My Must Eats… with Cara Neo, Singapore’s first professional mermaid
- 1. What dish reminds you of your childhood — and where did you get it?
- 2. What’s your go-to eatery in Singapore? Why?
- 3. When you travel, what’s one Singapore dish you always miss?
- 4. What dish or cuisine do you want to try, but have not?
- 5. What’s the last thing you ate that impressed you – and where did you have it?
My Must-Eats is a HungryGoWhere series featuring Singapore’s public figures and their favourite food haunts. This week Cara Neo, Singapore’s first professional mermaid, takes the limelight.
Cara Neo has been busy. Really busy. The 31-year-old professional mermaid, who holds the title of Singapore’s first mermaid, was last seen in Netflix’s documentary, MerPeople. The popular four-part series is an intense look at underwater performers who have turned their love for the sea creature into real-world careers.
Neo, who’s also known by her pseudonym Syrena, is part of the cast showing the ins and outs of mermaiding — a world that might look glamorous, but is hardly easy, or fun.
Neo first pursued her passion when she was an undergraduate at the National University of Singapore. She conducted events part-time then, but upon graduating, she embarked on this full-time, performing at various shindigs including children’s parties and corporate events for big names such as Marina Bay Sands and the Singapore Zoo.
In 2015, she founded the Singapore Mermaid School for both kids and adults, which teaches everything from mermaid corework exercise and caring for one’s tail to mermaid culture, myths, and pop culture.
These days, you can find her teaching or performing, doing what she loves. A notable event included an outdoor mermaid tank installation for Ion Orchard’s 10th anniversary in 2019 — Neo appeared weekly in the custom-built tank, performing and posing for passers-by with a glittery mermaid tail.
Now, the important part — have you ever wondered what a mermaid eats?
Turns out, mermaids love local eats, just as much as we do. Although Neo has travelled all over the world to conduct her live performances, she still loves Singapore food, most notably, nostalgic dishes that remind her of home.
1. What dish reminds you of your childhood — and where did you get it?
Popiah! It’s a very nostalgic dish for me. Sometimes for Chinese New Year, my family would order in a popiah party. It was always fun to DIY our own rolls… I always over-stuffed mine and would end up with a gloriously messy roll with ingredients spilling out of it.
After school, I’d frequently stop by My Cosy Corner in Coronation Plaza for a bite. It was a fun snack on the go. The eatery is a little hole-in-the-wall with a loyal clientele, and the aunty knows my order as soon as she sees my face.
Its popiah has the perfect blend of soft cooked radish and crunch from the golden rice bits. I’ve lots of fond memories of lunching there with grandparents, parents and school friends, so I’m sure the nostalgia makes the fare taste even better.
2. What’s your go-to eatery in Singapore? Why?
I’m a creature of habit, so I tend to visit the places I love over and over again.
For local fare, Diamond Kitchen is my go-to — it has an outlet in the east and in the west, so I joke that wherever I am in Singapore, I can head there for my fix. Its lala bee hoon comes with generous helpings of clams, and is the perfect balance of light and umami. It’s really delicious, and great for times when you need a wholesome meal that isn’t cloying, or something comforting on a rainy day.
I love its crab dishes as well — there are lots of flavours to choose from, but my favourites are the signature chilli crab and the salted egg yolk crab. They have a decadent, drippy sauce that I can sweep my mantous through — heaven!
I also really enjoy the bamboo clams, which are savoury and garlicky in all the best ways. They often sell out fast, so I’d call to reserve them if you can.
I’m also a big sushi girl and a regular at Koh Grill & Sushi Bar for my lunchtime fix. Its head chef blends various traditional Japanese elements while catering to Singapore tastes, resulting in strong flavours that are so delicious.
The Shiok Maki and pitan tofu are must-orders when you’re there, and its regular sushi and sashimi are fresh and generous, too. My husband brought me there roughly 10 years ago, and we’ve been going there since.
3. When you travel, what’s one Singapore dish you always miss?
Barbeque chicken wings and a massive cold glass of sugarcane juice from Newton Food Centre. A Singapore classic. That, and the lime-laced sambal belachan from Diamond Kitchen.
4. What dish or cuisine do you want to try, but have not?
My American mermaid friends know I’m a big fan of seafood and have impressed upon me the joys of a good ol’ seafood boil!
When I’m in the right neck of the woods I’d love to have the full experience: What’s not to like about a great glorious mess of crawfish, sweet corn, prawns and clams — all tossed in butter and spices? Sounds like an absolute dream to me.
I also like the social aspect of it — sitting around on a cool evening with a cold cider and a heaping plate of Cajun-spiced seafood. Yes, please.
5. What’s the last thing you ate that impressed you – and where did you have it?
My husband cooked a glorious steak just the other night, and it was perfect! We enjoy the ritual of visiting our favourite butcher and having a steak night every fortnight or so.
We also love having steak nights with friends, maybe over a game of Dungeons and Dragons. We’d sear up the steaks, break out a bottle of cab (cabernet sauvignon), and put on a Skyrim or Witcher ambient playlist.
Sounds silly, but it just adds to the immersiveness of it all, and I love having these “tavern nights”!
For the latest on the food scene, check out the opening of Yao Yao Sauerkraut Fish or our guides on what to eat at the new Thai Supermarket and must-eats in Singapore.
All eateries except for Koh Grill & Sushi Bar are on the GrabFood Delivery Service and offer free delivery (up to S$3 off) with GrabUnlimited. They can also be found on GrabFood Dine-in.
You can also book a ride to these eateries.
