KRISSHOP EXCLUSIVE

Travel in style with this sleek wallet that comes with two zippered pockets for different currencies as well as a back pocket that holds a mobile phone and a passport. Designed exclusively for the Batik Label by KrisShop, this handsome number features the iconic Singapore Airlines batik motif, which is inspired by flowers that are native to Singapore. 

Bynd Artisan, a craft atelier founded and run by husband-and-wife duo James Quan and Winnie Chan, specialises in personalised leather and paper accessories. It actually has its roots in a business that began about 70 years ago—as a small bindery workshop started in 1942 by Chan’s grandfather Chan Koon Song, who later renamed it Goy Liang Book-Making Company. More than five decades later, his granddaughter joined the company as third-generation management in 1994. 

“I spent the first 20 years of my career in the family business,” says the younger Chan. “I thought about how to combine both of my loves—stationery and bookbinding—into something that I could be proud of.” In 2012, she and her husband came up with the idea of creating a new experiential retail concept. Building on her grandfather’s legacy of making and designing books by hand, Bynd Artisan opened its first store in 2014 and moved to its flagship atelier at Holland Village the next year. Today, the brand also has ateliers at Raffles City Shopping Centre, ION Orchard and Ngee Ann City.

“We build on the heritage,” says Quan. “We’re creating this modern atelier specialising in paper crafting and are now able to call this our own.” 

KRISSHOP EXCLUSIVE

What makes this pair of Marilyn Tan Jewellery earrings truly unique is the juxtaposition of modern shapes with an ancient stone. There are two types of jade in the world: Jadeite and Nephrite. The former is more commonly available while Chinese, Maori, and Meso-American cultures prize Nephrite jade more. This pair of stunning earrings are made from jade sourced from Canada where mining practices are strictly controlled.

Established in 1995, this eponymous label specialises in creating jewellery pieces that are unique and timeless. Drawing inspirations from nature, fine art as well as her travels, every design from Marilyn Tan is made with sincerity. More importantly, all of Marilyn Tan Jewellery pieces highlight the designer’s fine eye for detail through the use of exquisite and beautiful gemstones.

Look and feel like a million bucks when you step out in this gorgeous maxi dress that exudes casual chic. Featuring a tiered skirt, this resort-style dress by AKOSÉE is made with 100 percent cotton and comes with adjustable back straps so you can tweak the neckline and length for a perfect fit. 

Natural and luxurious fabrics along with simple yet stylish designs are the calling cards of resort-wear label AKOSÉE, whose versatile pieces let you transition seamlessly from day to night with a simple play of accessories—a reflection of brand founder Anna McBride’s belief that “resort wear comprises everyday pieces that can be worn fuss-free at a moment’s notice”.

An Australian expatriate who lives in Singapore, McBride credits her enrolment for a diploma in fashion design and technology for giving her a push in the right direction. “The thrill of learning something new was a huge motivation and from there, the first AKOSÉE collection was created,” says McBride, who launched her brand in 2015. The travel lover also lets on that the brand name itself is actually an acronym for her favourite destinations: Australia, Kerala, Orpheus Island, Sunshine Beach and Essaouira. 

Currently, McBride creates all the patterns and designs the garments personally, together with her team. The designing, pattern-making and sample-making are all done in the label’s Singapore studio before larger orders are placed in China, India, Indonesia and Vietnam. “The focus is on unique, limited editions, so that each piece feels special,” says McBride. Her brand is carried at boutiques in Singapore as well as hotels and resorts in Hong Kong, Indonesia, Monaco, Mozambique, New Zealand, Seychelles and the US. 

Narrower at the natural waist and flaring gently down to just over the knee, this skirt from Weekend Sundries has a classy, modern verve that plays well for both formal and casual occasions. Made with Tencel Lyocell and cotton typewriter, it features an intuitive design and a simple cut, with a side button closure on the front adding a little interest to the minimalist aesthetic.  

Founded in 2012 by designer Michelle Chan, Singapore-based garment and textile studio Weekend Sundries is committed to creating ethically made, environmentally friendly womenswear suited to Singapore’s perennial hot and humid weather. On how she got into the business of fashion, Chan says: “After graduating from Brown University with a double degree in Architectural Studies and Fine Arts in Printmaking, I went on to graduate school at The Bartlett at University College London and the London College of Fashion, where I focused on pattern-making and draping as well as textile printing techniques. From there, I established a design studio and the natural next step was to launch my own label.”

Reflecting her love for clean aesthetics, interesting textiles and prints, Chan’s designs are clearly thoughtful and inclusive. Her pieces are all made using low-impact materials and natural, eco-friendly fabrics personally sourced from Japan. Her textile prints, meanwhile, are all designed in-house—the limited-edition ones are often inspired by local and familiar narratives—and created through the processes of digital printing and screen printing with Oeko-Tex standard pigments. 

Perfect for a casual date or outing, this playful, shoulder-baring dress with a draped top lets you look your best while basking in comfort. Rendered in a pinstripe suiting material, the modern silhouette offers an offbeat charm and a hint of sexy with its asymmetric neckline, knotted belt and side slits that let you show some leg. 

Launched in 2013 by independent fashion designer K.Mi Huang, WOMB is known for a stylish and understated aesthetic that exemplifies unassuming yet innovative timelessness, and is committed to producing quality timeless pieces in a responsible, sustainable way. Don’t be fooled by the name though—WOMB has nothing to do with baby outfits and maternity wear. Rather, it encapsulates the concept driving the brand’s designs: that clothing should protect and support the women wearing them. Accordingly, its offerings are simple, feminine and uber-chic. Whether it’s an asymmetric blouse or a panelled dress, every juxtaposed cut and drape is thoughtful and intentional; no detail is left to chance. 

WOMB has flagship stores at Design Orchard and Raffles City Shopping Centre, along with several counters and pop-ups around Singapore.

Show off ethnic flair with this beautifully handwoven jacket that’ll ensure you stand out in a crowd. Featuring striking colours and feminine tassels, this sleeveless turtleneck number with a front zipper is made with cotton viscose and cleverly juxtaposes style-centric elements while maintaining a harmonious look. 

Kanzi Collection prides itself on modern handwoven garments fashioned using the traditional ikat method, which is a resist-dye technique where motifs are individually tied and dyed before the weaving process. The fabrics are then hand cut to make the final garments. 

Founded in 2010 by dentist-turned-ethnic-fashion-designer Liza Yahya and ikat maker Muhammad Abdat, Kanzi Collection first operated as hobby business run from home. “The art of ikat weaving is disappearing,” says Yahya, “and we strongly believe that this uniquely traditional process should not only be maintained, but also revived and made available to be appreciated by people around the globe.” 

Gleaning from her experiences at her father’s garment factory since an early age, Yahya combined her technical knowledge of sewing techniques and finishing qualities with her creative eye and artistic flair. In 2014, she gave up her career in dentistry to launch Kanzi Collection full-time with Muhammad.

Kanzi Collection produces about 450 items monthly and ikat accounts for about 150. To ensure quality and originality, all the designs and the production are done in-house by the brand’s current team of 28—which includes expert ikat weavers, thread dyers, pattern designers, pattern cutters and quality control personnel. On the limited run of ikat pieces, Yahya explains: “We use traditional methods to ensure quality cloth is created. These methods take significantly lengthy periods of time to produce unique designs and textures, which in turn restricts and limits the total number of ikat items available, making them an exclusive range of fashion garments in the marketplace.”

Inspired by the Art Décor motif of the iconic Chrysler Building in New York City, these bold earrings in gold-plated silver and with malachite centre stones can transform any look—working to amp up the elegance of eveningwear or adding oomph to everyday looks.   

Always drawing on different tones and colours, the creative designs of Singapore-based fine jewellery brand Alexandra Alberta are never boring. No surprise there, as they reflect the free-spirited nature of its founder, Singapore-born designer and certified graduate gemologist Alexandra Alberta Yeo, who actually had her start in the fashion industry—working for labels such as Lanvin, Rag & Bone and Opening Ceremony. Her fascination with gemstones further developed when she attended the prestigious Gemological Institute of America in New York City and the rest, as the saying goes, is history. 

Ever since she founded her eponymous brand in 2010, Yeo has been inundated with requests for her unique pieces featuring colourful, collectible gemstones—some of which have even garnered global attention with features in luxury magazines across the US. And it’s not just the popular vote she’s getting: In 2014, her “Baroque” collection was recognised by leading UK industry magazine Professional Jeweller as one of the top five “Emerging Designer Collections in the United Kingdom”. 

Let the beauty of sakura flowers brighten your day. This cotton clutch with bold blooms comes fully lined and has a padded interior to both add structural body to the bag and protect any delicate item it holds. The kiss-lock clasp—a retro throwback given a cool twist with two oversize balls in a brilliant blue—is gorgeous and convenient in equal parts. The clutch can double as a cosmetic pouch—it fits three lipsticks and a compact powder comfortably—but with a bag this pretty, why hide it inside your handbag? 

COCOONESE prides itself on exquisitely designed items made from fabrics using handcrafted silkscreen prints. Founder and designer Chloe Wang first started making bags and ornaments to be sold at flea markets, but as her passion grew, the decision was made to launch the brand in 2018. Her bags became so popular that she started conducting Cocoon Maker Workshops the following year, teaching others how to make her Kiss Clasp bags at the brnad’s Katong studio.

Ever since she was young, Wang has had a vested interest in arts and crafts—she finds special enjoyment in dismantling objects and reassembling them, as she says it allows her to learn new skills while rethinking the production process. “I like to use my hands to create beautiful things,” she adds. “Be it a stroke on a canvas or a stitch on a fabric, each piece of work carries my heartfelt emotions.”

Quality and functionality matter in every piece that Wang makes, as does standing by her principles of using only environmentally friendly materials. Which explains why she named the brand COCOONESE—originating from the word “cocoon”—because it “embodies the essence of durability while safeguarding our planet through the use of pure cotton materials that are harmless to the environment,” she says.

Elevate your ensemble with this minimalist brooch in rose-gold plating that pairs lustrous freshwater pearls with a warm, romantic metal for an elegant look that never goes out of style. 

The chic, modern and versatile jewellery collections by [in]trigue are designed by brand founder and entrepreneur Jaime Lim, who combines the concepts of utilitarian and aesthetic to create unique pieces that explore the kinship between the elements of architecture and nature. After all, Lim herself is a trained architect who loves exploring different angles while pushing boundaries. 

Incorporating raw gemstones to capture the beauty of nature, her jewellery is made out of a love for architecture and art, compelling her to construct striking designs that spark conversations. “It’s essential for a woman to have her own unique identity, and dare to be different and confident,” says Lim, who hopes to bring these same ideals into her designs. 

Lim not only works with Singaporean craftsmen to realise her designs, but also uses 3D modelling and 3D printing in her jewellery-making process to explore ideas and develop her creations. 

Combining trends across fashion and jewellery—metallic hues in the former and pearls in the latter—this half-moon-shaped bag will definitely turn heads with its bold, shimmery green and matching glossy pearls swishing from the scalloped lace trim. A classy bag that also oozes character, it’s the perfect complement to your cheongsam or ball gown. 

At Kanyeka, every item is thoughtfully designed and carefully made using a wide variety of processes, resulting in artful artisanal pieces that are designed for a timeless and seamless wardrobe. The culmination of India-born founder Kanchan Gaitondé’s cultural inquisitiveness and creativity with crafts, the brand, founded in 2018, offers luxury leather handbags and stunning statement accessories inspired by global cultures, crafts and colours. 

Kanyeka’s distinct one-of-a-kind pieces also reflect Gaitondé’s keen interest in history and a love of festivals and celebrations. Having lived in India, Hong Kong and Singapore—which she now calls home—Gaitondé has been exposed to several cultures, and the deep-rooted traditions and customs across Asia compelled her to tell cultural stories through her brand. 

“We make beautiful, modern and functional women’s fashion and lifestyle products that borrow heavily from history and culture,” says the designer, who loves getting hands-on and doing things herself. “Timeless pieces inspired by the past made in the present and very much in sync with the future.”

With simple but striking contours, this cuff in recycled brass uses classic lines to make a statement. Featuring ruler-like measurements on its edge, this “math-friendly” accessory attains a harmonious balance between ergonomic design and the dimensions of human anatomy—the perfect arm candy for those who appreciate the minimalist look. The beauty of its simplicity is that mixing and matching with various outfits is easy—whether worn alone or as part of a stack. 

Known for its sustainable and ethical jewellery, Protesta makes its collections from recycled metals such as brass and aluminium. The concepts of recovering, recreating, recycling and respect collectively form the backbone of the business. What results are clean, sharp lines and designs based on minimalist concepts, so that each piece remains relevant and versatile over the years. 

Built for freedivers and underwater adventurers, this tough timepiece lets you dive into life’s challenges with confidence. Made from high-quality ceramic, the unidirectional bezel is known for its ability to withstand scratches while its large dial features luminescent hands and indexes that are shielded by a flat sapphire crystal lens. This is also the first BOLDR watch to possess a full 316L metal bracelet with a quick-release clasp, along with a refined case detailed with a polished trip to accentuate its angular lugs. 

BOLDR, which is based out of Singapore, offers watches and gear for the adventurers of the world that are designed to be stylish, super-tough, and “built to be used and abused every day”. “We are a brand that stands for those who face the path less travelled, full of difficulties and challenges to overcome,” says Leon Leong, who co-founded BOLDR in 2015 with fellow Singaporean Travis Tan. “BOLDR embodies that can-do attitude of defying odds and achieving the seemingly impossible. Our watches don’t give up easily—just like you.”

Show your contemporaries that you mean business when you don a pair of these special-edition cufflinks from Forbidden Hill that are crafted in rose-gold-plated vermeil with obsidian black resin insets. The cufflinks feature emblematic motifs found on fine Chinese wares that were traded in Ban Zu, a port settlement in ancient Singapore. 

Known for its modern take on Asian cultural motifs, Forbidden Hill is an eclectic jewellery and lifestyle accessories brand that produces lacquer homeware and silk-based accessories. It was founded in 2018 by Ruth Pestana and her husband David Aumonier, and its creations pay tribute to the rich culture and history of Southeast Asia. 

The concept for the brand was birthed through a conversation Pestana had with her husband about her multi-cultural heritage—she is of Chinese, Malay, Indian and European descent. “Our fashion and home accessories have been inspired by the region’s rich tapestry of iconography, architecture and textiles,” says Pestana. “We blend inspiration from the cultural traditions of Southeast Asia with contemporary interpretations of style and material.”

Each piece is designed in the brand’s Singapore studio, which is located a stone’s throw from the original Forbidden Hill—Fort Canning, which was called Bukit Larangan, meaning “forbidden hill” in Malay, when the British first set foot in Singapore. Carefully selected jewellery and lacquer artisans in the region then bring the designs to life with the highest standard of workmanship.

Boost visual clarity and increase the detail in your field of vision by reducing the reflection from sunlight with these polarised sunglasses. Designed to eliminate glare, the CR-39 lenses come with an anti-scratch coating, and offer 100 per cent UVA and UVB protection to shield your precious peepers. 

Offering frames that fit Asian faces, Rocket Eyewear was launched in 2017 by siblings Ong En Ming and Ong Ker-Shing, who are both Harvard graduates (Ker-Shing is also the co-founder and director of Lekker Architects, where she still practices). The brand is known for its classic and round P3 sunglasses—the style was originally designed for American soldiers in World War II and popularised by 1950s movie stars such as Grace Kelly and James Dean—which are effortlessly stylish while fitting comfortably on Asian noses. 

The brand actually came about because of the founders’ mum’s knack for losing her P3 sunglasses on her travels—be it on a boat in Sri Lanka, a church in Ethiopia or the ski slopes of Switzerland. “The list continues,” says En Ming with a laugh. “When I found out how often she has to get new ones and how much she paid for them, my jaw dropped. That was when I thought, “Maybe I could start a business selling sunglasses to my mum!’” 

As a gift and tribute to their mother, the pair decided to redesign her signature P3 sunglasses with a travel-inspired twist and named them after her initials: MTO. She liked them so much, she wanted two. They made more and that’s how Rocket Eyewear came into being. 

The popular eyewear comes in Standard “European” Fit and Raised “Asian” Fit sizes. As the name suggests, Raised Fit frames “raise” them off your cheeks and prevents slipping, while Standard Fit frames will be more comfortable for those with medium to high nose bridges.

Preserve your youthful looks and radiant glow with this serum designed to counter the effects of sun damage and help reduce the look of wrinkles and fine lines. Formulated with a cocktail of brighteners, peptides, structural proteins, and melanin-inhibiting astaxanthin and resveratrol, this quick-absorbing, ultra-light serum by Rooki not only fades dark spots, but also fights the cumulative effects of photoageing. 

Drawing from the power of superfoods, Rooki creates award-winning skincare formulas that are packed with antioxidants, vitamins and phytonutrients, to help you achieve glowing, healthy-looking skin without the use of chemicals such as parabens and sulphates. 

Founder Hayley Teo, who used to work as a digital content creator in an agency, started off making handmade clay masks, body butters and lip balms to be sold at pop-ups under her first label Into The Wild. Then, in 2019, she make the leap to launch Rooki, her high-performance superfood skincare brand. 

Working with top formulators in Japan to create her products, Teo believes that women should not have to choose between what is safe and what works. “My clean skincare range is for women who understand that food isn’t just fuel; it’s nourishment,” she says. “By combining clean and healthy superfoods with high-performing, clinically proven active ingredients, we blend the best of both worlds. Good skincare should work without compromising one’s health.”

No ensemble is complete with the finishing touch of a fine fragrance such as The LAB Fragrances’ Rose Oud EDP. Featuring the aroma of roses intermingled with exquisite woody notes that soften into a vanilla-scented amber accord, this sophisticated scent is the confidence-boosting companion that is sure to take you places. 

What makes the scents by The LAB Fragrances stand out is not just the fact that they’re uncommon and only available in small batches. It’s also that you can get your name—or that of the person whom you’re gifting it to—printed on the label to truly make it your own. 

The LAB Fragrances was founded in 2017 by Taylan Torin, who was fed up with mass-produced products—so much so that he started the brand after his own wedding, where he had developed a specially blended agarwood fragrance as door gifts. The LAB Fragrances was born after his guests wanted to know where they could purchase his “amazing fragrance”.

Wanting to forge a brand that offered fine fragrances of the finest quality, Torin made it his priority to focus on creating exquisite and unique scents without the pressure of having to appeal to the mainstream. Sourcing widely to procure both plant-based and laboratory-made ingredients, the 100 per cent vegan brand takes meticulous care to maintain excellence, complying with the exacting global standards of the EU Cosmetics Directive and the IFRA Regulations.

If you want to boost the ambience in your home, The LAB Fragrances also offers individually hand-poured candles made with natural soya wax and quality fragrance oils to infuse any room with an uplifting scent.

Designed for portability, this yoga/exercise mat lets you keep to your fitness routine even when you’re on the road. Featuring stylish Mandala prints, this compact travel companion is specially coated with an anti-slip finishing on a comfy microfibre surface for excellent traction and supportive cushioning. Meanwhile, an eco-friendly natural rubber bottom provides superb grip to prevent any nasty incidents. 

Inspired by haute couture, local sportswear brand Yumi Active aims to bring “a little of the runway to the gym, yoga studio or running track”—music to the ears of those who love fashion as much as exercise.

Founder Diana Chang, who first took up yoga for its health benefits and now works out regularly, says Yumi Active is the result of wanting to make activewear better and more exciting for women. It was during the years she lived in Jakarta, Indonesia—where her husband had been posted for work—that Chang came up with the idea to create her own activewear brand for fashion-savvy Asian women. The couple moved back to Singapore in 2018 and by year’s end, Yumi Active was launched. 

“I wanted to create a refreshing brand with an Eastern touch while featuring a range of unique designs made with top-grade sports materials for women,” says Chang. “My goal is to motivate women to embrace a positive and active lifestyle by making workout apparel and accessories desirable.” 

And that she does, with the brand’s on-trend designs and fashionable performance fabrics that elevate not just your style but also your fitness game. The best thing is, her quality apparel manages to do all that while still keeping you comfortable and supported while you work out. One distinctive element of Yumi Active apparel is that the designer’s name is printed on the garment tag. Chang says this is because she wants consumers to know that “there was someone, a real person, behind the piece they receive”. 

Yumi Active is one of the few brands that manufacture athleisure wear locally in Singapore. 

KRISSHOP EXCLUSIVE

Impress your guests when you serve them food and drinks using this exquisite tray that features the unmistakable Singapore Airlines batik motif. Designed exclusively by Photo Phactory for the Batik Label by KrisShop, each tray is made with solid MDF (medium-density fibreboard) wood, while the finishing is meticulously hand-painted and varnished. 

From souvenirs to made-in-Singapore items, Photo Phactory offers a range of quintessentially Singaporean merchandise that encapsulates the nation’s rich heritage and history through colourful prints. Its products run the gamut from silk scarves and clutches to coasters, serving trays, cushion covers and canvas prints. 

Founder Valley Arora says that her design inspiration derives from a desire to blend lifestyle product innovation with the unique Singapore culture. “It’s a way of connecting to the past and at the same, create designs and objects of our own day and age,” she says. 

As a photographer and designer, Arora aims to capture her version of the Singapore story through her photographic prints and in doing so, preserve the vibrance and beauty of vanishing cultures such as the Peranakan heritage. While most of her collections are inspired by the colours and patterns of historical heritage shophouses and Peranakan tiles, Arora stresses that “Photo Phactory aims to preserve a sense of identity in Singapore’s ever-changing landscape—whether it’s the iconic landmarks or the scenic beauty of nature or the Peranakan history of Singapore.” 

This table runner from Onlewo is a beautiful addition to your table setting the next time you host a dinner party. The colourful Peranakan style prints with abstract Singapore flowers symbolises optimism, diversity and the energetic pulse of the city. Made from linen cotton and poly fabric, each of these table runner even comes with a  story card to explain the design inspiration.

Local label Onlewo was founded by Mike Tay who draws inspiration from Singapore’s culture, and translates its elements into prints and patterns for a wide range of home and lifestyle products, as well as bags, shirts and scarves.

Tay says: “I started this company partly because I was influenced by my mum who was running a clothing store and the regular exposure to fabrics triggered my interest in pattern and colours.”

Besides creating pattern designs with heartwarming stories with a local flavour, Onlewo also hopes to connect people and ignite new passions through its colourful offerings.

KRISSHOP EXCLUSIVE

If you love a true-blue smooth spirit, this exclusive Singapore gin is it. Bursting with tropical fruit such as ripe pineapple, zesty calamansi and sweet hawthorn berries, this craft gin will warm your heart and belly with a single sip. A collaboration with Singapore Airlines and the Singapore Tourism Board, this full-bodied spirit is inspired by Singapore’s distinct flavours while the iconic batik motif of the Singapore Airlines sarong kebaya puts its stamp of approval. 

Singapore’s first full-fledged micro-distillery, Brass Lion Distillery, makes its high-quality small-batch craft spirits right here in the Lion City. “We really wanted a truly Singaporean product, one that we can say was made in Singapore, by Singaporeans,” says founder Jamie Koh, who opened the distillery in 2018. “That’s the reason why we were determined, against all odds, to open in Singapore.” 

A year of travelling abroad made Koh realise that while most countries had a unique spirit to call their own, Singapore did not. While the idea was conceived in 2012, she says it took six years to create a spirit that truly captured the essence of Singapore: The brand’s flagship spirit, The Singapore Dry Gin. 

Not just a retailer, Brass Lion also conducts Gin Distillery Tours to give gin enthusiasts or curious drinkers a glimpse of what goes on behind the scenes. You can even take things further with a session at the Gin School and learn how to craft your very own bottle of gin.

Travel the world through your taste buds with the tried-and-tested authentic recipes in this beautifully illustrated cookbook that lets you indulge in global feasts right in your own kitchen. 

Packed with 223 authentic family recipes from around the globe, this comprehensive tome even includes a section on vegetarian, vegan and gluten-free dishes as well as a helpful guide for sourcing unfamiliar ingredients in Singapore—an essential culinary resource for every discerning chef. 

The magnificent recipes hail from the members of the International Cooking Club Singapore (ICCS), which was first created in 2015 when a small group of like-minded women got together regularly to cook and have lunch. Founder Michelle Pilarcyzk says their mission is to bring together women living in Singapore who share a keen passion for food while improving their culinary repertoire. 

Since registering as a non-profit organisation in 2016, ICCS boasts over 300 active members currently (not to mention several hundred alumni who have moved back to their home countries). Divided into groups of 10, the members take turns to host once per cycle, which runs for 10 sessions over 20 weeks on a fortnightly schedule. 

Pilarcyzk says the ICCS does its best to balance the group dynamics in terms of nationalities, ethnic backgrounds and dietary preferences. Some groups focus specifically on baking or cooking only. “No worries if your kitchen is too small; you can use someone else’s home in the group,” she says. “You can even co-host a session with another lady in your group.” 

The good news is, there are no fees involved. You need not be a good cook either—all you need is a keen interest to learn. After all, there’s no better way to get to know new cultures and make new friends than over a spread of good food.