Uncle Foo: The Stalwart of Shashlik

Shashlik, a restaurant with Russo-Hainanese heritage, holds a special place in the hearts of many Singaporeans. A hidden gem in Orchard Road, it has been delighting generations of customers with Russian and European inspired cuisine, prepared by its Hainanese chefs.

Tracing its roots from the legendary Troika Restaurant, which operated from 1963 to 1986, Shashlik was born in April 1986 after nine former Troika employees pooled their life savings to keep the source of their livelihoods going with the interpretation of the timeless recipes of Troika Russian chef Mamochka Liber.

Since then, Shashlik Restaurant has gone on to serve generations of patrons. It has witnessed countless first-time customers becoming regulars and has been a part of their journeys as they became parents and grandparents.

Many of Shashlik’s employees have also worked at the restaurant for their lifetime.

Among them is 82-year-old Foo Sek Chuan, fondly known to colleagues and patrons as Uncle Foo. He is the grandfatherly figure dressed in a crisp red vest and starched white shirt and usually setting a pan of cherries aflamed. That is Cherry Jubilee, a dish he has served for over 30 years.

TheHomeGround Asia speaks to Foo Sek Chuan or fondly known as Uncle Foo, who is its longest service staff.