During my school days at SJI (St Joseph’s Institution), one could scatter a handful of peanuts and the pigeons would come fluttering to feed. This was quite a scene at the courtyard of former SJI (now the compound of Singapore Art Museum).
At one end of the school’s tuckshop sat an Indian man selling kacang puteh. In front of him was an array of plastic containers containing a variety of nuts. Cashew nuts, peanuts as well as the sugar-coated ones, chick-peas, green peas and a variety of other nuts of sorts that catered to our likes. With his paper-cone ready, he will scoop your favourite nuts with a spoon and pour it into the paper-cone filling it to the brim.
At only 20cents, you get to munch to your hearts content…and perhaps scatter a few pieces on the courtyard for the waiting pigeons. A familiar sight of the kacang puteh seller were also seen at the lobby area of cinemas. Cinema patrons would buy their favourite nuts and munch away while watching the movie. You may occasionally hear the crunching sound from the cinema patron seated next to you as one grinds away. Mostly plied by the Indians in the earlier years, the kacang puteh seller is now becoming a fast disappearing trade. Read on…
3 Responses
ah…i missed those days when the kacang puteh was wrapped in yellowpages paper. my mum and relatives would buy them when visiting the cinemas.
Posted on February 25th, 2009 at 5:20 pm
The last time I went for a movie on my own, I was stuck between the decision to get a box of popcorn, a bag or chips or Kacang Puteh.
Kacang Puteh is so unhygenic, wrapped up in newspaper which must transmit much of the ink onto the steamed nuts. Plus popcorn tastes so much nicer and they have it in different flavours, salty or sweet.
But I passed the old man there and as I walked by, he smiled and beckoned me over. His sincerity won me over and I ended buying a twist of steamed nuts from him. I make it a point to support good service when I find it and this man scored high on the list, asking and not rushing me for my order and thanking me when I paid. The movie went on well and the steamed nuts were delicious.
I was there a month ago to catch the latest blockbuster and made sure to spot him so that I can buy another packet.
But he was gone…
A pity.
Posted on February 25th, 2009 at 8:52 pm
I miss kachang puteh too…they’ve become almost extinct now
Posted on July 1st, 2011 at 6:47 pm
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