Behind the taste of Fengshan
It began with a post on Instagram — just one of millions posted on the photo-sharing app to be based on food.
The caption? "The taste of Fengshan - heavenly! #reasonstowin "
That post by Workers' Party chairman, Ms Sylvia Lim thrust a humble stall selling oyster omelette in Fengshan Market and Food Centre into the national spotlight.
That one post launched speculation that Ms Lim may be fielded in the single-member constituency of Fengshan.
The next day, Deputy Prime Minister Teo Chee Hean, took aim at Workers' Party handling of Aljunied-Hougang-Punggol East Town Council (AHPETC) and Ms Lim's post.
"Now we see the chairman of the town council saying that Fengshan SMC looks quite delicious. What's going to happen? You're going to swallow up Fengshan? For what purpose? To serve the residents of Fengshan? Or is Fengshan delicious because you want to add it to the pot? And help the town council with the deficit?"
- Deputy Prime Minister Teo Chee Hean
But what of the stall itself. TNP.SG went to Fengshan Centre at 85 Bedok North Street 4 to find out who made the "heavenly" omelette.
The stall is owned by Madam Annie Tan.
While the 52-year-old has been been running the stall for close to 15 years, the oyster omelettes were not always part of her menu.
The recipe was "inherited" from fellow hawker who died seven years ago.
Not confident in English, Madam Tan tasked her cook, Mr Goh Peng Huang, to talk to TNP.
Mr Goh is also the man who cooked the very dish that Ms Lim posted about.
"All I know is that she ate the dish at night and the next day, everyone was teasing me saying that she had come to eat at my stall," said Mr Goh, 54.
"I didn't know anything (at the time). I was busy cooking at the back," he added.
Mr Goh has been with the stall since is started operating in 2000.
According to Mr Goh, the recipe that their late hawker friend taught them follows the old style where they used more flour.
"Nowadays, a lot of places just use eggs, we follow the old pattern of cooking," he said.
A family who was tucking in into a large portion of the stall's oyster omelette praised the dish.
While unaware of the controversy surrounding the dish, Miss Lok. W. Y, gave the dish seven out of 10.
"This is the first time that I'm eating the dish from this stall. I find it quite delicious," said the 60-year-old account executive.
Madam Phua J. K said that the taste overcame it's "oily" appearance.
"After eating it, I have to say that it is quite nice," said the 57-year-old nurse.
Her son, Mr Lok K H, 28, also liked the omelette but felt he had to balance his review.
"These ones are OK but because of neighbourhood pride, I'm going to say that the ones at Chomp Chomp are better!" he added with a laugh.
For the workers at 01-05 Fengshan Centre, the new found fame does not affect them.
"It's nice but, at the end of the day, we will still be here cooking everyday," said Mr Goh.
Address:
Bedok North 85 Fried Oyster
#01-05 Fengshan Market & Food Centre
Blk 85 Bedok North St 4
Opening hours:
2pm-midnight
Closes every Monday or Tuesday, once a fortnight
Get The New Paper on your phone with the free TNP app. Download from the Apple App Store or Google Play Store now