Hawkers cautious about sharing "trade secrets" at proposed training institute
By Olivia Siong
POSTED: 07 Apr 2013 6:22 PM
We've often heard of "makan" or food places in Singapore that got "lost" and was never found again. Thus, some have floated the idea of opening a training institute for retiring hawkers, to impart their knowledge to younger aspiring ones. However, some hawkers said they have their reservations.
SINGAPORE: Hawker centres are part and parcel of everyday life in Singapore -- and the government has announced it will be rolling out 10 new centres by 2017. However, there are several key challenges -- like finding enough Singaporeans who are game for the job, and for retiring hawkers to pass on their know-how to younger, aspiring hawkers.
Some have suggested opening a training institute to do this, but this has drawn mixed reactions from hawkers.
Hawker Gina Rajan, who runs Gina's Vadai, said: "Not everyone wants to leak out their secret recipe, impossible."
Normohanif Mohamed Noor from Haniff Authentic Nasi Lemak, said: "Basically if it's just to teach, then yes. But normally for trade secrets, I don't think that people will really teach that."
Younger hawkers too expressed similar sentiments.
25-year-old Daniel Surendran, who sells Putu Mayam at hawker stall Heavens, said: "If you ask me do I actually want to pass (the knowledge) to someone, I'll be very afraid. Is that person just doing it for business? Or do they really have the love and the passion for the food? When I pass over something like that, (I hope) the quality is retained or if not made better."
Food critic and founder of Singapore food guide Makansutra, KF Seetoh told MediaCorp that it is more than just gaining the secret recipes of hawkers.
He said: "They're not teachers... And if you ask some of these hawkers to release some of their family jewels, (it is as good as asking) Warren Buffet to give you his pin number because he is retiring as well."
Head of the hawker centre public consultation panel, Elim Chew, said there will need to be demand for people to bite.
She said: "I believe when there's enough of an outcry, when people say, 'look, we want to be able to learn how to cook all these dishes in the hawker centres.' Then, I believe the training centre will happen, (together with the) whole entire business chain."
Such plans have become food for thought, as the government waits to see how Singaporeans respond to such opportunities.
- CNA/ac
By Olivia Siong
POSTED: 07 Apr 2013 6:22 PM
We've often heard of "makan" or food places in Singapore that got "lost" and was never found again. Thus, some have floated the idea of opening a training institute for retiring hawkers, to impart their knowledge to younger aspiring ones. However, some hawkers said they have their reservations.
SINGAPORE: Hawker centres are part and parcel of everyday life in Singapore -- and the government has announced it will be rolling out 10 new centres by 2017. However, there are several key challenges -- like finding enough Singaporeans who are game for the job, and for retiring hawkers to pass on their know-how to younger, aspiring hawkers.
Some have suggested opening a training institute to do this, but this has drawn mixed reactions from hawkers.
Hawker Gina Rajan, who runs Gina's Vadai, said: "Not everyone wants to leak out their secret recipe, impossible."
Normohanif Mohamed Noor from Haniff Authentic Nasi Lemak, said: "Basically if it's just to teach, then yes. But normally for trade secrets, I don't think that people will really teach that."
Younger hawkers too expressed similar sentiments.
25-year-old Daniel Surendran, who sells Putu Mayam at hawker stall Heavens, said: "If you ask me do I actually want to pass (the knowledge) to someone, I'll be very afraid. Is that person just doing it for business? Or do they really have the love and the passion for the food? When I pass over something like that, (I hope) the quality is retained or if not made better."
Food critic and founder of Singapore food guide Makansutra, KF Seetoh told MediaCorp that it is more than just gaining the secret recipes of hawkers.
He said: "They're not teachers... And if you ask some of these hawkers to release some of their family jewels, (it is as good as asking) Warren Buffet to give you his pin number because he is retiring as well."
Head of the hawker centre public consultation panel, Elim Chew, said there will need to be demand for people to bite.
She said: "I believe when there's enough of an outcry, when people say, 'look, we want to be able to learn how to cook all these dishes in the hawker centres.' Then, I believe the training centre will happen, (together with the) whole entire business chain."
Such plans have become food for thought, as the government waits to see how Singaporeans respond to such opportunities.
- CNA/ac
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