Singapore, January 10, 2010
FISH
Who: Mr Teo Chwee Heng (above right), 48, and Mr Teo Chwee Hock (left), 52
What: Fish stall (no name)
Where: Empress Market, 7 Empress Road, 01-12, open: 6 to 11.30am (Tuesdays to Sundays), closed on Mondays
Chef Christopher Tung thinks that his fishmonger looks like Jackie Chan and jokes about his “gongfu skills’’ in filleting and descaling fish.
The 38-year-old chef, who teaches Italian cuisine at cooking school Palate Sensations, has been going to the Teo brothers for more than a year to buy fish for his cooking classes and family meals.
He likes their friendly service – the Teos recommend what fish is suitable for the dishes he wants to cook. “I can also order my fish in advance and they will have it prepared for me, filleted or descaled.”
It is easy to spot the brightly lit stall in the market – just head for the biggest fish stall with its neat displays of spotted garoupa, salmon, cod fish and squid. There are always customers hovering around it.
The brothers took over the business from their father 30 years ago and get their catch from the Jurong Fishery Port between midnight and 1am every day.
Chwee Heng says: “We always make sure our fish is fresh. If it’s not, we’ll tell the customers.”
Who: Mr Tong Kim Soon (above), 61
What: Fish and seafood stall (no name)
Where: Block 504, Tampines Central 1 Market, 01-327, open: 7am to 7pm daily
Every morning, Mr Tong will head to the wholesale fish market in Jurong to hand-pick fish and seafood to sell at his stall in Tampines. The 12-year-old stall is small yet very popular with residents in the area.
He sells squid, prawns in many sizes and a number of fish varieties. Marina Mandarin hotel’s executive chef Tony Khoo, 54, has been patronising the stall for more than 10 years. He moved into the neighbourhood about 15 years ago and had chanced upon the stall.
Over the years, Chef Khoo has developed a strong relationship with his fishmonger and does not buy fish from other stalls. He says: “I feel assured of the quality and freshness of what I buy for my family when I buy from him.”
Guide to the best stalls:
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| Guide to the best stalls: Fruits |
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| Guide to the best stalls: Vegetables |
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| Guide to the best stalls: Meat |
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| Guide to the best stalls: Tofu & Noodles |
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| Guide to the best stalls: Spices |
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| Guide to the best stalls: Eggs |
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