His famous shop Bacos closed down in March after a failed rebranding.
SINGAPORE: Local celebrity chef Arifin has been spotted operating a hawker stall in Little India after his high-end restaurant shuttered, months after a rebranding exercise.
Chef Arifin is not only a veteran chef who has spent more than four decades in Singapore’s food and beverage scene, but also a prominent media personality and well-known among the country’s Indian population. He is known by some in the community as the “Vasantham Chef” as he has appeared in several culinary programmes broadcast by Mediacorp’s Tamil-language channel, Vasantham.
The famous chef founded his own restaurant named Bacos, which quickly became a hotspot for local Indians and those hoping to taste the recipes they see on television or catch a glimpse of the chef who created them. Located at the Tekka Place shopping centre in Little India, Bacos was known for blending Indian and Italian flavours, something Chef Arifin describes as “fusion cuisine”.
The bold cross-cultural menu appeared to be a hit, with patrons lapping up unique dishes such as tandoori butter chicken pasta, fusion biryani creations, wraps, pizzas and other Indian-Italian hybrids. Reviews frequently mention the unusual flavour combinations and generous portions. Despite its popularity, Bacos is no longer in operation.
Chef Arifin, who previously shared in public about the difficulties of sustaining the business during the COVID-19 period, closed the doors to the restaurant on Nov 23 last year before the doors reopened under a new brand name. A statement on Bacos’ social media page had said at the time, “Today is our final day operating under the Bacos name…But every ending carries a new beginning.
We will reopen 29th Saturday, reborn with a brand-new identity, a richer heritage, and a whole new dining experience. ” On Nov 29, Bacos reopened as Anjaraipetti at the same ground-floor Tekka Place location, this time featuring a menu replete with traditional Tamil fare, with meals served on a banana leaf.
While the business was now being run by a new proprietor named Mr Vasanth, Bacos’ much-loved signature dishes slowly started trickling back into the menu before making a full comeback in February 2026, due to popular demand. On March 25 2026, however, Anjaraipetti announced that it will be closing its doors for good. The restaurant team said on social media, “Anjaraipetti was never just a restaurant; it was a place of memories, laughter, and shared moments.
Though we are now closed, the memories we created together will always remain. Thank you, Singapore, for your love and support. ” Months after the closure of the venture, Chef Arifin has been spotted behind the stove again but this time at a hawker stall. Facebook user Kali Dass S spotted the chef whipping up delicious meals at a stall at the Tekka Market food centre.
Sharing that Chef Arifin was “dishing out plates of mee goreng and other local favourites,” Mr Dass said online: “There were no cameras or cooking show lights, just the chef serving customers directly. We ordered three items from his stall, and each one was a genuine delight and wow, comforting, flavourful, and clearly made with care.
” His post quickly went viral among Singaporean Indians, with many sharing that they will be visiting the food centre to support their beloved ‘Vasantham Chef’. Singaporeans revisit ministerial salary debate as PAP’s ‘brain drain’ warning faces scrutinyA woman went to a traditional Chinese medicine clinic for a massage, but was accidentally hit by an infrared lamp that the masseur kicked over.
The lamp burned her back, leaving a"spider web" patt...document.addEventListener=>{ const trigger=document.getElementById; if { const observer=new IntersectionObserver=>{ entries.forEach { lazyLoader; // You should define lazyLoader elsewhere or inline here observer.unobserve; // Run once } }); }, { rootMargin: '800px', threshold: 0.1 }); observer.observe; } else { // Fallback setTimeout; } });
United States Latest News, United States Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
Singapore MOE Allows Fuel Surcharge for School Bus Operators Amid High Fuel PricesThe Ministry of Education (MOE) in Singapore has announced that transport operators of regular school bus services will be allowed to offset higher operating costs through a 'time-bound' fuel surcharge, starting from July, if fuel prices remain elevated. MOE will set a maximum fuel surcharge that operators may charge, and they may increase school bus fares up to this surcharge. The maximum fuel surcharge and revised school bus fares will be communicated to parents in June, allowing them to plan their transport arrangements accordingly. MOE will continue to review fuel prices and adjust or remove the maximum fuel surcharge allowed, in line with fuel price movements.
Read more »
Vietnam urges businesses, households to cut electricity use as consumption reaches year highHANOI — The Vietnamese government has called on businesses and households to do more to save energy, with electricity consumption in the Southeast Asian country surging as a result of hot weather.Electricity consumption hit its highest level of the year on Wednesday, reaching 1.1 billion kWh, state utility EVN said.
Read more »
Middle East Conflict Disrupts Fuel and Fertilizer Supplies, Driving Up Food Prices in the PhilippinesThe ongoing conflict in the Middle East is causing disruptions to fuel and fertilizer supplies, leading to increased food prices and living costs in the Philippines, particularly for rice, a staple food for many Filipinos.
Read more »
Operational Challenges Faced by Food Support Providers Influence Volunteer NumbersA report by the Food Bank Singapore and the Institute of Policy Studies indicates that fifty-two food charities were surveyed, along with 25 in-depth interviews. With the release of the latest Hunger Report, operators are calling for more Singaporeans to come forward to volunteer and provide assistance to their mission of addressing food insecurity.
Read more »
Prabowo Subianto admits 'many problems' with food programme - Indonesia editionJakarta: On Saturday, Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto acknowledged that the government's 'free meals' programme, his signature project, comes with many problems. Thousands of people have fallen ill since its launch due to hygiene concerns and accusations of corruption. He says rules must be followed and violators will be disciplined. The scheme aims to provide meals for at least 82.9 million people, or one-third of the country's population, and combat food insecurity. However, the programme has faced opposition and allegations from the anti-graft watchdog ICW.
Read more »
Perennial debate in Singapore over high ministerial salariesCritics are pressuring Singapore to reconsider its high ministerial salaries, questioning whether the original rationale behind the system still holds weight. The country's ruling People's Action Party (PAP) defends it as a necessary strategy to attract capable leaders and ensure strong governance in a small, resource-scarce nation heavily dependent on human capital.
Read more »