What to Expect
Most people inherit keepsakes; Jocelyn inherited a recipe—and a passion to keep it alive. Join us for an intimate, hands-on session with Jocelyn Loi, founder of All Things Hainanese, as she shares the story behind her family’s iconic Hainanese Yi Bua—a glutinous rice kueh filled with aromatic coconut, peanut, ginger, and sesame.
Participants will not only get a rare opportunity to hear Jocelyn’s heartfelt journey of preserving her late grandmother’s legacy, but also roll up their sleeves to learn the traditional techniques of preparing and shaping Yi Bua by hand—just as Jocelyn and her grandmother did. From kneading the glutinous rice dough to wrapping the filling in banana leaves, you'll get a true taste of Hainanese heritage.
Expect an engaging afternoon of storytelling, cultural exchange, and kueh-making that connects past to present—one kueh at a time.
About Meet My Craftsman
From the soothing touch of a traditional Javanese masseuse helping a new mother regain her strength, to the gentle folds of a child’s first saree, or the lovingly hand-stitched chouchou, our constant companion from childhood—our first journeys through life are often accompanied by the care and craftsmanship of those who make these moments tangible.
Meet My Craftsman is a celebration of the crafts, rites, and rituals that mark the beginning of life. On the theme of My First Journeys, this programme explores the many ways communities across Singapore commemorate milestones such as the birth of a child, the first month, first year, or first rite of passage. These early steps are steeped in meaning—often marked with traditional foods, handmade tokens, and symbolic objects that express hope, protection, and joy.
From practical postpartum traditions like Javanese massage and herbal care, to edible celebrations like Ang Ku Kueh (red tortoise cake given during a baby’s first month) and Yi Bua (a steamed coconut glutinous rice dumpling from the Hainanese community), each object or treat carries with it a deeper cultural resonance. Clothing, too, becomes a marker of growth and identity—like the physical and symbolic meaning of sarees in the Indian community, handmade and passed down through generations.
Many of these traditional ways of welcoming and celebrating new life are fading in today’s fast-paced world. Through demonstrations, conversations, and hands-on experiences, Meet My Craftsman shines a spotlight on the artisans and practitioners who keep these customs alive. Join us as we meet the craftspeople who have helped generations begin their life journeys with care, meaning, and beauty. Slow down be reminded of the objects, gestures, and traditions that make our earliest memories so deeply treasured.
About the Organisation
All Things Hainanese was established in September 2020 as a heartfelt tribute to the late Mdm Yeoh Min Lin, a resilient matriarch who built a legacy through food. What began as her humble kaya bread and Yi Bua stall in Toa Payoh grew into Hainan Cuisine & Snacks, a beloved hawker business rooted in tradition and perseverance. Now led by the third generation, All Things Hainanese is dedicated to preserving and promoting Hainanese heritage through food, stories, and community engagement. With Hainanese making up just 8% of Singapore’s Chinese population, the initiative strives to celebrate and sustain the unique cultural identity of this close-knit community for future generations.
Meet your Host
Meet Jocelyn Loi, a third-generation Hainanese kueh maker dedicated to preserving the culinary legacy of her late grandmother, Mdm Yeoh Min Lin.
After a successful decade-long career in the hospitality industry, Jocelyn made a bold life pivot in the wake of her grandmother’s sudden passing—a moment that profoundly changed her. Driven by love, memory, and a deep sense of purpose, she left her senior managerial role at a five-star hotel to honour her grandmother’s craft and continue the 45-year family tradition of handmade Hainanese kueh.
Today, Jocelyn co-runs All Things Hainanese at Bras Basah Complex, where she painstakingly prepares yi bua—a traditional Hainanese glutinous rice kueh with a rich coconut, peanut, and ginger filling—just as her grandmother did. She hand-kneads every piece of dough, roasts her own sesame seeds, and blends ginger juice, preserving every step of the original recipe.
For Jocelyn, this is more than a business—it’s a labour of love and a cultural calling. She hopes to inspire more young people to reconnect with their roots and to show that traditional food, though time-consuming to make, is a powerful way to keep heritage alive. Through her work, Jocelyn invites others to taste and share in the story of her family and the Hainanese community in Singapore.
Who should come?
- Everyone is welcome to participate! Participants 12 years and under must be accompanied and supervised by a parent/guardian at all times.
Programme Details
- Approximate Duration: 1.5 hours (Please arrive 15 minutes before the tour for registration)
- Language: English
- Meeting Point: Meet at Entrance of All Things Hainanese (231 Bain St, #02-19 Bras Basah Complex, Singapore 180231)
- Ending Point: The event will start and end at the same point.
- The events will proceed rain or shine.
What to bring?
- Participants should dress comfortably and come in covered shoes.
- Participants should bring along an umbrella and a bottle of water.
- Please ensure that you bring along any personal medication. Asthmatic individuals are reminded to bring their inhaler.
Other important information
- Parking is available at Bras Basah Complex Carpark.
- The venue is not wheelchair friendly.
- Photography is allowed during the event.
Disclaimer
- All ticket sales are final. There will be no refund if you wish to cancel your tickets.
- Each ticket admits only one participant.
- By agreeing to participate in the tour, every participant will be responsible for any injury, loss of damage due to careIessness of other actions on his/her part or that of children under his/her charge.
- Participants must abide by the house rules set out by the host. Facilitators will brief participants at the start of the programme.
- Videos and photographs may also be taken during the event. By registering for this event, you give My Community full rights to use the photos for marketing and publicity.
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- Visit mycommunity.org.sg to learn about our initiatives.
- Visit mycommunityfestival.sg for all our latest updates.
