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Nat Ho: Actor, singer, and now stallholder

SINGAPORE — Nat Ho is known as an actor and a musician. But recently, he quietly added “stallholder” to his resume.

Nat Ho with Love Bento's "Nat's Gymbento". Photo: May Seah

Nat Ho with Love Bento's "Nat's Gymbento". Photo: May Seah

SINGAPORE — Nat Ho is known as an actor and a musician. But recently, he quietly added “stallholder” to his resume.

He opened Love Bento, a food stall offering healthy, easy meals, at Shaw Towers’ Wild Market food court three months ago.

Love Bento, says the Tanglin actor, is a passion project that builds on his love of food. And while he does not actually cook, Love Bento makes good on his promise to “someday do F&B”.

He has held that dream since 2010.

“I guess that someday finally arrived. You know me — I’ve always been about dreams and passion,” he said.

The stall is a joint venture with his friend Zech Wu, previously a private chef for hire who has also worked in the kitchen at Bacchanalia.

“When Zech approached me, I saw that he was really serious and passionate about it,” Ho said. “That’s why I knew it would be safe to invest in him. And also, I like to eat.”

Love Bento’s menu includes choices of chicken and fish, brown rice with quinoa or Japanese rice with chia seeds, tofu skewers, onsen eggs, sweet potato mash and shirataki salads.

Salad bowls are priced between S$6 and S$8.80, while bento sets range from S$9 to S$14.90. There is also “Nat’s Gymbento” (S$14), which is a high-protein, low-carb choice.

“We wanted Love Bento to serve healthy, wholesome, nutritious food that brings a taste of home and love to the consumer,” Ho said.

If the stall continues to do well, there are plans for expansion.

But “the aim of the business is that we want to eventually be able to sell our sauces and marinades”, said Wu, 42.

Ho invested “a substantial amount that could have gone to my music career — let’s just put it that way”.

However, he said: “As a former Singapore Idol contestant, and then a model, and then an actor, and then a singer — and now, an entrepreneur — I’m somebody who likes to grow and try different things. While it seems like I’m not being focused, all of this is laying the groundwork for bigger things.”

Love Bento is a step towards ensuring an income that allows him to do “creative stuff without having to be actively working, because that takes a lot of time and other resources”.

“In Singapore, I’m only earning money when I’m working,” he said in reference to his showbiz career.

“So at least by going into business, once everything is stable, I will have another stream of income.”

The 32-year-old is currently preparing to release his second EP, titled The Game and featuring songs co-written with producer Tat Tong, later this year.

The first single, Snakes And Ladders, is scheduled to be released sometime in late April or early May.

In the meantime, Ho is at Love Bento “almost every day” for the healthy meals he needs to maintain his physique.

“Nat’s Gymbento” is, of course, his go-to choice. May Seah

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