Singapore Hawker Moves From Pop-Ups to Park Street
Dear friends,
it is with great sadness that I announce the closure of Mama Judy Hawker Fare. I feel rather sheepish about this as the restaurant has only been open for a week in the span of a month. I myself have never even heard of another restaurant opening and closing so quickly. You must be wondering why I’ve decided to not continue with the restaurant. It was doing so well, from a business standpoint. For the seven days that it was open, folks were waiting for our doors to be open, and right up till we closed for the night, we were slammed with orders. When I see friends and families dining in my restaurant, enjoying the food I’ve prepared for them, and meeting new and old friends, it fills me with so much pride and satisfaction. ⠀
Owning a small little restaurant has also been a dream of mine and while there are so many components of running a restaurant and cooking on the spot for the community that I love so much, ultimately, I don’t think being a restaurant proprietor and chef is a good fit for me. In the last few weeks when the restaurant was on a break, I looked hard into myself and decided that what I really love is cooking. And most importantly, cooking small batches of the highest quality Singaporean dishes that I am proud to serve my customers. And that leads me to the conclusion that I am more of a home chef than a restaurant chef.
I enjoy curating my own hours, cooking in the commercial kitchen with my hubby without the hustle and bustle, and the chances to interact with our customers when they pick up their orders from various parts of the Bay Area. I guess what I’m trying to say is the things I value about being a home chef did not translate into being a restaurant chef. I know I must have let a lot of people down. Including friends and family who have been on this journey with me from the very beginning and even till now, helping me tie up all the loose ends with shutting down the restaurant, letting me cry on their shoulders, and crying on each others’ shoulders. ⠀
Despite today’s announcement and the closing of this chapter, I am extremely proud of all that my family and I have achieved and remain hopeful for a future where I can continue to spread the love of Singaporean food throughout the Bay Area and beyond. I look forward to seeing you in the next group buy! I’m still on an extended break with my family visiting me from Singapore. Thank you for your patience and understanding.
