Page 31 - Our Hawker Stories

The hawker centre was teeming with people. As my family
and I entered Kopitiam Square at Sengkang, the aroma
of crispy prata frying on a hot pan with rich chicken curry
filled the air. The glorious smell was the deciding factor.
I knew I must have it. We ordered prata and chicken
curry, and I could see the prata sizzling on the pan as
the old hawker expertly flipped it. I was entranced by
the way he skilfully kneaded the oily dough, stretching it
out on the board without tearing it, and then flipping it
back and forth. He made it seem like flipping prata was
a piece of cake!

The hawker pressed the buzzer, indicating that my food
was ready. My dad went to get the meal, and I could not
wait to eat it!

The prata was golden and crispy on the outside and soft As I finished my satisfying meal, I thought about how
on the inside, and the chicken curry gravy looked rich lucky we are to have such a rich food culture, and how
and flavourful. When I took a bite of this prata and curry important it is to keep it alive for our future generations.
combination, it felt like I was in heaven. This dish, which
originally came from India, is not just loved by many
Singaporeans, but it has become a part of our hawker
culture, something that we all share and enjoy. “When we eat at the hawker centre, we’re not
just sharing food — we’re sharing Singapore’s
Eating at hawker centres is more than just filling our spirit, where everyone comes together no
stomachs. It shows the spirit and culture of Singapore,
where people of different backgrounds and walks of life matter where we’re from.”
come together to enjoy the same dishes. Our differences
are put aside when it comes to food. Come to think of it,
food is our national identity. Ishwarya Gokul Kumar
P5.4
North Spring Primary School

Our Hawker Stories 27