www.Go To The Mountain - Musings of a Potential Guru

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...

Humans are fortunate that we are at the very top of the food chain. When you are on top in any situation, remember that you have to act very responsibly because you have the power to change, sustain or create things. Equally you could also destroy like Luke Skywalker who went to the dark side. Certain things can even happen due to unintended results. High rental, lack of manpower, business owners or chef retiring, etc. have recently been happening everywhere. What I have lamented and feared some 4-5 years ago has been coming true. Nothing lasts forever, so saviour the moment.  Like when it comes to food, to me all culture have great food. It is the most important and interesting they can be cooked in so many ways and fashion. The Chinese themselves can make their food as different as their dialects. Cantonese, Hokkien, Teochew, Hainanese, Hakka, etc.  If you remember the famous Teochew "Swatow'' Restaurant, you are in my league. There were so many fond memorie...