Have you met Goh Huilin, Creative & Marketing Manager of Tadcaster Hospitality Centre and Cafe Melba?
Huilin and her team are working hard to make sure that you, your family, your friends and colleagues are properly fed while working from home, with their exciting dishes combining elements from Australia and Asia.
Get to know Huilin, and learn more about one of their restaurants – Cafe Melba!
Tell us a bit about you, Tadcasters/ Café Melba and the story behind the restaurant.
Tadcaster Hospitality in Singapore is the umbrella brand for BQ Bar, Bull and Bear, Molly Malone’s, The Exchange, Café Melba @ Goodman and @ Mediapolis. Cafe Melba is a relaxed cafe and restaurant concept developed by Tadcaster Hospitality, which blends influences from (Melb)ourne and (A)sia for a gourmet yet leisurely dining experience. We opened our first Cafe Melba in the East at Goodman Arts Centre in 2012, and Cafe Melba at Mediapolis in the West in May 2016.
Since the opening, we have become a beloved restaurant in Singapore, famous for our all day breakfast offer, traditional weekend roasts, BBQ festivals, and the best kid-friendly atmosphere in the Little Red Dot. Over the years, we’ve built quite an audience amongst those seeking a strong latte or just a little break enjoying an after work vino. Parents can also enjoy a classic Eggs Benedict plate in peace, while their little ones burn energy on our infamous bouncy castle or astro-turf football pitch and play area!
What does ‘service’ and ‘hospitality’ mean to you (in these uncertain COVID-19 times)?
I believe we are doing a very important job, ensuring that we continue to offer services to our guests, which we still offer via deliveries from www.cafemelba.com.sg. We have developed our delivery system in parallel with the main players, and we try to be hospitable in terms of tailoring meals to our regular customers around their preferred times.
What impact has COVID-19 had on your business?
Covid-19 has had a huge impact on our business. We have had zero sales, apart from Café Melba @ Goodman’s deliveries. Our regular guests have been supporting us the best they can, but it’s never going to be the same as sitting down and raising a glass with them. Obviously there is also a balancing act to be done between ensuring that the company survives this period, while also making sure we do the best we can to keep our staff employed. The government has been helpful in this regard, providing income support and paid training for staff that might have to take a period of unpaid leave.
What steps are you putting in place to help your business during these times?
We have negotiated, mostly successfully, with our landlords to get rent either waived or partially waived, or deferred. We have also been trying to utilise the various government grants and support schemes. We are also actively making sure to keep our staff happy, by keeping them as engaged as possible.
Moreover, to ensure our staff’s safety and welfare, we have worked out a set of Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs), including various measures such as the provision of hand sanitiser, masks, regular cleaning of common touch areas such as door handles, temp check, safe entry and planning for social distancing measures. We need to wait for final confirmation from the government on the guidelines, but for now, we believe we are ready to go.
How do you see the industry after this is all over?
I believe there will be slow recovery. There will continue to be restrictions as to the numbers allowed in venues, just as we have seen in Australia. Australia seems to be about a month ahead of Singapore regarding the easing of measures. People will still be encouraged to work from home, so there will be less foot traffic. We will also have to wait some time to see tourists and business travellers return. Hopefully people living in Singapore will be keen to get out initially after many weeks of lockdown.
What is the dish/ drink that will be most popular for your customers? / is most ordered now?
These are the current top 5 items for our delivery & takeaway:
- Family Combo Deal
- Parma Ham Pizza
- Chicken Avocado Sandwich
- Good Ol’ Beef Burger
- Classic Hawaiian Pizza
Café Melba is offering Delivery & Takeaway options too! Enjoy Pizza Bundle deal that comes with our signature thin crust pizza with 10 different toppings to choose from and 6 bottle of beer to get you through your live telecast sport night! Psst… check out our Meat Box Bundle, perfect for an easy night in with your family for a steal! Click here to order now! Or visit www.cafemelba.com.sg.
Did you know that you can order food from Cafe Melba using the MultiCo app? Download the app today, and receive $10 simply for joining!
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