Page 73 - Our Hawker Stories

Do you have a voracious appetite for one particular dish?

I have. I am infatuated with this dish. I could eat it every
day.

It was a bustling night. I had been waiting for it since
my parents promised to bring my brother and me to
Lau Pa Sat, Singapore’s iconic hawker centre. That night
was perfect for sinking our teeth into one of the most
delectable and out-of-this-world dishes.

Satay, a local delight, are bite-sized pieces of skewered
and barbecued meat on a stick. What many would call
an authentic gastronomical experience.

We went to Best Satay 7, a stall well-known for its
signature dish, satay. We sat at a nearby table and began I thought about the beauty of hawker centres and
to order. There was a wide array of diverse and affordable how blessed I was to experience this precious culture.
dishes. The tantalising smell of simmering soups, the Without hawkers, Singaporeans could not experience
clang of metal spatulas against flaming woks, the sizzle traditional dishes from different cultural backgrounds.
of ingredients being tossed, and the constant hustle Hawkers have a significant role – to provide affordable
and bustle of stall owners taking orders and barking out yet quality, delectable dishes, and to continue being
instructions while serving hungry customers were all trailblazers of this tradition. Hawkers are integral to our
part of the hawker centre experience I was enamoured country’s social fabric, economy, and most importantly,
to bask in. It was a welcoming and delightful riot to the our cultural identity.
senses.

After waiting for several minutes, the satay finally arrived. “Each bite of satay at Lau Pa Sat wasn’t just
It looked mouth-watering and tasted even better. I took delicious — it was a reminder that hawkers
my first bite. The meat almost immediately melted in my are the heart and soul of Singapore’s food
mouth. I took another bite. The delectable flavours sent culture.”
me straight to food heaven! The savoury juices burst
in my mouth as I chewed the tender meat. My family
and I savoured the scrumptious satay together. It was
undoubtedly an out-of-this-world experience for my Aaralyn Hope Indrali
tummy and my soul. P5.1
North Spring Primary School

Our Hawker Stories 69