Winning hawkers surprised by Michelin list

The list for the "Bib Gourmand award" winners did not just surprise us - it surprised some of the winning hawkers too.

THE FISHBALL STORY

During lunchtime, it is not unusual for Mr Douglas Ng's fishball noodle stall to be packed with a crowd.

The 25-year-old stall owner found out about the Bib Gourmand award yesterday morning after receiving a flood of notifications on his phone from his friends.

He told The New Paper: "I got a shock because I didn't expect to get recognition from Michelin.

"I believe there are other spectacular hawkers who deserve this."

CAUGHT OFF GUARD: Mr Douglas Ng from The Fishball Story (above). TNP PHOTO: ISKANDAR ROSSALI

The Fishball Story, opened by Mr Ng three years ago, was originally at Golden Mile Food Centre, but has since relocated to Timbre+, which opened in April.

The Bib Gourmand award is Mr Ng's highest accolade so far, but it is not the award that is the most important to him.

He said: "It doesn't have to be an award to make me happy. It's the customers' feedback and support that keeps me going, when they come back and say things like, 'Hey, you are doing a good job, keep it up!'"

 

 

A NOODLE STORY

TNP PHOTO: IFFAH DURRAH KAJAI

For a hawker stall that is only three years old, A Noodle Story is doing more than well.

The stall was founded in 2013 by Shatec graduates Gwern Khoo, 35, and Ben Tham, 34.

Mr Khoo, too, was surprised when he found out that his stall had been awarded the Bib Gourmand from Michelin.

They were not aware that their stall, which has only one item on the menu - Singaporean-style Ramen - had ever been visited by a Michelin food inspector.

WEDANG

PHOTO COURTESY OF MR AZMAN KAMIS

Wedang is the only establishment in the list that features Indonesian food (and, of course, satay).

When TNP went to Golden Mile Food Centre, we were surprised to find that the stall was gone.

It is now at Stall 44 at Aljunied Avenue 22, Block 117 Market and Food Centre.

Stall owner Azman Kamis, 57, later told TNP that he only found out about Wedang making the list a few minutes before we called him on the phone. He, too, did not know that a Michelin inspector had visited his stall.

NA NA CURRY

Co-owner of Na Na Curry, Madam Poh Swee Lan, 48. TNP PHOTO: ISKANDAR ROSSALI

Another food stall given the Bib Gourmand award was Na Na Curry, at Bukit Merah View Market and Food Centre. The stall belongs to a married couple - Madam Poh Swee Lan and Mr Yap Hock Hua.

The family business, which started more than 20 years ago at Marina South, belongs to Mr Yap's family and they have two other stalls, at Commonwealth and Jurong East.

Madam Poh, 48, who was nonchalant about receiving the Bib Gourmand award, tand did not even know what the Michelin Guide was.