This is the page for the month of Junefrom the ATC calendar 2009...Our Heritage, Our Home.
That is a photo of the old LIM TUA TOW market, definitely one of the most famous of its time...especially in the 60's where there were up to 500 stalls!
There were also many foodstalls ranging from the famous Chye Tow Kueh and the equally famous "original" Hokkien Mee. They were doing so well they sell right into the late night. My family and I ate there often. I still remember that there was a special feature story in the S Times about the "Original" Hokkien Mee...that appeared in the 80's. If I can recollect the main story..it went like this: Sometime in the 1930's, a Hokkien man started frying his special style of mee ( Hokkien mee) and it tasted so good it became an instant hit. He had only one stall located at Upper Bukit Timah area, near Beauty World. After the War, he continued his thriving business with his young stall assistants. However, before he passed away, he had passed on his original Hokkien mee secrets to his faithful assistants. There were 3 of them, plus his own family who knew how to fry it the right way. All the original 3 young Hokkien mee disciples soon started their very own stalls...preparing the the mee the same way their "sifu"(master) had taught them. All 3 continued selling even to the 90's. Where were they located? Those of you who are genuine,die hard Hokkien mee lovers and around my age may know at least 2 of the original disciple:-
1. Used to be located along Serangoon Road, just before Balestier Road/ Lavender Street junction. This "apek" has polio in one leg, and his son assisting him strangely also suffered from
the same problem. I was his long-time customer...since the 60's and gave him the nickname "OPIUM" which stuck. When "apek" died, his son took over. He used charcoal for fire and the "umpeh" leaf for wrapping. There was always a very long queue of luxury cars and an even longer queue of people waiting for his heavenly fare.
2. The 2nd disciple was our very own Lim Tua Tow Hokkien Mee! Some of you may still recall the 'apek"frying in similar style as "Opium", using the same "umpeh" leaf.
3. The 3rd was at Beauty World area.
Why was their Hokkien mee so, so, mouth-watering good?
The secret was in the special stock they prepared and the way they used the wooden cover over
the "kuali". They took their time too despite many customers waiting. And they were very generous with the ingredients...prawn, sotong, pork, garlic, egg, fresh chilli, sambal....
Today's Hokkien mee ...NONE have come close to those original masters!
Where are they today? They seem to have vanished unless someone can tell me differently.
The locals also call this Lim Tua Tow area " 5th Milestone ".
unk Dicko
Posts
Can buy us some one of these MPS nights?
ReplyDeleteBuying Hokkien mee...no problem lah.
ReplyDeleteBut buying the "Original" Hokkien mee would be difficult. Where are they operating from today..I am not certain.
In truth, I have not tasted the Original fare since Lim Tua Tow market closed and the one at Serangoon( OPIUM ) disappeared from the scene.
Hi Unk Dicko, I am in my mid-30s and grew up in the Lim Tua Tow road village (current Serangoon Stadium). I still remember vividly the hokkien mee wrapped in the leaves that my uncles used to buy from that market. Really brings back lots of memories I had of my childhood. By the way, I am very interested in collecting old photos of that neighbourhood. Are there any archives from which you took those photos from?
ReplyDeleteHi Kovan,
ReplyDeleteThank you for your most interesting feedback. I am certainly glad that at least you are one of those who like me, had actually enjoyed that mouth-watering hokkien mee.
If you are looking for old photos of Hougang and its surroundings, you can try checking out with the Hougang/Kovan CC or the Hougang Town Council office. They had previously organised a "heritage and historical" photo contest/exhibition for the residents not too long ago.
Hey Hi,
ReplyDeleteThis is a long shot. But are you familiar with a coffee shop near Lim Tua Tow Market which used to open like around 3am in the morning with an elderly lady making prawn / minced pork noodles ? I've been dreaming about her prawn / minced pork noodles. But when the row of shops had to be cleared along with the market never got to see her ever again. Would you know where she rellocated to ? Thanks ,Terence
Hi Terence,
ReplyDeleteYou got it right about that stall selling minced pork noodles. They only start around or after 1 am plus. There were a few stalls all along the that portion of the 5 foot way. I've eaten there countless ,together with my wife. Food was very cheap and super good. We too, like you have missed them for years since all of them moved out or closed shop. I have absolutely no clue where they are today or even if they are still in the business. But thanks for the memories..those were unforgettable nights !