Flavours Through Generation
“Eh, u free?”
“why leh”
“jom gi Geylang”
“I want to eat and Geylang got a lot of food to choose.”
How are we gen z’s preserving the culture and food aspect of Geylang Serai?
Geylang Serai has created stories and memories for everyone. Food plays an important role because everyone loves food. Certain food and places holds deep nostalgia and brings kiddy memories we forgotten. The vibes at Geylang serai holds a strong sense of community.
The decor and architecture screams kampung vibes, from the colourful floral shophouses along Joo Chiat to the Kampong house-inspired at the serai market. Decorative accents all over the building like wayang-kulit puppets and the traditional colourful wau. At night the road is filled with lampu lap-lip.
Below the food hall also have Mr Teh Tarik, a place well-known to get other cuisines. Geylang Serai food holds authenticity and community, it’s a great place to hang out after your prayers, to get lunch or just to feel the experience.
The choices of food will spoil you and the drinks are so nostalgic, the kueh are nostalgic, everything is about nostalgia! Why kill a heritage or innovate the idea when you can preserve and appreciate. Not only is this about the Malay community. Chinese, Indians, Eurasians and all the mix on the spectrum alike are also welcome to taste the heart of Geylang Serai a.k.a the food. I swear everything works for everyone’s taste buds. From sweets to savoury. Hearing the vendors warm cheerful spirit makes me believe there is hope for the younger generation to learn about a different type of culture… besides pop and memes.
House of Gandos?
More like House of Mothers cause they are serving. The aunties manning the stall was so bring and cheerful and confident. Their high spirits definitely brought up ours and made us for keen on learning about their products.“No one else sells kuih Gandos in Singapore” quoted by Madam Jaleha from House of Gandos. The aunties shared how their kuihs are still loved by both old and young customers. It’s tasty to snack on and have for Hari Raya. This store has been running since 1965 by 3 sisters.
They also offer traditional kuehs and delights such as Suji, JongKong and bubur som-som at affordable prices. Madam Jaleha’s positive attitude doing the interview made us only more intrigued to learn about the business and history.
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Cendol at Geylang Serai... an icon as many of us know has been around for a long time! Like many of the businesses here it has been a family own biz and pass through generations. They specialise in Cendol but also offer other varieties of jellies.
Puan Eliza also shared that starting a food business comes tough responsibilities. We must always think twice before committing to this idea. In this age, I don't think gen z's think twice or even can even commit.
Kebab Tornado is a hawker centre gem, the kuih are not too sweet and originally made by the auntie! The store has been in business for many years.
Mr Khalid, the stall owner, told me that Kebab Tornado was created because he noticed not many other stores sold kebabs. So he specialised in making kebabs and selling Kueh Talam Asli as well. He also runs the stall with his wife who makes the sweet treats.
`Interview
With y2k, vintage fashion and reminiscing on old memories, they all have nostalgia embedded with them. Suaidil, one of the patrons at Geylang Serai, shared a lot of old memories about when he was younger and visiting the eateries with his family.
An in-depth off record interview, I notice how a lot of customers patronise certain stalls. So I asked him what's so dear about a specific stall? He replied "I don't live far away but I'm not always free either, any chance I have to enjoy this meal, I'll take it. My family have been friends with the owner for a long time, the owner seen me grow up to the man I am today. I call it nostalgia."Harish is a briyani lover. He also loves satay and soup at Geylang Serai. He also pointed out the newer architecture and how there are a lot more shops. He also believes gen z's are capable to uphold these traditions. hopeful I'd say.
"As a kid, I often find that the dishes carry more than flavour, they carry memories. A warm bowl of kacang pool can suddenly pull me back to the time my grandma would bring me to lunch. Even the simplest bread, freshly torn, reminds me of family gatherings. Geylang Serai also reminds me of times with my friends when we use to visit the tattoo parlour nearby".
So friends as you see, cultural heritage and location hold significant valuable memories. Conserving these landmarks allow us to teach the upcoming generations about how our country has evolved.
In conclusion, we learned that food creates and hold valuable memories, it's family business from generations feel so meaningful. Everyone had different backgrounds to start off and where they are now feels so uniting, truly kampong spirits for real. Glad to open up this side of Geylang Serai and able to dive deep into its culture.
Story by: Ada, Nicky, Seline, Nazrul & Abinaya