Discover Everton