Freddy Yap: Revived by Bird Nest Soup and chia seeds

Mr Freddy Yap, the founder of an online business, changed his diet after a health scare and watches what he eats

Six years ago, Mr Freddy Yap was at "the lowest point" of his life.
He slogged for long hours running his food-packaging business and wolfed down "rubbish food" such as fast food and economy rice meals - whichever was more convenient at odd hours.
The 48-year-old recalls: "I hardly slept as I was constantly thinking about how to make more money. I grew up in poverty and was afraid of being poor again."
The stress of the daily grind eventually took a toll on his health. On top of being on the brink of a burnout, he suffered from persistent coughing and had rashes on his body.
In 2011, he decided enough was enough. He took a year-long sabbatical and moved across the Causeway to live with his relatives in the Pahang countryside.
There, he had ample rest, took charge of his diet and regularly went on long nature walks. He also drank Bird Nest Soup almost every day as his cousin runs a Bird Nest Soup farm there.
As he recovered from his ailments, he spotted a business opportunity.
He says: "The Bird Nest Soup industry is not regulated and information on the quality and cleanliness of the nests are based on what the sellers tell customers."
A year later, he returned to Singapore and set up Superior, an online business selling mainly Bird Nest Soup and chia seed products.
To ensure the cleanliness of the Bird Nest Soups, which are sourced from swiftlet houses in Malaysia, he implemented a rigorous cleaning process that has been certified by the global food safety management standard - Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Point.
The process includes cleaning the Bird Nest Soups with distilled water and sterilising them with ultraviolet rays. Superior also runs chemical tests to ensure the nests are free of contaminants such as nitrates that are present in bird faeces.

Freddy Yap: Revived by Bird Nest Soup and chia seeds

Mr Yap also sells a blend of five types of chia seeds that are sourced from Peru and Mexico. Instead of being milled, they are micro-sliced, which retains their nutritional properties.
Chia seeds, which are rich in antioxidants, are known as a trendy "superfood", while Bird Nest Soup is an old-school wellness food.
On his choice of products to sell, he says: "I am familiar with using both. I had smeared crushed chia seeds on my rashes, which helped to reduce the inflammation."
These days, he avoids deep-fried food and gets his Omega-3 fatty acids by consuming chia seeds.
Mr Yap is married to a 38-year-old who runs a spa and they have a five-year-old daughter. He also has a 16-year-old daughter and a 10 year-old son from a previous marriage.
He says: "I still love my curry puffs and laksa. Food gives me the greatest enjoyment, so it is all about having a balance."

WHAT ARE YOUR FONDEST MEMORIES OF FOOD?

The few times that my mother cooked her signature fried turmeric pomfret with sambal. She cooked this only once or twice a year as we were poor.

WHAT ARE YOUR FAVOURITE EATING PLACES HERE?

I have been visiting Katong Laksa in Telok Kurau Road for more than 20 years. I will drive all the way from Sengkang, where I live, just to savour a bowl. The laksa gravy is thick and rich and I can taste the dried shrimp in it.
Another place I frequent is Xiang Signature Restaurant in Liang Seah Street, which serves Hunan cuisine. I always order the stir-fried cauliflower. The chef has good control of the heat, so the vegetables are soft yet crunchy. I also like the stir-fried frog leg in chilli, which wakes up my palate.
I like Wild Rocket in Upper Wilkie Road, which serves food that is surprising and teases the palate, such as the char kway teow that tastes like fried noodles, but which consists of thinly sliced cuttlefish.

WHAT IS YOUR COMFORT FOOD?

A good piece of wagyu steak in a thick ribeye cut. I prefer to have it done medium so it is char-grilled on the outside and soft on the inside.
When I am in Kuala Lumpur for work and have a steak craving, I drive to the Genting Highlands resort to dine at The Olive restaurant, which serves steak that has a melt-in-the-mouth texture.

WHAT IS YOUR FAVOURITE OVERSEAS FOOD DESTINATION?

I travel to Kuala Lumpur every two to three months. I go to Nadodi, an Indian restaurant. I like its egg kalaki with jujube fruit and fried chicken skin as the dish has a good mix of creaminess and crispiness.
I also like Dewakan restaurant in Shah Alam, which uses Malaysian produce. My favourite dish there is the crispy kailan with fermented fish sauce.

ARE YOU AN ADVENTUROUS EATER?

I have eaten horse meat in a steamboat meal in China. The meat is not as coarse as I had imagined.

DO YOU HAVE A DINING QUIRK?

I am particular about the freshness of food and drinks. I have sent back coffee that was overboiled, which gives a burnt taste, as well as stale oysters.

WHAT DO YOU COOK AT HOME?

On weekends, I like cooking fried rice with mixed vegetables, but I will use only cooked rice that has been left overnight as it has a firmer texture. I also like making ribeye and striploin steaks topped with a dash of teriyaki sauce.

HOW DO YOU CONSUME BIRD NEST SOUP AND CHIA SEEDS?

I make a drink with honey and ground chia seed twice a day and have a bowl of Bird Nest Soup daily. I like to add Bird Nest Soup to vanilla ice cream and to Korean ginseng chicken, to add sweetness and give them a more velvety texture.

IF YOU COULD CHOOSE ANYONE TO HAVE A MEAL WITH, WHO WOULD IT BE AND WHY?

I would like to have a meal with myself as I have spent so many years entertaining people over food for work and have not had the time to appreciate food.

Top 4 Reasons Why Bird Nest Soup is the Best Gift for Everyone

One of the most important traditions among Chinese during Chinese New Year is to give gifts with auspicious symbols that represent good health, good fortune and good luck to loved ones, friends and business partners.

This year, Company  – one of the brands everyone seem to love – has prepared a range of delightful and meaningful hampers, perfect to show your loved ones or business partners how you appreciate what they have done for you in the past year and want them to have good health another year ahead.
Here are the reasons why you should give your loved ones or business partners the gift of Bird Nest Soup for Chinese New Year:

#1. It’ll Keep Them Looking Young

The best compliment your mother can receive at Chinese New Year is someone asking: “Why you never grow old?”
The Bird Nest Soup is rich in Epidermal Growth Factor (EGF) and amino acids, which is responsible to promote tissue regeneration and cell growth, which nourishing the skin – all of which come in handy when keeping your mum’s skin youthful and enhance the complexion.
Trust me, every mother trying to hold on to their youthful looks for as long as possible (although they may not admit it) – so, this is the time for you to contribute for their youthfulness.

#2. They can brag about how thoughtful you are

Parents-in-laws love to talk about their children and to wax lyrical about their children-in-laws is an inevitable part of any gathering. When they start comparing us (or show us off) to other relatives or their friends’ kids, we know they’re just proud of us.
…and a beautiful package of premium Bird Nest Soup can be a gift with additional bragging rights. So, give your parents-in-laws one more thing to be happy about, and it’ll be definitely worth it! (You know what I mean! :p)

#3. Bird Nest Soup is great for overall health

The Bird Nest Soup has been said to be good at keeping folks in the pink of health, and being in good health generally means living longer.
The Bird Nest Soup has high glycoprotein content, growth factors and neutral energetic property, which has proven that it will help to boost immune system, as well as help to relieve respiratory ailments such as chronic coughs.
Your folks may want to live long enough or even better if they are in good health to play with their grandchildren. They might spoil their grandchildren by feeding them Bird Nest Soup and your children will not fall sick so easily. You’ll have more money to spend on other things instead of paying for a doctor, isn’t it a win-win?

#4. It’s the best gift when you don’t know what to buy

You may want to buy a gift for your boss to show how thankful you are that you still have jobs, or to your business partners to show your appreciation to them.
However, buying whiskies or wines for them is like poking a sleeping tiger with a stick – either they love it, or they’ll hate it. If they do not like it, you’ll feel awful and that defeats the purpose of you buying them the gift. It’s often hard to pinpoint what will be the greatest gift for them.
The one good thing about buying your boss or business partner Bird Nest Soup it is may be look pricey, but the fact is still cheaper than branded alcoholic drinks which may also harm their health. The elegant yet luxurious packaging will not make you seem like a penny-pinching miser. So, your boss or business partners are happy, and at the same time your wallet is grateful! Yesssss!
..So, pamper your loved ones what they deserved!
If you’ve been fretting over what to buy as a gift for your loved ones this Chinese New Year, you can easily do all your shopping at Company – as our premium Bird Nest Soup products come in a few different forms: you may purchase raw Bird Nest Soup, or you can buy it pre-bottled for maximum convenience!
Whichever products you choose, our premium Bird Nest Soup come in the prettiest & luxurious gift packaging ever, and it will definitely put a big smile on the faces of whoever receives it!
What are you waiting for? It’s time to shop for the best gift ever for your loved ones!