Page 57 - Our Hawker Stories

The aroma of different arrays of food wafted into my
nostrils when I stepped into the hawker centre. Cheers
and laughter of the diners resonated through the hawker
centre “Grr…” my stomach grumbled loudly as I saw
the other diners eating their food deliciously. “Maybe
I should get something to eat. But what?” I pondered.
Each stall’s menu has a dedicated food picture that makes
my mouth water. Just then, I caught sight of a stall called
“Chinatown Mala Hot Pot” with a long queue. “Ahh!
That stall must sell good food, it has so many people
queuing!” I concluded and made my way to the end of
the line. My mother raised an eyebrow, reminding me,
“Don’t just bother to eat, remember to do your project!”

“Later, the aunt and uncle still have so many customers…” Furthermore, we don’t add any food essence. As you can
I replied before placing my food into a basket, which see, only our shop in Buangkok Hawker Centre has four
would soon be handed to the aunt. After telling me the posters about the best food and healthy food sold,” she
price of the food, I handed in my money and waited for explained in detail.
it to be served.
“Then how do you cook so well?” I questioned with a
While sitting down, I noticed something. The shop has a confused look.
poster that reads, “Best Food In Singapore,” and another
that reads, “Low in salt and oil.” I gasped. The food sold “Since we were young, we cooked for our siblings when
in that shop is very healthy! No wonder so many people our parents were at work, and we both have developed
queued! I have indeed chosen the right stall to order my great cooking skills,” she replied confidently.
food.
My confusion was unravelled. I nodded as I quickly
After a few minutes, the grilled fish and mala hot pot scribbled down what she said. After knowing that I had
were placed on my table. I began to salivate as the no more questions, I waved the auntie goodbye and
smell of the food sent me to the heavens. I quickly took thanked her for praising her food taste. She smiled as
a picture for my project before wolfing down the food. she laughed, “Do come and revisit us! Bye!”
“Be careful, the fish bones are sharp, don’t swallow
them,” my father warned me with his furrowed brows. Still feeling full after the meal, I returned home, thinking,
Smiling sheepishly, I started to eat slowly. With three “I should bring my relatives to try out this stall’s food.”
hungry wolves, the meal was soon finished. I sighed
with satisfaction as I looked down at my stomach. Right
at that time, no customers were lining up. Hence, I went “The auntie said she learned to cook for her
over to the aunt and asked her a few questions about my siblings when she was young — that’s how
school’s project.
hawker food carries the love and skills of
“Sure, anything?” she agreed, stretching a warm smile. generations.”
“What is special about your shop?” I asked, after looking Guo Ruitong
at my script. P6.3

“Oh! My shop’s food is fresh and never kept overnight. North Spring Primary School

Our Hawker Stories 53