New rules for buffets in Singapore: food queues of no more than 50 all from the same cohort, mandatory plexiglass partitions, and service staff doing the plating. Photo Credit: Facebook/Royal Plaza on Scotts Singapore
A mainstay at business events, buffets have been banned ever since the pandemic — until now.
The Singapore Government this week announced the resumption of buffet dining for MICE and work-related events (from 12 April), but a host of new rules apply.
For instance, buffet stations need to be shielded by mandatory plexiglass partitions. More service staff will also be required to dish food onto plates on behalf of guests. There must also be a distance of one metre between the buffet queue and sitting area. Second helpings must also require a fresh plate.
Corporate planners must ensure each buffet stand serves no more than 50 attendees, and these people must come from the same cohort. For events with more than 50 attendees, this means each cohort must have a dedicated buffet set-up. A Safe Management Measures representative should also be present at the event to ensure compliance.
Announced in time for the holy fasting month of Ramadan, Royal Plaza on Scott's popular Carousel, as well as Grand Hyatt Singapore's Straits Kitchen have resumed halal-friendly buffets.
Before the announcement, local food caterers suffered a 76% drop in sales, turning to bento-set sales for corporates who shifted to virtual meets, according to a recent CNA report.
Instead of allowing guests to mull over spreads of seafood, or gather around meat carving stations, since the pandemic many hotels in Singapore have adopted the la carte buffet concept, where diners can order multiple helpings (for a set price) from the safety of their dining table. At hotels such as Grand Hyatt Singapore, Westin Singapore and JW Marriott Hotel Singapore, diners decide from menus embedded in QR codes before placing orders verbally to waiters, thus reducing contact.
According to JW Marriott, despite the extra "work", labour costs remain the same due to two factors: "reshuffling of jobs and reduced dine-in capacity," a Straits Times article reported.
Still, some operators such as Le Rainbow Catering have expressed concern about additional costs due to increased manpower, and clients who might not be willing pay for what is likely to be a 10% price increase.
Quiet Ramadan for Malaysia
Meanwhile, Malaysia's senior minister for security, Ismail Sabri Yaakob, this week announced that movement control orders (MCOs) will be extended across the country, following fears over a fourth wave of Covid-19 infections.
Continuing under the conditional movement control order (CMCO) are Johor, Kelantan, Penang, Selangor and Kuala Lumpur, from 15 to 28 April. Sarawak's term will go on until 26 April.
The recovery movement control order (RMCO) will be extended to 28 April for the states of Kedah (except in Kuala Muda), Negeri Sembilan (except in Seremban), Melaka, Perak, Pahang, Sabah, Terengganu, Labuan and Putrajaya.
This means Ramadan (12 April to 12 May) looks to be a muted affair. While hotels, restaurants and food delivery services in areas under CMCO and RMCO can continue operations until 6am during this period, state authorities will likely tighten safety protocols.
Buffets in particular will require food handlers to serve the food to customers, and tables must be set two metres apart. The breaking of fast within offices and halls in states under the RMCO can occur at full venue capacity so long there's strict compliance to SOPs, while CMCO states can accept only 50% of usual capacity.
In Sarawak, the Borneo Convention Centre Kuching has brought back its annual Ramadhan special, allowing locals to break fast over good food while in safe, separate 'Ramadhan bubbles'.