At the end of a tiring work week, I took Friday afternoon off, and headed to Harbourfront MRT. Instead of indulging in retail therapy at the nearby malls, I was embarking on a solitary retreat in a world of green.

If you think of our parks and green spaces as quiet, relaxing environments, you are quite right. Well, almost. An exception takes place every Tuesday evening.

The gleeful voices of children echo down the pathway of Pasir Ris Park, towards the Kitchen Garden – the park’s little plot of homegrown spices. At a glance, passersby are bemused and confused at the odd sight of children clothed as miniature chefs, prancing through the park.

Foodies in Singapore have historically associated East Coast Park with seafood. For over two decades, the East Coast Seafood Centre has housed some of the biggest names in the local dining scene. Today, many fans of Chinese-style seafood still consider this a definitive go-to venue for chilli crab and black pepper crab. But what if you’re looking for something different?

Today, Beaulieu House is a beautiful restaurant, serving up Chinese seafood, western cuisine, barbeque sets and steamboat meals.