[Post 1131] “Come Eat, Before It Disappears”: The Hawkers Fighting To Save Our Heritage Food | New Stirrings

Summary

In Episode 1 of New Stirrings: Dining Halls of a Nation, we explore Singapore’s hawker culture through heartfelt stories of veteran hawkers and their successors, revealing the sacrifices, pride, and purpose that have shaped the trade. We meet three sisters preserving rare Hakka recipes, a 27-year-old hawker reinventing a beloved Malay heritage dish, and the lone custodian of a fading Eurasian classic. 

The episode also spotlights next-generation hawkers like Cornelius Tan, who see hawking as a vocation rather than a job. Across the island, a humble economy rice stall feeds its community and entrepreneurs navigating rent hikes and changing tastes. This episode celebrates both preservation and change, honouring the people who continue to keep the hawker trade alive.