The Zi Char Genie

I can hardly believe it’s been 10 years since I first wrote about Wee Family Coffeeshop! What started as a humble zi char tucked under an HDB block in Bedok has since grown into a bespoke dining spot. It’s especially cherished by foodies and wine lovers seeking something a little off the beaten path.

The man behind it all is former banker Milton Wee, who once dealt in wines and envisioned the zi char as a cosy hangout for his wine kakis to gather over casual soirees. Over the years, the eatery has gained a reputation for being the kind of place where you can order just about anything that’s legally available in Singapore!

Our kakis gathered there for a mid-week makan recently, and here are some of the more esoteric dishes that Milton can arrange if you give him a heads-up!

This was a straightforward dish of steamed scallops, simply dressed with garlic oil and soy sauce. The scallops were of the frozen variety, but still decent. The only drawback was that the coral carried a slight fishiness. On the positive side, they are generous with the pork lard, which really makes a difference! 3.5/5

I suppose squid stuffed with sausage shouldn’t really come as a surprise. The tubular body of a squid is practically made to be filled. In Spain, they stuff it with chorizo, while in Thailand, the sausage of choice is the tangy, fermented Issan sausage. Milton sources his sausages from a local Thai supplier. The result was pleasant enough. But I couldn’t help but wish for a b...