The Peranakans in Joo Chiat and Katong
The area of Joo Chiat and Katong has been well known for being a Peranakan enclave. Walking around the area, Peranakan influences are everywhere.
Even the name Joo Chiat, came from a wealthy Straits Chinese, named Chew Joo Chiat. Much of the land of Joo Chiat was originally owned by Chew Joo Chiat. In 1916, the Municipality wanted to purchase a strip of road from him to build a road. He refused initially, however, after thinking over the matter, and realizing the benefits of building the road, he decided to donate the land to build the road. To thank him for his generosity, the road was named Joo Chiat Road after it was built.
Check out this blog by Philip Chew, the great-grandson of Chew Joo Chiat, documenting the history of Joo Chiat. http://mychewjoochiat.blogspot.com
There’s the colourful shophouses, lavishly decorated with Peranakan motifs.
Peranakans are descendants of immigrant Chinese who migrated to the Straits Settlements and settled here, marrying local women and setting up their own families. Many of the Peranakans underwent Western education, and were highly influenced by Western thought, often chasing Western fashions. Their unique upbringing, a mixture of East and West, are clearly reflected in the architectural styles of Peranakan shophouses, which display an eclectic unique fusion of Western and Eastern architectural influences.
The shophouses are also often adorned with ceramic tiles and sculptures of flower and birds.
There is also an abundance of Peranakan food to be found in the area.
The famous/infamous Katong Laksa. Remember the Katong Laksa Wars?
Articles clipped from a magazine interview of the actresses of Channel 8’s hit drama, The Little Nonya.
And there’s a traditional Peranakan crafts shop just beside the restaurant.
Initially, spotting the year painted above the shop, we were very excited, assuming that the shop had been here since 1928. Unfortunately, a talk with the staff revealed that it was a misconception. 1928 was the year in which the building was built, and not the year in which the shop was set up. The shop was set up more recently, in the 1990s, by Bebe Seet, a connoisseur in the Peranakan beadwork. The shop not only sells traditional Peranakan things, they also hold classes teaching Peranakan beading.
The area has also seen the sprouting of boutique hotels extolling the rich Peranakan history of the area as a major part of their appeal. Among them is the Peranakan Hotel.
Set up two years ago, the hotel boasts rooms that are done up in the Peranakan style. Set up in Peranakan shophouses, having Peranakan furniture, and being located within a well-known Peranakan district. What more could you ask for?
However, while these Peranakan artifacts and the Peranakan food are still readily present in the area, many of them have been commercialized to cater to the demands of tourists and Singaporeans searching for their roots. The culture, the Peranakan way of life appears to have been lost.
And while the Peranakan food at the Peranakan restaurants is definitely authentic enough, Peranakan restaurants are a relatively new concept.
“Formerly, nobody talked about going to a nonya restaurant because it was an insult. If you want to eat nonya food, you come to my house. You don’t go to a nonya restaurant. The best food is always in my house – that was the attitude.”
-Jeffrey Chan in Joo Chiat: A Living Legacy
An interview of Bebe Seet, the owner of Rumah Bebe talking about Peranakan culture.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6Cy3YcCJYYk
DATE: Thursday, February 23, 2012
TIME: ||8:58 PM ||