SINGAPORE - On Thursday (June 28), ITE student Phaem Ko, 17, cast her vote for her favourite local hawker stall - her mother's. Ms Khanthong Nantasuk, 49, runs a Chinese herbal soup stall at Golden Mile Food Centre.
The food centre was where the 11th season of the City Hawker Food Hunt was launched on Thursday (June 28). Singaporeans are encouraged to vote for their favourite local hawker stalls in three new categories - Local Food, Value-for-Money and Healthier Choice.
The top 10 stalls to receive the most number of nominations in each category will receive the People's Choice Hawker Stall award, and the top two stalls will be added to the People's Choice Hall of Fame and receive a cash reward of $1,000.
Although people can nominate a stall only once in each category, they can nominate multiple stalls per category.
Each nomination stands a chance to win a weekend hotel staycation for two at Park Regis Singapore.
In previous years, the categories were based on different types of dishes, with the public voting for their favourite stalls out of a list of the Top 10, for awards such as Best Chicken Rice and Best Dessert.
Guest of honour Denise Phua, Mayor of Central Singapore CDC and MP for Jalan Besar GRC, submitted a nomination at the launch too.
"We need to keep the hawker culture and spirit alive, and encourage the younger generation to carry on the tradition," she said. "It is also a time to remind ourselves to support and show mutual respect and courtesy to the hawker workers through the simplest of deeds, like returning of food trays."
Phaem Ko said she helps her mother at her Sen Sen Stew Shop occasionally.
"I think I can win the Healthier Choice Award," said the Thai stall owner confidently. "Even if I don't, I'm already very happy to have customers and see them eat and finish the food I cook."
The voting period for the first category, the People's Choice Local Food Award, is from now till July 25. Voting periods for the People's Choice Value-For-Money Award are July 26 to Aug 22, and People's Choice Healthier Choice Award, Aug 30 to Sept 26.
Members of the public can submit their nominations at www.cityhawkerfoodhunt.com
