Chui Huay Lim Teochew Cuisine
Do you know what ''Chui Huay Lim" or 醉 花 林 means? It literally means ''Drunk Flower Forest''. I am not a flower expert but I do no think there are any flowers called drunken flower but rather it could have been a name that was apt a the time this club was formed 170 years ago and now Chui Huay Lim Toechew Cuisine has been housed here. It was established in 1845 and has a rich history and was originally set up for Teochew businessmen to engage in business networking and other recreational activities. 1845 means during the period of the Qing Dynasty so this is one of Singapore's oldest clubs. Some called it the Teochew Gentlemen's Club. The Teochew increased in numbers and became more prosperous and have more social engagements. I read that it was founded by one Tan Cheng Bao but with his passing in 1879, ten members donated $400 each to make a total of $4000 to purchase the land. Now I could afford $400 but those days $400 must have been like w...