SINGAPORE – It has made waves in Paris for its unconventional and playful take on banh mi and Asian-style doughnuts.
Now, famed Singapore-founded sandwich deli Nonette is back in town for a three-month pop-up from July 2 to Oct 4 at Rasa Space – a nightlife venue for music, arts and culture – at Republic Plaza in Raffles Place.
Established in 2021, the banh mi store in the French city’s hip 11th arrondissement has grown a cult following. It has fed celebrities including France-based Singaporean actress Sharon Au and the cast of hit Netflix series Emily In Paris (2020 to present).
At Nonette’s pop-up here, the rotating menu features two signature Banh Mi Parisien ($12 each).
Banh Mi Jambon Beurre is made with three charcuterie – char siu, Vietnamese mortadella and jambon (ham) – pate and French butter, while Vietnamese Fried Chicken Banh Mi has South-east Asian-spiced fried chicken and sriracha mayonnaise.
The ingredients, which include crunchy pickles and fresh herbs, are sandwiched between golden-brown toasted baguette. The charcuterie, pate, pickles and sriracha mayonnaise are all made in-house.
Nonette’s Banh Mi Jambon Beurre and Vietnamese Fried Chicken Banh Mi (left).
PHOTO: NONETTE
Pair the banh mi with a scrumptious selection of Asian-influenced French desserts ($4 each).
These include a kaya doughnut, chilli oil chantilly doughnut, black sesame eclair and tau suan eclair – complete with crisp youtiao chips.
And, in a nod to the upcoming SG60 celebrations, Nonette has created a Singapore Sling Baba ($5), a tropical twist on the French classic baba au rhum cake inspired by the nation’s iconic cocktail.
Complete the meal with Petillant Naturel natural sparkling wines, priced from $16 a glass.
For the most convenient option, the Apero Box ($19++, 5 to 8pm from Wednesdays to Fridays, 8 to 11pm on Saturdays) includes a choice of banh mi, doughnut and two eclairs.
Nonette’s kaya doughnuts (left) and chilli oil chantilly doughnuts.
PHOTO: NONETTE
Apero, short for aperitif, refers to a pre-dinner social gathering to unwind with drinks and light snacks.
“We want to bring the whole Parisian apero vibe and our experiences overseas here. We’re going for good, casual energy that is messy, fun and social,” says Ms Pearlyn Lee, 42. She is the founder of Nonette and its sister Singaporean restaurant The Hood, which was established in Paris in 2016.
This homecoming marks her next step towards setting up Nonette permanently in Singapore.
In September 2024, she told The Straits Times of her intention to open here in 2026. This longer pop-up is her testbed on how the concept will fare in a Central Business District location.
Back in November 2022, her successful three-day pop-up at Tiong Bahru Bakery’s Fort Canning outlet sold out its first hundred banh mi within the hour.
In Paris, she is looking to expand Nonette with three to four more outlets in the next two years, as she continues to champion South-east Asian flavours and budding chefs there.
Formerly from the oil and gas industry, Ms Lee’s long-term dream is to set up in the home of banh mi, Vietnam’s Ho Chi Minh City.
Her choice of location at Rasa Space sees her partner with another like-minded Singaporean – its co-founder Mr Kavan Spruyt, 44. He was based in Berlin, Germany, for eight years and was previously behind the now-defunct bar The Vault and nightspot Club Kyo.
Ms Lee adds: “The spirit of what we do makes sense here. We offer a community space that you can hang out at after work.”
Nonette’s pop-up at Rasa Space, 02-01/02 Republic Plaza, 9 Raffles Place, runs from July 2 to Oct 4. It operates from 5 to 10pm (Wednesdays), 5pm to 1am (Thursdays and Fridays), 8pm to 1am (Saturdays), and is closed from Sundays to Tuesdays. For more information, go to
www.rasaspace.com
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