Spotlight on hawker fare

SINGAPORE - The Command House, off Dunearn Road, was transformed into a hawker centre of sorts for one evening late last month when more than 10 hawkers set up shop on the sprawling property that was previously the official residence of the Speaker of Parliament.

On hand to sample the wares of these wok wizards, paired with wines sponsored by FairPrice Finest, were crowds of suited-up top executives. The more than 150 guests at the event hosted by UBS were there for the launch of The CEOs' Hawker Guide, a compilation of a weekly series on hawker food published in The Business Times between September last year and March this year. The series is a collaboration between The Business Times and Knight Frank.

Many guests sweated it out in the outdoor garden as they waited in line for their orders of char kway teow, roti prata, satay and carrot cake to be cooked. Those indoors tucked into bowls of laksa and servings of bak kut teh, popiah and chicken rice. And there was dessert - chendol and ice cream - to finish off the meal on a sweet note.

The evening's special guest was Minister for the Environment and Water Resources Vivian Balakrishnan who tried his hand at making teh tarik, drawing laughter from amused guests who whipped out their mobile phones for the Kodak moment.

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