Should there be a new “Orchard Hawker Centre” as part of the plans to revive Orchard Road? That was what I discussed with a few remaining hawkers who were once at the defunct Orchard Road carpark group (from 1966 to 1978, where Orchard Central now sits). Everything in that once shiny shopping belt lacks “Singaporean-ness” – you can hardly hear Singlish and there is no true local hawker centre. The late Anthony Bourdain called Singapore “the best street food city in the world” in his interview with talk show host David Letterman. Local food is iconic. I feel we should have a “best of the best” hawker centre in Orchard just like what was attempted with the defunct Rasa Sayang hawkers at Tanglin. What better way for a visitor to have a meal that adds to the travel experience and is unique to this food-mad city?... Continue Reading