Hawkers cautious about sharing "trade secrets" at proposed training institute

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Hawker centres are part and parcel of everyday life in Singapore -- and the government has announced it will be rolling out 10 new centres by 2017.

However, there are several key challenges -- like finding enough Singaporeans who are game for the job, and for retiring hawkers to pass on their know-how to younger, aspiring hawkers.

Some have suggested opening a training institute to do this, but this has drawn mixed reactions from some hawkers.

Hawker Gina Rajan, who runs Gina's Vadai, said: "Not everyone wants to leak out their secret recipe, impossible."

Younger hawkers too expressed similar sentiments.

25-year-old Daniel Surendran, who sells Putu Mayam at hawker stall Heavens, said: "Is that person just doing it for business? Or do they really have the love and the passion for the food? When I pass over something like that, (I hope) the quality is retained or if not made better."

Food critic and founder of Singapore food guide Makansutra, KF Seetoh told MediaCorp that it is more than just gaining the secret recipes of hawkers.

He said: "They're not teachers... And if you ask some of these hawkers to release some of their family jewels, (it is as good as asking) Warren Buffet to give you his pin number because he is retiring as well."