Sweet Braised Duck
Country: Singapore
Author Name: Tan Chew Ngee
Publisner Name: Penguin Random House Southeast Asia
Original Language: English
Set against the turbulent backdrop of mid-20th-century Singapore, Sweet Braised Duck is a poignant, sensory historical fiction novel that chronicles the gritty, emotional journey of Kuang, a young immigrant fighting for survival and dignity.
Arriving from Shantou, China, at just five years old, Kuang and his parents continued to be plunged into poverty, forced to share a roof with an abusive grandfather and a hostile step-grandmother.
As the family expands, the weight of supporting seven younger siblings falls on Kuang’s shoulders, forcing him to sacrifice his formal education to work grueling hours as a fish porridge hawker’s assistant.
Yet, amid hardship, twists of fate ultimately steer him back to his culinary roots: Teochew braised duck rice.
Through a relentless process of trial and error, Kuang created his own unique recipe.
By overcoming anxieties and risking scarce savings to secure a stall in a bustling kopitiam, Kuang transforms from a desperate child laborer into a culinary pioneer—cementing a thriving independent legacy that saves his family and celebrates the enduring spirit of Singapore's early hawker culture.
This story also honors women whose
...voices were suppressed in the past due to repression and intimidation.
Women helped to build our nation in significant ways that were untold.
Without them, perhaps Singapore would be different from what it is now.
This story aims to applaud women who work tirelessly behind-the-scenes in families and workplaces.
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