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It’s disheartening to hear people talk about the impending extinction of our local hawker industry, with a growing number of old hawkers retiring and their children unwilling to take over the business. At times like these, new stalls like Meat & Rice, which just opened at ABC Brickworks Market & Food Centre, offer a glimmer of hope, even if its a small one.
First-time hawker friends Wei Jie and Xavier, both 29, are passionate about food. The former was innately a chef while the latter has a background in sales and inherited cooking skills from his dad. The duo wanted to develop a recipe that was both delicious and convenient.
Wei Jie and Xavier initially didn’t have the funds to start a stall. Instead, they began as a home-based business, operating from a HDB unit in Bukit Purmei.
During that period, they put in the effort to tweak and improve their recipe. They received positive reviews from several offices that ordered from them.
Rather than offering a wide menu, they chose to perfect a few select dishes (2 to be exact). The Kongbapeng (S$6.50) was inspired by Xavier’s dad, who was awakened one night by the aroma of the braised sauce Xavier was experimenting with. Xavier’s dad put his own spin on his father’s classic Hainanese recipe, creating a new and improved version.
The chopped pork belly is braised for over 16 hours and rests on a bed of Japanese rice, complemented with an onsen egg, salted veggies, fried tau kee and garnished with black and white specks of sesame seeds.
As for the Duckpeng (S$7), duck breast is utilised and undergoes a marination of at least 24 hours for a full-on punch of flavour. It is then sous vide for an hour before getting charred for an extra layer of fragrance and taste.
Xavier and Wei Jie’s current goal for the future is to expand their repertoire of dishes, but for now, they will work hard to ensure that each bowl is of the highest quality. If you’re around the Bukit Merah area, why not swing by and pay Meat & Rice a visit?
