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Children draw famous beehoon dish on tote bag for ST School Pocket Money Fund

SINGAPORE - The famous original Sembawang white beehoon is on a tote bag.

White Restaurant, which is behind the popular dish, has partnered with The Straits Times School Pocket Money Fund (STSPMF) to sell limited-edition tote bags in celebration of its 25th anniversary.

The tote bags come in two different designs, each featuring hand-drawn artwork by STSPMF beneficiaries of the iconic dish offered by the restaurant chain, which started as a hawker stall.

Vivian Boo, 15, and Urian Koh, 14, are the artists behind the tote bag designs. Another STSPMF beneficiary, Emma Lim, 12, came up with the design for the postcard featuring the Golden Salted Egg Squid dish in each tote bag.

Urian said of the white beehoon dish: “I drew this dish because it’s my favorite and is very vibrant.”

Available at all eight White Restaurant outlets across Singapore, each tote bag costs $5.45 and comes with a $10 voucher.

There are 500 limited-edition tote bags available for each of the two designs.

All proceeds from the sale of the tote bags will be donated to the STSPMF. In addition, White Restaurant will match each tote bag sold with a $5 donation.

Vivian said: “I feel proud that I can use my skills to help raise funds (for the STSPMF beneficiaries), and I hope it benefits them in the future.”

STSPMF is a community project by The Straits Times that provides pocket money to children from low-income families, to help them with school expenses as well as their social and educational development.

Since its inception in 2000, the fund has disbursed $100 million to more than 220,000 children and young people.

White Restaurant began operating as a hawker stall at Chong Pang Market in 1999, affectionately known as the “Sembawang White Beehoon Restaurant”, instead of its actual name, You Huak Restaurant.

In June 2024, STSPMF invited beneficiaries to submit their designs based on a creative brief by White Restaurant. The winning designs were selected by a panel of judges from the restaurant.

“When I first saw the students’ drawings, I was truly in awe. Each design showcased the children’s unique artistic expression, and I could feel the passion and sincerity behind their work,” said Mr Victor Tay, chief executive officer of White Restaurant.

“What better way to mark (the restaurant’s) milestone than by recognising young, aspiring local talents and giving them a platform to showcase their artistic skills. I’m proud to support such a meaningful cause and look forward to more initiatives like this in the future,” Mr Tay added.

The Straits Times © Singapore Press Holdings Limited. Reproduced with permission.