16-4-2024 (SINGAPORE) In a delightful culinary odyssey, New Zealand Prime Minister Christopher Luxon found himself immersed in the vibrant flavours of Singapore’s famed hawker scene during his official visit to the Lion City. Leading the gastronomic adventure was none other than local content creator Aiken Chia, who eagerly shared the experience on social media, capturing the essence of Singapore’s diverse and mouth-watering offerings.
Chia, a 35-year-old youtuber, took to Instagram this morning (April 16) to reveal that he had woken up at the early hour of 6.44 am to “have breakfast with someone special” – a guest who turned out to be the esteemed Prime Minister of New Zealand himself.
Chia confessed that the anticipation leading up to the culinary rendezvous was palpable, as he and his team found themselves waking up “at several points through the night” to ensure they didn’t oversleep and miss the opportunity. “It didn’t hit me that this was real till we sat down and started rolling, and I started perspiring because of the adrenaline and humidity!” he added, capturing the exhilaration of the moment.
The culinary expedition unfolded at the iconic Maxwell Food Centre, where Chia curated a carefully selected array of local delicacies to showcase the diverse flavours that Singapore has to offer. From the aromatic mee pok from Hock Lai Seng Teochew Fishball to the tantalizing puthu mayam and appam from Mr Appam, and the beloved kaya toast and teh c from Coffee Queen, Luxon had the opportunity to savour the melting pot of flavours that define Singapore’s culinary landscape.
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Chia meticulously handpicked the dishes himself, aiming to highlight the “localised” nuances that make Singapore’s cuisine truly unique, such as the pandan-flavoured appam. And it was this very dish that emerged as Luxon’s favourite, with Chia praising its “sour notes, thin crispy edges for texture and sweetness from the sugar.”
Chia also made a point to spotlight Hock Lai Seng Teochew Fishball, a stall run by a 23-year-old “hawkerpreneur” named Marvin Kan, who continues his family’s legacy as a fourth-generation hawker. “I wanted to highlight this stall, which is run by a 23-year-old young hawkerpreneur who makes a delicious legitimate bowl of bak chor mee,” Chia remarked, shining a light on the vibrant hawker culture and the entrepreneurial spirit it fosters.
The Prime Minister himself took to Instagram to share his appreciation for the culinary adventure, describing the experience of eating at a hawker centre with Chia as the “perfect way to start the day in Singapore.”
In response, Chia commented, “Thanks for eating local with me, Prime Minister!” – a sentiment that encapsulates the essence of this cross-cultural exchange, where the flavours of Singapore’s diverse culinary tapestry were shared and savoured with a foreign leader, fostering a deeper understanding and appreciation of the country’s rich gastronomic heritage.
