NOT SO RANDOM HEARTLAND EATS: BUKIT TIMAH FOOD CENTRE - A RETURN

It was a matter of time we returned to Bukit Timah Food Centre. It's so near our office that we tend to forget about it, despite staring in our faces for years. It's a Monday evening, so some of the stalls are closed but there's still enough variety to try something different from the previous visit.

$8 for this? No, thank you.

It's been ages since I've had a hearty char kway teow, so when there's a queue, I suspected it to be good. Unfortunately, this one turned out to be a disappointment. The standard size is $5, and add $3 for extra cockles. That turned out to be a joke - the hums were so puny and the number added was negligible, such that it made hardly a difference. Frankly speaking, $8 for this was a rip-off.

Janet had a ban mian in soup, and that was not bad. The piece de resistance has to be the fried Hokkien prawn mee. I've always marveled at how these Hokkien mee people painstakingly prepare their dish and the steps they take to make it taste special. I've included some photos here, and the final dish is worth savouring over and over again.

First crack the eggs and gather the noodles.

The combo of white and yellow noodles
must be mixed properly and stir fried.

Add the sotong (squid) and prawns last.
These must not be overcooked.

Voila! That's how Hokkien prawn mee
should look and taste!
$5.50 for this is more like it.

Reminder to self: skip the char kway teow and go for Hokkien mee instead! You won't be disappointed.

BUKIT TIMAH MARKET & FOOD CENTRE

2A Jalan Seh Chuan

Singapore 599213

PEOPLE-WATCHING AT SINGAPORE CHINESE ORCHESTRA'S 30TH ANNIVERSARY DINNER & CONCERT

This is not Singapore Tatler nor Prestige, so I don't approach total strangers at high society events to take their photos and post in their society pages. Instead, I take photos of people I know and those who sat in the same table or nearby. So here are some photos of people at the glitzy ritzy Ritz-Carlton, Millennia Singapore on Sunday evening (6 September 2026) to celebrate the Singapore Chinese Orchestra's 30th anniversary. See anybody you know?

Hint: they are mostly former board members of SCO, CEOs, composers, conductors and people from the National Arts Council, past and present.

Professor Tan Huay Cheem & Patrick Goh,
former SCO board members.

Former NAC CEO Low Eng Tiong &
Former SCO Dy. Chairman Wu Hsioh Kwang.

This is my table, all music lovers.

The composers / musicologists table.
L to R: Liong Kit Yeng, Germaine Goh, Gu Wei,
Lee Ming-Yen, Chua Jon Lin & Phang Kok Jun 

Both of SCO's Associate Conductors:
Lien Boon Hua & Moses Gay

Present NAC CEO Elaine Ng &
Cultural Medallion recipiant Eric Watson.

Two of SCO's former Composers-in-Residence:
Wang Chenwei & Eric Watson

Paul Tan, CEO of Community Foundation
of Singapore, mugs for the camera.

Wang Chenwei poses with his
rare and prized traditional huqins.
So rare that the SCO borrows from him.

Conductor Dedric Wong (extreme right)
joins the fray.

Mr & Mrs Till Vestring get to grips
with the rare huqins.

With SCO Principal Conductor
Quek Ling Kiong, who is appropriately
also a percussionist. 
Do not throw away this
limited-edition SCO plushie.
It may become more valuable
than your Labubu.

SINGAPORE CHINESE ORCHESTRA 30TH ANNIVERSARY DINNER & CONCERT / Some Photographic Memories

On 6 September 2026, the Singapore Chinese Orchestra (SCO) held its 30th anniversary dinner and concert at the Grand Ballroom of the Ritz-Carlton, Millenia Singapore. It was a grand and glitzy affair befitting this historical landmark. The SCO was formed in 1996, with humble origins as the People's Association Chinese Orchestra. Today, it is acknowledged as one of the world's leading ensembles of Chinese traditional instruments.

The guest-of-honour was its founding patron Senior Minister Lee Hsien Loong, and Emeritus Senior Minister Goh Chok Tong was also in attendance. It was a rare occasion outside of National Day Parades and People's Action Party events that two living Singapore former prime ministers were present to attend. SCO has been fortunate to receive their unwavering support over the decades.

Members of SCO perform to herald
the entrance of the honoured guests.

All hail to the chief

The SCO was also at full-strength to perform a concert led by its principal conductor Quek Ling Kiong. The full programme can be found below:

SCO Chairman Ng Siew Quan
addresses the audience and salutes the musicians.

Here are photos of the seven-course Chinese dinner that was served, interspersed by the musical performances. 

SCO performs Wang Chenwei's
Lion City Rhapsody, while the composer
films soloists playing on his rare huqins.

The SCO 30th birthday cake
in the shape of a dagu (big drum).

The main courses, you only get to eat one.

SM Lee is presented the anniversary gift,
a gong, which he strikes with gusto.

Everyone sings Happy Birthday to SCO
and the cake is cut by SM Lee.

Take It Step By Step relives some of
SCO's musical triumphs,
including its 2019 Berlin debut.

There's something Freudian about these
big, juicy and succulent kiwi mochis.
Befitting the final work Hua Hao Yue Yuan
(Full Moon Blossoms).