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PAPIG COWARDLY STYLE
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CSJ and wife opening cafe at rochester mall.....
- Thread starter Voldermort
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The question that CHee took when it ask isn;t it a risky business and bad timing to start. It is if you are a normal unknow guy on the street. This is Chee, famous in Sg, well-known public figure. It helps the business if you are a public figure with a healthy reputation perceived by people. If LHL open a restaurant, i will not visit.
Self serving person think himself got some academic achievement only can get elected without serving his voters first...
Now with this coffee shop can do what? Act as if he is giving voters a big deal hope to get elected from open this shop.
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why not? his nasty alamak lemak will be bagus.
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LHL's restaurant specialty is mee siam mai hum.
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from msn.com:
When I learnt that Singapore Democratic Party’s Chee Soon Juan had opened a new cafe on June 25, I was in disbelief.
Local celebrities, sure. Many have opened restaurants and cafes. But political figures? That’s something new. I had to visit the cafe, Orange & Teal, at Rochester Mall in Buona Vista, to take a look for myself.
© Provided by Rice Media
The first signs of the newly-opened cafe can be seen on the second floor of the mall: A row of about 10 congratulatory flower wreaths for Dr Chee from party members, friends, and organisations. Not bad for an opposition politician whom Singaporeans used to shun out of fear.
Inside the cafe
Once inside, I’m mesmerised by the cafe’s vibes. The aroma of the cumin-spiced brisket, the dark teal interior, and the dim, warm lights remind me of a British pub. The piano and other household fixtures make the cafe even more cosy and homely.
© Provided by Rice Media
© Provided by Rice Media
© Provided by Rice Media
Like other customers, I’m hoping to catch a glimpse of the man. In many instances of celebrities’ restaurants, the famed personality simply appears once for a photo op, never to be seen again during daily operations.
But not Dr Chee, who gets his hands dirty running the outlet. I am barely seated when he comes by my table, taps on my shoulder like a friend, and apologises for the wait.
© Provided by Rice Media
“If the food is good, let me know. If you want to complain, tell it to the kitchen,” Dr Chee quips. It is rare and refreshing to see this light-hearted side of him—so different from the grim-faced, combative political persona we’re so used to.
After ordering two plates of creamy butter tuscan salmon and poulet roti, I decide to explore Dr Chee’s mini library near the counter. You can learn much about a person’s character from his bookshelf.
© Provided by Rice Media
© Provided by Rice Media An award for his service in democracy sitting on his book shelf.
As a known bookworm, the books belong to him, with some contributed by party colleagues Wong Souk Yee, Paul Tambyah, and others. Not surprisingly, there are books on politics and world history, alongside other novels like those by Haruki Murakami and Veronica Roth. And yes, Dr Chee also features two books authored by him which he sells at $30 each.
The makan eventually comes. It may not be Michelin-starred quality, but the food is unpretentious. Western fare is offered here because it is easier to prepare, given the small kitchen.
Speaking to the man
But I’m not here just for the food. I want to uncover the restaurateur side of Dr Chee.
© Provided by Rice Media Dr Chee catching his breath after lunch service.
He is a busy man. When he isn’t serving dishes, he is either expediting orders in the kitchen or taking selfies with customers. It is only when Dr Chee finally sits down with me for an interview that he catches his breath.
I’m surprised when he reveals that the idea to set up a cafe has been floating around for a decade, as he and his party members wanted a place for Singaporeans to connect. But they never got beyond discussions.
Then came post-GE2020.
“I told them if we’re going to get this done, let’s do it and stop talking already,” Dr Chee says. Together with investors and some party members, they chipped in funds to set up Orange & Teal. He makes clear that the cafe isn’t a party enterprise.
The money side of things, settled. What about location? Not easy. This is when I learn that the political climate of fear still exists.
Dr Chee shares that Rochester Mall wasn’t his first choice. There were other places in mind, but when approached, landlords claimed they were taken.
“Some saw me and didn’t want to do business with us. There was a point when I asked my wife to just go and see [the shops] and I don’t show up,” Dr Chee sighs.
The folks at Rochester Mall are more straightforward, and the paperwork was done uneventfully, he says. For a shop space of about 1,300 square feet, Dr Chee claims he pays about $7,000 per month in rent, an amount he deems as reasonable and allows him to keep food prices modest.
While footfall at Rochester Mall is lower than the adjacent The Star Vista mall, Dr Chee doesn’t think it is a problem.
© Provided by Rice Media Customers of all ages, leaving their views at the door and finding joy over a good meal provided by the Chee family.
After all, he doesn’t envision his cafe to have high human traffic, with customers fleetingly coming and going. Rather, he wants it to be a getaway for Singaporeans to slow down for conversations and coffee with friends.
Politics should be left at the doorstep, he adds. “You don’t have to be of a certain political stance to come here and eat. Just enter.”
Taking the chance, I tease and ask if anybody from the establishment has popped by for a drink. That would have sent a cohesive message that food can transcend political differences.
Not yet, he says. But he has a politically-bizarre idea: inviting Education Minister Chan Chun Sing to his cafe for lunch. After all, the minister’s office is just a stone’s throw away.
Challenge accepted, Minister Chan?
Once the dust has settled, Dr Chee intends to develop the cafe towards a social enterprise model.
Ideas in the pipeline: giving local artists, musicians and writers a free space to showcase their work. Employing disabled Singaporeans. Inviting those invisible to us to eat at the cafe, such as cardboard collectors.
In fact, he has already done the latter, having treated cleaning staff at the mall to a meal at his cafe. “I want the cafe to not just be about dollars and cents. It should be a place where humanity counts,” says Dr Chee.
The man and his family
© Provided by Rice Media Dr Chee’s family behind the counter.
While Dr Chee and I are chatting, the cafe continues to run with the help of his family. Everyone is involved: Wife Huang Chih-mei and their three grown-up children, An Lyn, E Lyn and Shaw Hur. The past week has been exhausting, but Dr Chee shares it has been worthwhile to do this as a family.
“When I first told my friends I’m opening a cafe, they said I’m crazy, given the current F&B situation. But I didn’t spring it on my family. They were unsurprised as they already knew I had wanted to do this for some time.”
His 22-year-old daughter An Lyn, who handles the cafe’s publicity, says she feels bad for her dad and mom when she sees them working tirelessly to keep the cafe going.
True enough, Dr Chee hardly has free time these days. Before the cafe opened, there was much coordination to do. When not at the cafe, he walks the ground in Bukit Batok, the constituency he contested in last year.
The cafe as a soft power?
© Provided by Rice Media
I’ve known Dr Chee as a confrontational figure. I have read about his arrests for illegal public assemblies, and his scathing criticisms of the government.
I don’t always agree with his causes, but I respect Dr Chee’s tenacity. Realising combative methods and overly-ideological ideals don’t sit well with most Singaporeans, he changed tack.
During GE2020, he delved significantly into municipal issues instead of focusing entirely on national policies or “fighting for democracy”. Now, he has opened a cafe, apparently a first among local politicians.
Is this as a political move to gain goodwill from Singaporeans and rejuvenate his public image as a politician who experiences the first-hand challenges of operating a food business?
Already, I have observed that his cafe has attracted many middle-aged customers, which is peculiar since it is usually the younger ones who patronise cafes.
Perhaps many are either his long-time supporters or Singaporeans who have been observing him for years and are curious what he has up his sleeves.
Dr Chee has always been idealistic, be it with the causes he advocates for, or foraying into F&B during the pandemic when many in the industry are barely surviving. The profits from running a cafe aren’t high, more so with the way he intends to run it.
But I have to admire his perseverance, even with hurdles ahead. This is a trait worth emulating.
Orange & Teal operates from 11 AM to 9 PM from Sundays to Thursdays, and till 10 PM on Fridays and Saturdays. The cafe is closed on Mondays. Address: 35 Rochester Drive, #02-12 Rochester Mall. Singapore 138639.
Put Politics Aside And Bond Over Food: Can Chee Soon Juan Make This A Reality For His Cafe?
When I learnt that Singapore Democratic Party’s Chee Soon Juan had opened a new cafe on June 25, I was in disbelief.
Local celebrities, sure. Many have opened restaurants and cafes. But political figures? That’s something new. I had to visit the cafe, Orange & Teal, at Rochester Mall in Buona Vista, to take a look for myself.
The first signs of the newly-opened cafe can be seen on the second floor of the mall: A row of about 10 congratulatory flower wreaths for Dr Chee from party members, friends, and organisations. Not bad for an opposition politician whom Singaporeans used to shun out of fear.
Inside the cafe
Once inside, I’m mesmerised by the cafe’s vibes. The aroma of the cumin-spiced brisket, the dark teal interior, and the dim, warm lights remind me of a British pub. The piano and other household fixtures make the cafe even more cosy and homely.
Like other customers, I’m hoping to catch a glimpse of the man. In many instances of celebrities’ restaurants, the famed personality simply appears once for a photo op, never to be seen again during daily operations.
But not Dr Chee, who gets his hands dirty running the outlet. I am barely seated when he comes by my table, taps on my shoulder like a friend, and apologises for the wait.
“If the food is good, let me know. If you want to complain, tell it to the kitchen,” Dr Chee quips. It is rare and refreshing to see this light-hearted side of him—so different from the grim-faced, combative political persona we’re so used to.
After ordering two plates of creamy butter tuscan salmon and poulet roti, I decide to explore Dr Chee’s mini library near the counter. You can learn much about a person’s character from his bookshelf.
© Provided by Rice Media An award for his service in democracy sitting on his book shelf.
As a known bookworm, the books belong to him, with some contributed by party colleagues Wong Souk Yee, Paul Tambyah, and others. Not surprisingly, there are books on politics and world history, alongside other novels like those by Haruki Murakami and Veronica Roth. And yes, Dr Chee also features two books authored by him which he sells at $30 each.
The makan eventually comes. It may not be Michelin-starred quality, but the food is unpretentious. Western fare is offered here because it is easier to prepare, given the small kitchen.
Speaking to the man
But I’m not here just for the food. I want to uncover the restaurateur side of Dr Chee.
© Provided by Rice Media Dr Chee catching his breath after lunch service.
He is a busy man. When he isn’t serving dishes, he is either expediting orders in the kitchen or taking selfies with customers. It is only when Dr Chee finally sits down with me for an interview that he catches his breath.
I’m surprised when he reveals that the idea to set up a cafe has been floating around for a decade, as he and his party members wanted a place for Singaporeans to connect. But they never got beyond discussions.
Then came post-GE2020.
“I told them if we’re going to get this done, let’s do it and stop talking already,” Dr Chee says. Together with investors and some party members, they chipped in funds to set up Orange & Teal. He makes clear that the cafe isn’t a party enterprise.
The money side of things, settled. What about location? Not easy. This is when I learn that the political climate of fear still exists.
Dr Chee shares that Rochester Mall wasn’t his first choice. There were other places in mind, but when approached, landlords claimed they were taken.
“Some saw me and didn’t want to do business with us. There was a point when I asked my wife to just go and see [the shops] and I don’t show up,” Dr Chee sighs.
The folks at Rochester Mall are more straightforward, and the paperwork was done uneventfully, he says. For a shop space of about 1,300 square feet, Dr Chee claims he pays about $7,000 per month in rent, an amount he deems as reasonable and allows him to keep food prices modest.
While footfall at Rochester Mall is lower than the adjacent The Star Vista mall, Dr Chee doesn’t think it is a problem.
© Provided by Rice Media Customers of all ages, leaving their views at the door and finding joy over a good meal provided by the Chee family.
After all, he doesn’t envision his cafe to have high human traffic, with customers fleetingly coming and going. Rather, he wants it to be a getaway for Singaporeans to slow down for conversations and coffee with friends.
Politics should be left at the doorstep, he adds. “You don’t have to be of a certain political stance to come here and eat. Just enter.”
Taking the chance, I tease and ask if anybody from the establishment has popped by for a drink. That would have sent a cohesive message that food can transcend political differences.
Not yet, he says. But he has a politically-bizarre idea: inviting Education Minister Chan Chun Sing to his cafe for lunch. After all, the minister’s office is just a stone’s throw away.
Challenge accepted, Minister Chan?
Once the dust has settled, Dr Chee intends to develop the cafe towards a social enterprise model.
Ideas in the pipeline: giving local artists, musicians and writers a free space to showcase their work. Employing disabled Singaporeans. Inviting those invisible to us to eat at the cafe, such as cardboard collectors.
In fact, he has already done the latter, having treated cleaning staff at the mall to a meal at his cafe. “I want the cafe to not just be about dollars and cents. It should be a place where humanity counts,” says Dr Chee.
The man and his family
© Provided by Rice Media Dr Chee’s family behind the counter.
While Dr Chee and I are chatting, the cafe continues to run with the help of his family. Everyone is involved: Wife Huang Chih-mei and their three grown-up children, An Lyn, E Lyn and Shaw Hur. The past week has been exhausting, but Dr Chee shares it has been worthwhile to do this as a family.
“When I first told my friends I’m opening a cafe, they said I’m crazy, given the current F&B situation. But I didn’t spring it on my family. They were unsurprised as they already knew I had wanted to do this for some time.”
His 22-year-old daughter An Lyn, who handles the cafe’s publicity, says she feels bad for her dad and mom when she sees them working tirelessly to keep the cafe going.
True enough, Dr Chee hardly has free time these days. Before the cafe opened, there was much coordination to do. When not at the cafe, he walks the ground in Bukit Batok, the constituency he contested in last year.
The cafe as a soft power?
I’ve known Dr Chee as a confrontational figure. I have read about his arrests for illegal public assemblies, and his scathing criticisms of the government.
I don’t always agree with his causes, but I respect Dr Chee’s tenacity. Realising combative methods and overly-ideological ideals don’t sit well with most Singaporeans, he changed tack.
During GE2020, he delved significantly into municipal issues instead of focusing entirely on national policies or “fighting for democracy”. Now, he has opened a cafe, apparently a first among local politicians.
Is this as a political move to gain goodwill from Singaporeans and rejuvenate his public image as a politician who experiences the first-hand challenges of operating a food business?
Already, I have observed that his cafe has attracted many middle-aged customers, which is peculiar since it is usually the younger ones who patronise cafes.
Perhaps many are either his long-time supporters or Singaporeans who have been observing him for years and are curious what he has up his sleeves.
Dr Chee has always been idealistic, be it with the causes he advocates for, or foraying into F&B during the pandemic when many in the industry are barely surviving. The profits from running a cafe aren’t high, more so with the way he intends to run it.
But I have to admire his perseverance, even with hurdles ahead. This is a trait worth emulating.
Orange & Teal operates from 11 AM to 9 PM from Sundays to Thursdays, and till 10 PM on Fridays and Saturdays. The cafe is closed on Mondays. Address: 35 Rochester Drive, #02-12 Rochester Mall. Singapore 138639.
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Finding fault with the incumbent party should be the duty of every citizen, even its supporters.
Sinkies still have a long way to go to reach political maturity. Currently, comparable to the Chiang-era Taiwan mentality.
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The brainwashing that PAP has done over the years will take a few generations to eradicate.
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from danielfooddiary.com:
Politics aside from this piece.
I initially did not have intention to write about Orange & Teal Café at Rochester Mall opened by Dr Chee Soon Juan, because it was well-publicised already, and priority has always been on the more hidden cafes.
However, I was asked by a number of readers to review the food, as most articles online are focused on the opening and the man behind the café, without actually trying the food (other than Mothership). Fair enough.
Just a little background: Dr Chee Soon Juan is a well-known Singaporean opposition politician who has been secretary-general of the Singapore Democratic Party (SDP), but opening a café is something not quite expected of him.
Rochester Mall is a short walk from Buona Vista MRT Station, located opposite The Star Vista.
“Where the conversation’s even better”, you would find this sentence engraved above the doorway.
Dr Chee wanted to open a place where get-togethers and discussions can take place over a meal and coffee, and has been a long-term dream of his.
I wanted to take an empty café shot, and so arrived before 11am, joined by a short queue of customers outside (but they were behind me haha).
The man himself was at the door, welcoming customers as they walked in (quite a sight really); and he didn’t stop going table to table asking ”How’s the food?” like everyone was a regular or friend.
Note that mains won’t be served till 12pm (If you are there for the mains, you got to wait around for an hour plus.)
Instead, there are the usual standard café bites of Truffles Fries ($8.90), Chicken Nuggets with Pesto Dip ($7.20), Calamari Rings with Pesto Dip ($9.20), Luncheon Sticks ($7.50), and Chowder Soup ($4.50).
There are also light pastries and cakes offered, such as Beef Pie ($5.80), Salmon Quiche ($6.90), Lava Cake & Ice Cream ($6.80), and Ondeh Ondeh Cake ($5.80).
Luncheon Sticks ($7.50) would have been known as Spam Fries in another hipster café, but they turned out to be my favourite about the café bites.
They arrived crisp and piping hot, leaving little grease on the paper below, and were cut in thick slices that were satisfying to bite into. If only they came with a dip, such as spicy garlic sriracha sauce or something.
The Beef Pie ($5.80) while nothing to shout about, had a crusty outer layer and was hot within (rather than just lukewarm compared to some other cafes).
Customers were really there for the mains, and what was offered were the Creole Jambalaya ($13.90), Poulet Roti ($12.90), Creamy Butter Tuscan Salmon ($20.80) and Succotash ($10.80). The raved-about Texas Oven Baked Beef Brisket ($18.80) was not available.
The recommended Creolo Jambalaya ($13.90) was a slight-spicy Louisiana-style dish included with shrimps, chicken sausage, rice on top of succotash.
As for the Creamy Butter Tuscan Salmon ($20.80), it had pan-seared salmon accompanied with some linguine in a creamy butter sauce topped with grated parmesan, accompanied with asparagus and baby spinach.
There was a certain homely taste about it, perhaps because salmon in a more-commercial setting would have the sides having that delectable sear.
All-in-all, the Tuscan salmon was buttery tender and flavourful, and I would think some touch of garlic could give the sauce a more layered taste and aroma.
There were some operational hiccups such as long waiting time and orders missed, which I think can be eased with time, or an experienced operational manager.
With a bookshelf and piano on the side, I found the dining environment cosy, almost like having a meal at a friend’s place. Quite worthy to come actually for the experience.
Orange & Teal Café
35 Rochester Drive, #02-12 Rochester Mall, Singapore 138639
Opening Hours: 11am – 9pm (Tues – Thurs, Sun), 11am – 10pm (Sat – Sun), Closed Mon
Orange & Teal Café – Homely Cafe By Chee Soon Juan Serves Up Creamy Butter Tuscan Salmon And Delicious Spam Fries
Politics aside from this piece.
I initially did not have intention to write about Orange & Teal Café at Rochester Mall opened by Dr Chee Soon Juan, because it was well-publicised already, and priority has always been on the more hidden cafes.
However, I was asked by a number of readers to review the food, as most articles online are focused on the opening and the man behind the café, without actually trying the food (other than Mothership). Fair enough.
Just a little background: Dr Chee Soon Juan is a well-known Singaporean opposition politician who has been secretary-general of the Singapore Democratic Party (SDP), but opening a café is something not quite expected of him.
Rochester Mall is a short walk from Buona Vista MRT Station, located opposite The Star Vista.
“Where the conversation’s even better”, you would find this sentence engraved above the doorway.
Dr Chee wanted to open a place where get-togethers and discussions can take place over a meal and coffee, and has been a long-term dream of his.
I wanted to take an empty café shot, and so arrived before 11am, joined by a short queue of customers outside (but they were behind me haha).
The man himself was at the door, welcoming customers as they walked in (quite a sight really); and he didn’t stop going table to table asking ”How’s the food?” like everyone was a regular or friend.
Note that mains won’t be served till 12pm (If you are there for the mains, you got to wait around for an hour plus.)
Instead, there are the usual standard café bites of Truffles Fries ($8.90), Chicken Nuggets with Pesto Dip ($7.20), Calamari Rings with Pesto Dip ($9.20), Luncheon Sticks ($7.50), and Chowder Soup ($4.50).
There are also light pastries and cakes offered, such as Beef Pie ($5.80), Salmon Quiche ($6.90), Lava Cake & Ice Cream ($6.80), and Ondeh Ondeh Cake ($5.80).
Luncheon Sticks ($7.50) would have been known as Spam Fries in another hipster café, but they turned out to be my favourite about the café bites.
They arrived crisp and piping hot, leaving little grease on the paper below, and were cut in thick slices that were satisfying to bite into. If only they came with a dip, such as spicy garlic sriracha sauce or something.
The Beef Pie ($5.80) while nothing to shout about, had a crusty outer layer and was hot within (rather than just lukewarm compared to some other cafes).
Customers were really there for the mains, and what was offered were the Creole Jambalaya ($13.90), Poulet Roti ($12.90), Creamy Butter Tuscan Salmon ($20.80) and Succotash ($10.80). The raved-about Texas Oven Baked Beef Brisket ($18.80) was not available.
The recommended Creolo Jambalaya ($13.90) was a slight-spicy Louisiana-style dish included with shrimps, chicken sausage, rice on top of succotash.
As for the Creamy Butter Tuscan Salmon ($20.80), it had pan-seared salmon accompanied with some linguine in a creamy butter sauce topped with grated parmesan, accompanied with asparagus and baby spinach.
There was a certain homely taste about it, perhaps because salmon in a more-commercial setting would have the sides having that delectable sear.
All-in-all, the Tuscan salmon was buttery tender and flavourful, and I would think some touch of garlic could give the sauce a more layered taste and aroma.
There were some operational hiccups such as long waiting time and orders missed, which I think can be eased with time, or an experienced operational manager.
With a bookshelf and piano on the side, I found the dining environment cosy, almost like having a meal at a friend’s place. Quite worthy to come actually for the experience.
Orange & Teal Café
35 Rochester Drive, #02-12 Rochester Mall, Singapore 138639
Opening Hours: 11am – 9pm (Tues – Thurs, Sun), 11am – 10pm (Sat – Sun), Closed Mon
- Joined
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I think its a good idea to give tips instead of pay service charge
09/07/2021
in Comments, Current Affairs
Reading Time: 3 mins read
4
Dr Chee Soon Juan’s café, Orange & Teal, does not levy the usual 10 per cent service charge or even GST to customers as they want their staff to be “adequately compensated financially”.
In a Facebook post on Friday (9 July), the Singapore Democratic Party (SDP) secretary-general noted that while many establishments choose to levy those charges – and are entitled to – many do not give those charges to their staff.
“But rather than make you pay 10% more on your bill, I’d rather you leave a tip for the servers (there’s a thank-you box at the cashier’s) if you find the service and food a pleasant enough experience,” he explained, adding that the money is also shared with the kitchen crew.
Drawing a lesson from this scenario, the veteran politician highlighted that he has always championed for workers to be paid more.
Dr Chee asked, “If our Ministers know how to take care of themselves with kingly salaries, why can’t our workers have an equitable share of the pie?”
“When you pay our workers low, they are demoralised, unmotivated and unproductive,” he cautioned.
“The government then uses this as an excuse to criticise Singaporean workers and hire foreigners. This has stoked the current debate about CECA which breeds resentment among Singaporeans.”
Dr Chee went on to say that leaders in business and politics make sacrifices and pay their rank-and-file well, as well as care for the well-being of those they lead.
“They lead from the front, by example and in deed, not just words. They motivate, they inspire, they bring out the best in people,” he remarked.
“I want to get this model right and with your support, I’m confident we’ll achieve it at Orange & Teal.”
One person said that they know of another eatery that does the same.
However, there were a few people who preferred an upfront service charge instead of tipping, with the caveat that the 10 per cent service charge should be directly attributed to the staff.
Meanwhile, many others also spoke about the harsh reality of service charges, stating that they typically never make it into the pockets of the employees but rather are channeled into the company coiffeurs.
One person suggested that it should be made compulsory for companies to pay the service charge profit to employees.
Dr Chee Soon Juan’s Orange & Teal eatery doesn’t levy service charge; encourages satisfied customers to tip
by The Online Citizen09/07/2021
in Comments, Current Affairs
Reading Time: 3 mins read
4
Dr Chee Soon Juan’s café, Orange & Teal, does not levy the usual 10 per cent service charge or even GST to customers as they want their staff to be “adequately compensated financially”.
In a Facebook post on Friday (9 July), the Singapore Democratic Party (SDP) secretary-general noted that while many establishments choose to levy those charges – and are entitled to – many do not give those charges to their staff.
“But rather than make you pay 10% more on your bill, I’d rather you leave a tip for the servers (there’s a thank-you box at the cashier’s) if you find the service and food a pleasant enough experience,” he explained, adding that the money is also shared with the kitchen crew.
Drawing a lesson from this scenario, the veteran politician highlighted that he has always championed for workers to be paid more.
Dr Chee asked, “If our Ministers know how to take care of themselves with kingly salaries, why can’t our workers have an equitable share of the pie?”
“When you pay our workers low, they are demoralised, unmotivated and unproductive,” he cautioned.
“The government then uses this as an excuse to criticise Singaporean workers and hire foreigners. This has stoked the current debate about CECA which breeds resentment among Singaporeans.”
Dr Chee went on to say that leaders in business and politics make sacrifices and pay their rank-and-file well, as well as care for the well-being of those they lead.
“They lead from the front, by example and in deed, not just words. They motivate, they inspire, they bring out the best in people,” he remarked.
“I want to get this model right and with your support, I’m confident we’ll achieve it at Orange & Teal.”
Netizens express their support and agreement to Dr Chee’s approach
At the time of writing, Dr Chee’s post has received over 300 comments, with a handful of netizens expressing their support and agreement to the approach taken at Orange & Teal with regards to service charge and tipping.
One person said that they know of another eatery that does the same.
However, there were a few people who preferred an upfront service charge instead of tipping, with the caveat that the 10 per cent service charge should be directly attributed to the staff.
Meanwhile, many others also spoke about the harsh reality of service charges, stating that they typically never make it into the pockets of the employees but rather are channeled into the company coiffeurs.
One person suggested that it should be made compulsory for companies to pay the service charge profit to employees.
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Chee Soon Juan says he’d like Chan Chun Sing to come over to Orange & Teal for lunch
You don’t have to be of a certain political stance to come here and eat. Just enter, he said.
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AUTHOR
Anna Maria Romero
DATE
July 8, 2021
CATEGORY
Home NewsSG Politics
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Singapore — In a recent interview, longtime opposition politician turned restaurateur Chee Soon Juan was asked if any of the leaders from the ruling party have visited Orange & Teal, his newly-opened café.
Dr Chee is the secretary-general of the Singapore Democratic Party and a longtime critic of the ruling People’s Action Party.
Since he has outspokenly called out the PAP for over two decades, having a meal with Mr Chan, one of its staunchest defenders, would be very surprising indeed.
Dr Chee announced last month that he would be opening Orange & Teal at Rochester Mall in Buona Vista, which began operations on June 25.
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He said in a Facebook post that he and his wife Huang Chih-Mei had “been working on it for the past several months and it’s finally coming to fruition,” adding that it’s been a long-term dream of theirs to have a place for people to come together and to get together.
“To be perfectly honest, I’m not a businessman. I never was and I don’t think I will ever be. But I’ve always wanted to start a social enterprise of sorts to support causes close to my heart. I’ll talk about this including the vision of this venture another day”, Dr Chee wrote on June 21.
A week later, he posted again about his realisation of the hardships Food and Beverage establishment operators face, calling working in the industry “a gruelling endeavour with little margin for error.”
One factor that makes survival difficult is high rental rates. And what adds insult to injury for the longtime politician is that many of the properties where F&B establishments rent are owned by the government.
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“The disappointing fact is that many of these properties are owned by our own government. Mapletree, JTC, Surbana, etc own malls and industrial buildings. They set the rent,” he wrote.
In an interview with Rice Media, published on Wednesday, July 7, Sean Lim wrote about how hands-on Dr Chee is in the front end of Orange & Teal, taking orders and talking to customers.
The idea of starting the café took shape after last year’s elections. And while Rochester Mall was not their first choice of venue, it proved to be the most accommodating.
Dr Chee said that other malls “didn’t want to do business” with them.
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His dream for Orange & Teal is not a political one, he just wants people to come in and enjoy good conversations together.
He also underlined that everyone is welcome. “You don’t have to be of a certain political stance to come here and eat. Just enter,” he told Rice Media, hence the invitation to the Education Minister.
It’s not only Dr Chee and his wife who are involved with running the café, as the couple’s three adult children, An Lyn, E Lyn and Shaw Hur, are also taking part in helping out their parents to run it.But his involvement in Orange & Teal does not mean he has turned his back on public service. Last week he was on the ground at Bukit Batok again, checking on some lamp posts after a resident had complained concerning dangerous wires. /TISG
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CSJ asks customers to his cafe to give tips for the servers and the kitchen crew. No service charge and GST.
For those who’ve come to Orange & Teal, you may have noticed that we haven’t levied the usual 10% service charge. (Neither do we charge GST.)
Many establishments do it – and they are entitled to it. But many also do not give these charges to the staff. I highlight this because at Orange & Teal, we want our staff to be adequately compensated financially. To say they’ve worked hard is an understatement.
But rather than make you pay 10% more on your bill, I’d rather you leave a tip for the servers (there’s a thank-you box at the cashier’s) if you find the service and food a pleasant enough experience. The money is shared with our kitchen crew.
If you’ve followed my politics all these years, you would know that I have always argued for our workers to be paid more. If our Ministers know how to take care of themselves with kingly salaries, why can’t our workers have an equitable share of the pie?
When you pay our workers low, they are demoralised, unmotivated and unproductive. The government then uses this as an excuse to criticise Singaporean workers and hire foreigners.
This has stoked the current debate about CECA which breeds resentment among Singaporeans.
Leaders, whether in business or politics, make sacrifices and pay their rank-and-file well; care for the wellbeing and welfare for those they lead. They lead from the front, by example, and in deed, not just words. They motivate, they inspire, they bring out the best in people.
I want to get this model right and with your support, I’m confident we’ll achieve it at Orange & Teal.
Chee Soon Juan 徐顺全
11 hrs ·For those who’ve come to Orange & Teal, you may have noticed that we haven’t levied the usual 10% service charge. (Neither do we charge GST.)
Many establishments do it – and they are entitled to it. But many also do not give these charges to the staff. I highlight this because at Orange & Teal, we want our staff to be adequately compensated financially. To say they’ve worked hard is an understatement.
But rather than make you pay 10% more on your bill, I’d rather you leave a tip for the servers (there’s a thank-you box at the cashier’s) if you find the service and food a pleasant enough experience. The money is shared with our kitchen crew.
If you’ve followed my politics all these years, you would know that I have always argued for our workers to be paid more. If our Ministers know how to take care of themselves with kingly salaries, why can’t our workers have an equitable share of the pie?
When you pay our workers low, they are demoralised, unmotivated and unproductive. The government then uses this as an excuse to criticise Singaporean workers and hire foreigners.
This has stoked the current debate about CECA which breeds resentment among Singaporeans.
Leaders, whether in business or politics, make sacrifices and pay their rank-and-file well; care for the wellbeing and welfare for those they lead. They lead from the front, by example, and in deed, not just words. They motivate, they inspire, they bring out the best in people.
I want to get this model right and with your support, I’m confident we’ll achieve it at Orange & Teal.
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Dear JohnTan
If you are not happy with your pay, please complain directly to CSJ.
Any famous faces at the cafe?
SDP chairman Paul Tambyah was there for lunch.Former SDP election candidate John Tan, who ran in Marsiling-Yew Tee GRC in 2015, was in an apron in the kitchen.
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Than u should go...u will save heaps as no gst n ++++ garbage n u don't tip...so yr meal is cheaperer
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He is already there, working in the kitchen.
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I've advised Bro Chun Sing not to go. It's a trap! There could be oppies waiting in ambush, and the food might not be safe for him. You don't know what extra ingredients the oppies might add to Bro Chun Sing's food.
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