First Taste of Satay

This photo of the satay stall was contributed to PICAS courtesy of the National Archives of Singapore (NAS). It evokes me fond memories of my first encounter at about 50 years ago and its first taste of satay at the original "Satay Club" in Singapore.

I distinctly remembered it was my elder sister who brought me and her friends to a place I had never visited before. It was located beside a bus terminus and not very well lighted.

There were several "portable" satay stalls which was more crowded than the customers in this photo.

"Portable" means that the mobile stall was carried over the shoulder of the vendor with a wooden bar called "yoke" (in Cantonese), moving from place to place on foot. These "portable" stall was a common hawkers in the 1950s in Singapore.

There were 4 or 5 low wooden stools and 2 short benches. The simply constructed wooden boxes served as tables; one with a stove (mostly handmade with empty kerosene tins), sticks of uncooked satay, pieces of cucumber, onion.

Another item which goes with satay is rice cakes (ketupat) at 20 cents each, which taste great with peanut sauce.

The meat is marinated and grilled over charcoal for the best flavor. Satay is always accompanied by delicious peanut, chilli sauce. In those days, each stick costs 10 cents.

On each table was a big pot which customers dip into the gravy for everyone to share.

With every bite of each stick of satay into a mouthwater of gravy, the customers' add to the community pot of gravy for sharing and recycling. The pot of gravy would be refilled when empty. It was finger-licking goodness...using tongue and dripping with saliva from their mouth too.

I could not remember the taste of the satay, which I had forgotten after so many years ago. But the first experience at the original "Satay Club" at Beach Road, Singapore behind the Alhambra Cinema (which I learnt when I grew older). However, the place, the time, and the childhood experience of the journey is unforgettable.

Alhambra Cinema  c  1950

Alhambra Cinema was formerly located at the junction of Beach Road and Middle Road, next to the former Marlborough Cinema, another landmark building in the area. It was was nicknamed Hai Kee ("by the sea" in Hainanese) due to its proximity to the sea.

The Alhambra Cinema's location of the same place at Beach Road is the present day Shaw Tower on Beach Road in the 1970s.

Different time and a different journey of a personal experience...

The "Then" photos are in black and white while the colored photos are shown as the "Satay Club" on the Esplanade.

Do you remember?

Please share your fond memories of your first taste of satay too!

A group of young children enjoying satay at a portable stall in 1900.

Satay portable stall in Chinatown c 1970.

Original "Satay Club" in 1940s and before

In the background, it is noticed as the bus terminus of the former "Tay Koh Yat" bus company.




And "Then" at "Satay Club" at Esplanade in the 1970s


Now...the former "Satay Club" was demolished in the 1995s and the location was replaced by Esplanade - The Theatres on the Bay.

The Wondering Wanderer posted this to my Facebook profile page to share his childhood days satay experiences here:

I actually was old enough to have the experience sitting on the low stools and having satay piled on the plate at the centre of the table at Beach Road. One of my friends, a very mischievous boy, would discard some of the lidi sticks under the table more out of fear that his parents would discover how much he had consumed than to cheat the satay seller.