Tuesday is usually rest day for the staff of Strangers' Reunion and Curious Palette cafés, but on Dec 8 they opened as if it was a normal working day. Except no one got paid for the day's work, and management didn't pocket the day's revenue.
They donated everything to a fund for the first-ever chef of Strangers' Reunion, 26-year-old Sebastian Tan, who has been diagnosed with cancer.
The two cafés made the announcement on their respective Facebook pages on Dec 6, and came up with a hashtag that quickly trended: #saveastranger.
"Dine for a good cause on Tuesdays, and help save a stranger. He may be a stranger to you, but he’s an important member of our Strange family," wrote Strangers' Reunion on its Facebook page."Sebastian, our dear friend, and the head chef of Strangers’ Reunion since the beginning — has been recently diagnosed with stage four cancer which has spread to four different parts of his body at just 26 years old. The treatments are proving to be substantially costly, as he unfortunately does not have the appropriate insurance coverage to tide him through this period of time," it added."Both our cafés will be open for business every Tuesday from 12pm to 9pm. All staff working on Tuesdays will be volunteering their time, and all proceeds from Tuesdays’ sales will go to a fund to support Sebastian through his treatments."
The first Tuesday for Sebastian was a success. Crowds started queuing at noon and some had to be turned away. The next day, Strangers' Reunion thanked everyone on Facebook and apologized for the long wait for tables and food, not being to reply to emails and pick up phone calls.
Even the winner of MasterChef Asia, Woo Wai Leong, has been inspired to donate part of his US$50,000 prize to the cause.
Speaking to The New Paper, owner Ryan Tan said both cafés generated over $20,000 on Dec 8. The target, he says, is to raise at least $100,000.
Sebastian Tan lives in Layang-Layang, Johor, an hour away from the Woodlands Checkpoint.
A TNP reporter visited him at home the day after the first #saveastranger event.
"I really didn't expect the response to be so good. I'm so touched that so many strangers turned up. I'm really grateful and I don't know how I can thank all those who came to the cafe on Tuesday." he said.
He only learned about his condition last month. He is the eldest of three children, and had worked as a chef in a restaurant in Kluang, Malaysia, for a year before coming to Singapore in 2013, according to the report.
Follow Strangers' Reunion and Curious Palette for updates on Save-A-Stranger.
Photo: Curious Palette
Tuesday is usually rest day for the staff of Strangers' Reunion and Curious Palette cafés, but on Dec 8 they opened as if it was a normal working day. Except no one got paid for the day's work, and management didn't pocket the day's revenue.
They donated everything to a fund for the first-ever chef of Strangers' Reunion, 26-year-old Sebastian Tan, who has been diagnosed with cancer.
The two cafés made the announcement on their respective Facebook pages on Dec 6, and came up with a hashtag that quickly trended: #saveastranger.
"Dine for a good cause on Tuesdays, and help save a stranger. He may be a stranger to you, but he’s an important member of our Strange family," wrote Strangers' Reunion on its Facebook page."Sebastian, our dear friend, and the head chef of Strangers’ Reunion since the beginning — has been recently diagnosed with stage four cancer which has spread to four different parts of his body at just 26 years old. The treatments are proving to be substantially costly, as he unfortunately does not have the appropriate insurance coverage to tide him through this period of time," it added."Both our cafés will be open for business every Tuesday from 12pm to 9pm. All staff working on Tuesdays will be volunteering their time, and all proceeds from Tuesdays’ sales will go to a fund to support Sebastian through his treatments."
The first Tuesday for Sebastian was a success. Crowds started queuing at noon and some had to be turned away. The next day, Strangers' Reunion thanked everyone on Facebook and apologized for the long wait for tables and food, not being to reply to emails and pick up phone calls.
Even the winner of MasterChef Asia, Woo Wai Leong, has been inspired to donate part of his US$50,000 prize to the cause.
Speaking to The New Paper, owner Ryan Tan said both cafés generated over $20,000 on Dec 8. The target, he says, is to raise at least $100,000.
Sebastian Tan lives in Layang-Layang, Johor, an hour away from the Woodlands Checkpoint.
A TNP reporter visited him at home the day after the first #saveastranger event.
"I really didn't expect the response to be so good. I'm so touched that so many strangers turned up. I'm really grateful and I don't know how I can thank all those who came to the cafe on Tuesday." he said.
He only learned about his condition last month. He is the eldest of three children, and had worked as a chef in a restaurant in Kluang, Malaysia, for a year before coming to Singapore in 2013, according to the report.
Follow Strangers' Reunion and Curious Palette for updates on Save-A-Stranger.
Photo: Curious Palette