As he sat down to prepare the ingredients for his stall at Chong Boon Market and Food Centre, Mr Mohamad Toha, 65, recounted how his father embarked on a remarkable journey that would shape the legacy of Rahim Muslim Food.
In 1955, his father left Java and arrived in Singapore with his uncle. Armed with a passion for food and an entrepreneurial spirit, he started his culinary venture by selling satay, which he carried in a basket as he went door-to-door.
Later in 1957, he established his stall at a coffeeshop in Upper Serangoon Road, marking the birth of Rahim Muslim Food – a culinary haven that would delight many generations. To cater to the diverse taste of his customers, he added dishes like mee rebus and mee soto to his menu, which became beloved additions to his humble food stall.
After completing his Secondary Four education, Mr Mohamad Toha began helping out at his father’s stall, and the business picked up after his mother took over the stall when his father passed away in the 1980s.
He said: “My mum was a better cook than my dad and she improved his recipes. She also added new ingredients and sourced the best assam from different vendors to add into our dishes.”
Over the years, Mr Mohamad Toha and his family dedicated themselves to preserving the cherished recipes and traditional cooking methods that have made Rahim Muslim Food a household delight.
Every morning, his day began at 7. With unwavering passion and a commitment to excellence, he meticulously prepares the dishes, selects the freshest ingredients, and skilfully blends the spices to ensure each dish is infused with the authentic flavours passed down through the generations.
From noon until 7pm, he tirelessly serves customers, offering a warm smile and genuine passion for his craft. “About 80% of my customers are Chinese, and I have a lot of regular customers who followed me from Upper Serangoon to Ang Mo Kio,” he said.
“They like my hot and soupy food, which is heartwarming and reminds them of home-cooked food,” he added. The affordable prices and generous portions also help to draw patrons.
Beyond satisfying the taste buds of his customers, Mr Mohamad Toha’s food also provides compassion and warmth to the community. His daughter, Ms Siti Rafidah Mohamad Toha, 30, who has been helping at the stall for the past decade, quietly extends a helping hand to those in need. Recognising that not everyone in Singapore is privileged, she would provide extra portions to low-income families. “It makes us feel happy that no one would leave our stall feeling hungry,” he said.
In the future, Ms Siti Rafidah has plans to set up a central kitchen where she would supply her family’s famous dishes to various food and beverage stalls. Mr Mohamad Toha said: “It’s important that we continue to preserve our culinary heritage and pass on the flavours, traditions and love of food to future generations.”
Chinese
莫哈末·托哈（Mohamad Toha）在崇文巴刹与小贩中心经营熟食摊，用父母传下来的烹调方式制作沙爹、马来卤面和马来汤面，让顾客品尝到家的温馨味道。除了满足食客的味蕾，在摊位帮忙的女儿也通过美食传递爱心。她会给低收入家庭盛上更大盘的食物，确保他们吃得饱。莫哈末说：“只要没有人饿着肚子离开，我们就心满意足了。”
Malay
Encik Mohamad Toha yang menjaja di sebuah gerai makanan di Pasar dan Pusat Makanan Chong Boon, telah menyediakan resepi turun temurun keluarga dari kedua ibu bapanya, seperti sate, mi rebus dan mi soto. Para pelanggannya menggemari hidangan yang panas dan berkuah, yang mengingatkan mereka tentang makanan yang dimasak di rumah. Selain memuaskan citarasa pelanggannya, makanan beliau juga menceriakan masyarakat kerana anak perempuannya akan melebihkan makanan kepada keluarga berpendapatan rendah. Encik Mohamad berkata: “Ianya membuat kami gembira kerana tiada sesiapa yang pulang dari gerai kami dalam keadaan lapar.”
Tamil
சொங் பூன் சந்தை, உணவு நிலையத்தில் உணவுக்கடை நடத்திவரும் திரு முகமது டோஹா, தனது பெற்றோரின் குடும்பச் சமையல் குறிப்புகளைப் பயன்படுத்தி வழமை மாறாத முறையில் சாத்தே, மீ ரெபுஸ், மீ சோத்தோ போன்ற உணவு வகைகளைத் தயாரித்து விற்பனை செய்து வருகிறார். இவர் சூடாகப் பரிமாறும் சூப் உணவு வகைகள் வீட்டுச் சமையலை நினைவூட்டுவதால் வாடிக்கையாளர்கள் அவற்றை விரும்பிச் சாப்பிடுகின்றனர். இவர் தயாரிக்கும் ருசியான உணவு வகைகள் வாடிக்கையாளர்களுக்கு மனநிறைவளிப்பதோடு, இவரது மகள் குறைந்த வருமானக் குடும்பங்களுக்கு வழங்கும் கூடுதல் உணவுடன் சமூகத்திற்கும் ஆதரவளிக்கிறது. “எங்கள் கடையிலிருந்து ஒருவரும் பசியுடன் புறப்பட்டுச் செல்வதில்லை என்பது எங்களுக்கு மகிழ்ச்சி தருகிறது,” என்றார் திரு முகமது.
