Stephen Black wrote these short stories during the three years he lived in one of Singapore's most interesting neighborhoods: Tiong Bahru. This unusual collection of short stories and essays captures the end of an era without being nostalgic. "...a 'lyrical documentary' on Tiong Bahru, which gave me many hours of pure pleasure... It's in Paris that I read it, and followed all of the descriptions and encounters, street by street, on my detailed map of Singapore... I loved the book." M. Abreu "Black's brief love-letter to his now former home is one of the best introductions to a country and a state of mind that you might read." ArtReview Asia " This Caucasian man had not only written the sentiments towards Tiong Bahru of its people, but also the past and memories of those departed. He didn't want to write on the perfections; he used lighthearted humour to describe raw experiences and stories. From learning how to bake English and Nonya pastries at Galicier to observing passersby from below the escalator, it was like a courtship of sorts between him and Tiong Bahru. He had triggered our memories; not only had he given all those who hold great sentiments of this place a little consolation and joy, but also the freedom of discovery for those who are curious about this place. " -Jacob Tan Wei "Part stream of consciousness, part poetry, part historical research, it's a deeply personal yet wholly accessible journey... Along the way, Stephen uncovers Tiong Bahru's 1930s origins as Singapore's first public housing estate; immerses himself in its famous foods as he breakfasts on half-boiled eggs with kaya toast or dines on porridge, mee pok or yong tau foo, and reflects with some pain on astronomic price rises, a creeping loss of authenticity, and the fall of the area to yuppies,expats and the super-rich. Cute as the presentation of this diminutive book may be, I'd like to see it in a larger format-- and perhaps illustrated with the kind of gritty yet dreamy photography that we saw in the same author's 'Bus Stopping' book a couple of years ago." -Expat Living "Unlike anything else I've read... funny quirks balance the political undertone perfectly. The book involves history, humor, culture and most importantly, food (or rather, taste)." -Barrett Books (Thea's Books & Violins The I Ate Tiong Bahru design has been used in glassware and T shirts. An audio book is available, and the second printed edition is scheduled for 2019. The first edition of 2000 copies is sold out; I Ate Tiong Bahru is a bestseller. At least one printed copy can be found in every Singaporean public library.
