The latest winners of the Michelin Singapore Awards are trying to swallow the news of their F & B honor

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SINGAPORE: One is a nasi lemak hip-hop specialty restaurant in Ann Siang Hill, the other a Little India's iconic establishment known for its signature curry fish head.

The Coconut Club and Muthu's Curry could not be more different, but the owners of both establishments shared the same reaction when they discovered their inclusion in this year's Michelin Bib Gourmand list Wednesday morning (Jul 18).

"We were very shocked to learn that we received the award," said Lee Chan Wai, co-owner of Coconut Club. "I think it's not quite sunk yet."

Agreed his friend and co-owner Lee Eng Su: "I woke up to a series of WhatsApp messages. To be honest, we always treat the news.

He added: "We are (operationally) about two years old.We said to ourselves, if we can get the Bib Gourmand reward, then Curry Muthu should get the star Michelin! They deserve it, having been around for decades. "

There is still no star for the popular Indian restaurant, but Muthu's executive director, Kasivishvanaath Ayyakkannu, is still satisfied with the hug – even though he did not know that this was happening

"We are so happy and very shocked," he told CNA Lifestyle, "We have never intended to be on the list, so we will continue to do what we've always done, improve where we can and see how it goes. "

The two local food establishments are among the 17 new entrants in the list of 50 that have been recognized by inspectors This year, the Bib Gourmand is offered at offers quality products at a price not exceeding $ 45 Singapore, before the big event next week, at the announcement of the Singapore Michelin Guide this year

. have a large team of service personnel. "We invest a lot in local human resources.We believe the service is very important to the overall experience," said Lee Chan Wai.

What is the next step for the restaurant? There are plans to expand their current space, as well as an updated menu – plans made before Bib Gourmand announcements.

"We were discussing the evolution of our menu and adding burung puyuh (Malay for quail) .We hope people will not think we are making all these changes simply because of the reward! "joked Lee Eng Su.

For one of the regulars of the Coconut Club, Is, 40, it's a well-deserved award – Even though he admitted that his first thought was "Oh no, it means that the file will become longer "

This will not be a problem for Srinivasan Ayyakannu, director of operations of Muthu's Currinary, the parent company of Muthu curry

"I hope this will translate into sales," he joked. "We've been here for 50 years and this Race Course Road restaurant is our flagship, and most of our former customers and regulars usually frequent this point of sale, which could be one of the reasons it's the price that was awarded. "

Kasivishvannath adds," Now that we have the price, we must maintain the same price. ", he says

For 20 years, the loyal fan of Curry, Muthu's Curry, and Malaysian catering and marketing consultant Shankar Santhiram are passing through when he is in town – and he is

"Muthu's Curry is the real deal. And I would like to see them win more prizes and honors, "he said. "But like any real well-intentioned, I'm also selfish because I do not want the place to be blocked.I hope the owners of Curry Muthu will stick to the form and will not make it." error of the other restaurants by tweaking stuff once they've won a prize.You do not have to climb the bar or be totally fancy.Let's stay loyal to the old guy who started there is years and years. "

Continuity is also at the heart of Tai Wah Pork Noodle, another newcomer Bib Gourmand located at the Hong Lim Market and Food Center.

Finding the familiar name, that's because Tang Chai Chye, a 64-year-old semi-retired hawker, was running Hill Street with his older brother Chay Seng at Marina Square.

This store then moved to its current Crawford Lane location and has since been awarded the coveted Michelin Star.

The Hong Lim market and food center stand is now run by the sons of Chai Chye, Gerald and Jason, 38 and 30 years old.

And like the other new winners, the former Tang said that he was not expecting at all the hug

"Although this news is good for us , it might not be considered good for my regular customers, "he joked, in Mandarin

" Most of them are the crowd that can not queue too long because they're in the middle of it. " they must return to the office. "

Tang, who started working at the age of 20 and fresh out of the military, says that it's important to keep the business in the family, whether

"If we ever sell it, my late father would be very angry," he said. "My sons do not need to learn how to make noodles.They have helped since they were in elementary school."