Tuck into Roxy Laksa at Timbre+

Six months after opening at hip hawker centre Timbre+ at one-north, chef Damian D'Silva has closed his eponymous stall.

On the closure, the Eurasian chef, 60, would only say that he needs to spend more time with his mother, and also cites manpower issues as a problem which has left him with "no other choice".

Known for his Singapore heritage cuisine, D'Silva's stall served dishes such as Hakka fried pork; nasi lemak; Lim Peh slider, where non-spicy beef rendang is stuffed in flaky pastry; and Kai Fan, where rice is cooked in chicken broth and topped with chicken, lup cheong and char siew.

Before opening at Timbre+, he used to run now-defunct restaurants such as Immigrants Gastrobar in Joo Chiat and Soul Kitchen in Purvis Street, as well as a pop-up stall selling Asian-style mini burgers called South East Sliders.

Timbre+ declines to reveal the next hawker who will take over D'Silva's stall.

Instead, taking up another hawker space is the popular Roxy Laksa, which will move from East Coast Lagoon Food Village to Timbre+ next month.

For this opening, Roxy Laksa owner Lim Swee Heng and his wife have partnered with Wild Rocket chef Willin Low as their "successor". Low, 43, who has been learning the recipe from them, says that Mr Lim's children do not want to take over the business.

He says: "We have been talking about this for two years, about how the brand will go forward and how to make the business scaleable. If I can succeed, then even if they choose to give up the business eventually, their laksa will still live on."

The 24,000 sq ft Timbre+ houses young hipster hawkers alongside old-timers. Offerings include Spanish tapas and paella from Portico Platos, casual French fare from Garcons and fishball noodles from The Fishball Story.

The industrial-chic food hall opened in April and is owned by the Timbre Group, which also runs music festivals and live music spots at The Substation, The Arts House and Gillman Barracks.

•Timbre+, at JTC LaunchPad @ one-north, 73A Ayer Rajah Crescent, is open from 6am to midnight (Monday to Thursday) and 6 to 1am (Friday and Saturday). It is closed on Sunday. Go to www.facebook.com/timbreplus or www.timbreplus.sg

This article was first published on Oct 10, 2016.
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