Our Singabites tours are not just about the food. They are also about the characters that make the food and shape the food culture in Singapore.
In an old shop house on Joo Chiat road, Michael Ker splats a circle of popiah skin paste on 4 hot plates, one by one. Each circle is as perfect as the last, the right dimensions, the perfect thinness. After 10 seconds or so they are ready and stacked up for customers to buy. In 1938 Michael’s grandfather began the exact same process in the exact same spot.
 
Kway Guan Huat Popiah has been in business for almost 80 years now. If you haven’t tried popiah yet, book one of our tours. The easiest way to explain them is they are the Singapore answer to a fresh spring roll. They are the oldest popiah skin maker in Singapore and have used the same recipe since the beginning. A simple mixture of flour, salt and yeast has kept the locals coming back for years. It’s often the simple things on our tours that the guests enjoy the most.
 
Our tours always like to tell personal stories. Michael’s story is a bit different to many young men his age. Like his classmates at school Michael worked hard. He gained his grades and studied at university. After 5 years of pharmaceutical studies Michael became a full time pharmacist. He was making good money and leading the life he wanted to lead, or was he?
 
How many of us would give up a 10 year career plus 5 years of study to go and make popiah skin in an old shop house with your family? I’m willing to bet that few people reading this would, but Michael has. He’s taken his families skills and carried them into his generation. He’s given hope to his family that their business will keep going and even grow. Our food tours will always support local food heroes like Michael.
 
Tiger beer has recently promoted Singapore heritage food culture. Michael and the team at Kway Guan Huat went to New York. Tiger used them to promote their beer to consumers in the big apple. A few years back the team were flown to Copenhagen. Where they showed their popiah skin making skills. Potential Danish tours to Singapore loved the show. The fact that they are a Singapore heritage food family can be better used to their advantage in the future.
 
To learn more about Singapore food heroes come and join one of our food tours. All you need to do is go to www.singabites.com and book your tour.