Bayside dining for Gluttons
Foodies, rejoice. Glutton's Square has been resurrected at the Esplanade and renamed Glutton's Bay
(The Straits Times) THOSE who mourned the demise of Glutton's Square at the carpark opposite Centrepoint should rejoice.
The popular 1970s hawker food haven that was revived as part of last year's Singapore Food Festival has been relocated to the Esplanade.
Now known as Glutton's Bay, foodies will find it outdoors next to NTUC's DXO club, where it has been operating since May 14.
Open daily from 6pm to 3am, it offers diners an eyeful of the glittering lights of Shenton Way as seen across the waters of Marina Bay.
Of the 12 stalls serving up Singapore favourites, five are from Glutton's Square at Orchard Road - Boon Tat BBQ Seafood, Thye Hong Char Kway Teow, Hup Kee Oyster Omelette, Huat Huat BBQ Chicken Wings and Heng Heng Carrot Cake.
The new stalls are Old Esplanade Mee Goreng, Alhambra Padang Satay, Big Thumb Yong Tau Foo, Ho Kee Dim Sum, Fei Siong Fishball Noodle and Five Star Chicken Rice.
Prices for dishes range from $3.50 for a plate of mee goreng to $25 for two barbecued crabs.
Most of the hawkers have decades of experience and are well-known in their areas of expertise.
One of the most experienced cooks is Mr Lau Thye Chua, 68, from Hup Kee Oyster Omelette. One of the original stallholders at Glutton's Square in the 1970s, he had participated in last year's food festival.
He said in Teochew: 'I prefer this new location because it's next to the sea and the air is much fresher.'
The hawkers were specially chosen by food consultant K.F. Seetoh for the quality and authenticity of their dishes. Special consideration was also given to the right mix of hawker fare available.
Mr Seetoh, 43, the chief executive of Makansutra, said: 'The mix is important because it's things you eat for dinner and supper.'
Glutton's Bay is the brainchild of Esplanade CEO Benson Puah, who first discussed the idea with Mr Seetoh over a meal of beef kway teow at Katong over a year ago.
Mr Puah sees the street food culture as part of the national heritage that the Esplanade celebrates and should showcase.
He said: 'What we need is an outdoor heritage food centre - where people can enjoy good simple fare that is typical of Singapore, have their makan by Esplanade bay and recall the good old days.'
Glutton's Square was a hit with foodies when it re-opened opposite Centrepoint as part of the Singapore Food Festival in July last year.
Initially scheduled to be open for only a month, organiser Singapore Tourism Board extended its run till March 5 this year due to overwhelming response from the public - more than 10,000 people thronged the 900-seater Square every night when it first opened.
The original Glutton's Square of the 1970s was shut down in 1979 when the hawkers were moved to food centres for better hygiene control.
Accounts manager Helena Lim, 38, who has patronised Glutton's Square in Orchard Road as well as Glutton's Bay, approved of the latest move.
She said: 'I prefer the Esplanade location. It has a nicer ambience and the set-up is more organised. It's good for families.'
yeh.....that's good news.....i like the satay with the rare beef stomach at Orchard Road. Now can eat again.
We patronise HengHeng @ Newton regularly and although the signboard bears the same name, its nothing remotely like the real deal. Shame.Shame.Shame. What a ripoff! 