Home Kitchen

Flavours Like Life

Commissioned by Singapore Chinese Cultural Centre (SCCC)

At Gim Hiang Restaurant, a three-generation business, the woks are sizzling, the soup is boiling, and the tempers? Piping hot.

For decades, Lau Dua Gim has been the undisputed king of this three-generation Teochew restaurant, serving up time-honored recipes and ruling with a firm hand, a sharp cleaver, and an even sharper tongue. But times are changing—rents are rising, customers’ preferences are evolving, and Dua Gim starts to wonder if Gim Hiang can survive the next chapter.

Enter Zhi Ren, the prodigal youngest son. As a child, he was the golden boy of the kitchen, the one Dua Gim thought would inherit the family legacy. But instead of staying, Zhi Ren packed his knives and flew off to Paris—pursuing culinary training in Paris. Over the years, he climbed the ranks of a Michelin-starred restaurant, working his way up from apprentice to sous chef.

Now, after years of refining his craft abroad, Zhi Ren returns home for a visit, stepping back into the kitchen where it all began. But home is different now. So is he. As soon as he picks up a knife, old tensions resurface. Dua Gim believes that tradition is what gives Teochew cuisine its soul, while Zhi Ren sees room for evolution. What begins as a simple conversation about flavours soon escalates into a full-blown family debate.

So what’s on the menu? A hefty serving of father-son rivalry, a dash of nostalgia, and a generous helping of chaos. Will Gim Hiang stay true to its roots, or is it time to spice things up? In this hilarious and heartwarming family feud, one thing is certain—things are about to get messy in the kitchen!

This programme is commissioned by SCCC as part of Cultural Extravaganza 2025.