Desmond Tan’s Fond Farewell to Tanglin Halt’s Food Corner
On July 31, the once‑lively Tanglin Halt Food Centre shut its doors for the final time. Actor Desmond Tan lost his chance for one last bite, and the memory of that disappearing corner lingers in the air of yesterday’s hawker stalls.
Why a new hawker haven isn’t cut the same way
“Moving over to the Margaret Drive Hawker Centre isn’t the same at all,” Tan said to AsiaOne while warming up for his latest drama, When Duty Calls 2. “Some of the hawkers from Tanglin Halt found retirement—so eating the same food in a new setting feels essentially different.”
From lingual streets to redeveloped homes
- Tanglin Halt, one of Singapore’s oldest housing estates, was earmarked in 2014 for the Selective En‑Bloc Redevelopment Scheme (SERS).
- By May this year, 74 % of its residents had moved to the new Dawson Estate.
- The closure of the food centre, a cherished community hub, marks the end of an era.
Desmond’s childhood taste‑tests
At just 35, Tan fondly recalls growing up in Tanglin Halt, walking home from Tanglin Primary School, and stopping by a kiosk on the first floor to buy an icy “sng bao.”
“It was a glorious little competition,” he jokes. “I’d compare the sng bao with other stalls, the kids and I would say, ‘This is the best’ or ‘There’s that makcik at level two who sells a sweeter, cheaper sng bao.’ So there was a friendly war of flavors.”
“The whole thing was such a beautiful snapshot of Singapore’s multicultural vibe—different races, different tastes, all coming together just like that.”
In the end, the journey from Tanglin Halt to Dawson isn’t just about moving houses—it’s about preserving the spirit of a community that kept everyone coming back for one more bite. And even though the food centre may be gone, the memories—sticking like sugar on your tongue—forever remain.
Revisiting Block 38: A Trip Back in Time
Remembering the Two‑D High‑Hope
“I walked back into the corner unit on Level 8 of Block 38,” he recalls, a nostalgic smile flickering across his face. “Back then, I imagined it as a skyscraper‑style loft with a ceiling so lofty it felt like flying with your head tucked in a cloud. And the corridor? A veritable sports field where I could kick around a football without a single corner flag.”
Reality Check
Fast‑forward to last year, and the hallway was less your personal football pitch than a tight squeeze between the walls. For the first time, he found his head bumping the ceiling—a vivid reminder that the place had indeed squeezed him smaller in the meantime.
- Corner unit on Level 8 – the once dreamy high‑ceiling loft.
- A corridor that’s now more “drive‑through” than “舞台”.
- Every step on the doorstep tripped up the memories—and actually gave him goosebumps.
Walking Through the Memories
When he stepped onto the old doorstep, the familiar scent of plaster and aged wood instantly tugged him back to those quiet, noisy years. A chill ran down his spine, but this time it was a cool, reflective breeze, not a childhood curiosity alone ripe for a football match.
As the echoes of his own childhood games danced around the narrow hallway, he paused, feeling the blend of light nostalgia and the gentle sting of change. All that was necessary was a single, brief touch to bring those memories back—all while acknowledging that Block 38 has never been the same place. The past and the present intersecting like threads in an old quilt, with a new pattern stitched in present day life.
Reality, Memory, and the Art of Returning Home
In closing, he shared that the list of memories—including “the dream‑high ceiling”, “the football‑field corridor”, and even the goosebumps—remains intact, but the pathway has been reshaped, reminding him that home isn’t forever static. It’s dynamic, just like us.
Remembering Tanglin Halt: A Walk Down Memory Lane
The Estate Like a Scene from a Film
When Desmond walked back onto his old estate, it felt as if a movie were playing in his mind. He peered over the courtyard and spotted the familiar badminton courts, instantly sparking flashbacks of his childhood days: running around with other kids, laughing, and even stepping up when a friend slipped off a tree, broke a leg, and needed a quick trip to the hospital.
First Pup, First Love
Tanglin Halt wasn’t just a backdrop—it was where Desmond’s passion for dogs first bloomed.
- He found his first dog there.
- Later, he discovered the exact spot where he buried that initial four‑legged companion.
“I had my first dog there, and I actually saw the place where I buried my first pet,” Desmond shared with a smile.
Desmond Tan’s Nostalgic Trip Down Memory Lane
Desmond Tan is a vivid storyteller who can paint his childhood in the most realistic strokes—like a picture sketched in smell and sound. He remembers the bustling kopi tiam behind his house, the steam drifting from freshly baked bao, and even the distinctive scent that clung to him after a shaving at the nearby barber shop.
Back to the 80s Streets of Tanglin Halt
- Kopi Tiam – A traditional coffee shop that hand‑made bao and filled the air with a comforting, starchy aroma.
- The Barber Shop – An Indian barber sat right next to the shop. After a shave, he’d dab a lotion on Desmond’s sides, leaving a fragrance he cannot find anywhere today.
- The Daily Commute – On the way to school, Desmond would inhale the steam, smell the bao, and feel the city’s pulse.
He laments the loss of these physical landmarks. “It’s heartbreaking to know that the places I grew up in will fade away,” he admitted. “I just’ll have to share these memories in my mind with my future kids.”
The Museum @ My Queenstown – A Small Window to the Past
Desmond visited the little museum that was once a shop in Queenstown. “It tried to capture the spirit of the locality, but photos can never convey the full story,” he sighed. The museum offered a mini‑representation of the original setting, which left him feeling that it was “just a tiny snapshot” of his beloved memories.
Coming to Screen: When Duty Calls 2
Aside from digging into the past, Desmond is getting back on the screen with the new drama When Duty Calls 2. The show, slated for Channel 8’s launch on August 15 at 9 pm, features Paige Chua, Kym Ng, Pierre Png, Felicia Chin, Tyler Ten, Nick Teo, and Edwin Goh.
- Desmond Tan continues to be a familiar face in the local TV scene.
- Viewers can also stream the episode free on meWATCH.
For anyone wanting to grasp a slice of Desmond’s world and see his characters come alive, When Duty Calls 2 is the place to be—whether you like the nostalgic feel or fresh comic drama in equal measure.
