00:01Oh, wait, wait, wait, wait, wait, wait, wait, just kidding.
00:06I realize now there's a queue forming.
00:08Okay, I'm stressed. I'm stressed.
00:16Hi, I'm John, and welcome to 9 to 12.
00:21You may have seen them outside shopping malls, along Orchard Road, or in Voiddecks.
00:26The Ice Cream Uncle, one of the most beloved street food vendors in Singapore.
00:30Today, I'm going to meet one of them to see if I have what it takes to become an Ice
00:34Cream Uncle.
00:41Hello, Uncle. Thank you so much for having us.
00:43Can I ask, how long have you been working in this ice cream stall?
00:471965 started.
00:491965?
00:5061 years.
00:51Wow.
00:53Next time, people cup the ice cream, put the steak.
00:56Steak, right.
00:57It's half a loch.
00:58I think biscuit food, no loch.
01:01Did you know the ice cream sandwich is born out of necessity?
01:04See, back in the early days, the ice cream was sold on sticks.
01:07But then, in Singapore's hot weather, it would melt and fall off.
01:10So the sellers switched to biscuits or bread to hold it in place.
01:14Now that creative solution became one of Singapore's most iconic street foods.
01:18So good.
01:19What time do you wake up in the morning to get ready to go to work?
01:238.30am, wake up.
01:25Go take ice cream.
01:26One okolo, come here.
01:29What is the most popular favorite of ice cream?
01:32Yurling.
01:33Strawberry.
01:35And mango.
01:36And your favorite is?
01:37Yurling.
01:39Uncle, I would like to order.
01:40I will take your suggestion.
01:42I will get one durian and with bread.
01:44Can you show me how to do it, step by step?
01:47You take a hand.
01:50Use a knife to go through all of this.
01:52So you cut the paper also?
01:54Yeah.
01:55Space a little bit.
01:56Space a little bit.
01:56Very nice.
01:57Very nice.
01:57Very soft.
01:58Very colorful.
01:59Take everything off.
02:01With the paper.
02:02Finish.
02:03I try, I try, I try.
02:09That is so good.
02:10Alright, here we go.
02:11Can I get the durian, please?
02:12Would you like that on wafer or bread?
02:15Bread, please.
02:15Awesome.
02:16And you, buddy?
02:16It's important on wafer.
02:17Alright, got it.
02:18So, Uncle, I've been watching.
02:19We cut this way, right?
02:20Yeah, you cut.
02:20How thick does it be?
02:21No, don't cut.
02:23Like this.
02:23Like this.
02:24Like this.
02:30There you go.
02:32That'll be...
02:33Long side, long side.
02:33Long side.
02:35Opposite.
02:36Opposite.
02:36Must be the open side.
02:38Did you know there used to be over 30 ice cream vendors along Orchard Road alone?
02:42Now, there are only a handful.
02:44The island-wide hawker license is no longer being issued, which means, when Uncle retires,
02:49his license goes with him.
02:51Yeah, okay.
02:52You know what?
02:53That one's on me.
02:54Yeah.
02:55Yeah, I'm not going to charge for that one.
03:02In a world of bubble tea, dessert cafes, and overnight food trends, the ice cream uncle
03:07has remained exactly the same.
03:08But, as you can see, he remains as popular as ever.
03:12Old, but gold.
03:14Hey, what are y'all queuing for?
03:16Ice cream!
03:18Ice cream!
03:20One cart, one uncle, and a tradition that's been rolling down Singapore streets for over
03:2460 years.
03:26So, here's my question.
03:27How do you like your ice cream?
03:29Cup, wafer, or rainbow bread?
03:32See you next time on 9 to 12.
03:35Mmm.
03:39Yeah!
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