Grace and Chef Benny outside Eighteen Chefs at Simei Eastpoint
Creative Director
Chef Benny, or Uncle Benny as he is affectionately known, started Eighteen Chefs in 2007.
He was formerly a drug addict but turned his life around and became the first Singaporean to be trained at Jamie Oliver’s world class restaurant, Fifteen.
He now uses Eighteen Chefs as a “platform to encourage ex-delinquents and youths-at-risk to pick up new skills and forge a new and better path for themselves”. 
Qn1) How difficult was it for you to start this business? Can someone who has a similar background start such a business too?
I’ll have to start with sharing about the year 1993, when I was released from a local drug rehab centre. I had been in private rehab for over 30 times.
I realised that most of my childhood and adolescence was spent in rehab and I had brought so much pain to my family, my mum, my friends. So I really wanted to make it.
I went for 6 job interviews. Each time they found out I had a record, they did not call me back. I promised myself that if I would one day become a business owner, I would definitely want to hire this group of people.
So I became a dispatch rider and did freelance deliveries for companies. And in 2000, I started a courier service company called “Two Fish Courier” hiring 90% ex-convicts.
In 2005, I entered the F&B industry because I love to cook. I started a 200-seater Chinese restaurant hiring 80-90% ex-convicts. This didn’t work because drug addiction is very contagious. If one person gets affected, the rest will get affected too.
[Here's Benny cooking up a storm in the kitchen!]
In 2006, I had an internship opportunity to go to the UK to work with Jamie Oliver.
And in 2007, I started Eighteen Chefs. It took me about 9 months to find a place to do business because the malls were looking for track records.
The first year was a bad year because we were new to customers. Facebooking was not popular then. But some kids came in, took pictures, and blogged. Local bloggers also came by and gave us good reviews.
In 2008, it was the economic downturn but my business shot up. In 2009, I started another 3 outlets. But in the process, I had to close 1.
Can someone else do the same too?
For ex-addicts, it is firstly very difficult to overcome their own devils, i.e. the drug addiction.
After that they still have to try to get trust from people.
Qn2) So how did you overcome this “devil”?
Between the years 1990 to 1993, I became a Christian. This definitely 100% helped me.
In 1993, upon my release, I enrolled myself into a halfway house. I stayed there for 6 years and that really helped.
Qn3) How did you manage to convince Jamie Oliver to let you learn from him?
At that time, I didn’t know who Jamie Oliver was.
In 2005, I was running my Chinese restaurant. And people told me that someone was already doing what I was doing, and to go and check him out on the Net.
There was a forum manned by the CEO, Liam Black, who ran the whole Foundation.
I requested to go over to learn from Jamie Oliver.
But Liam said no; that what they did was only for British delinquents.
The Singaporeans on the forum recommended me though.
And after a long time, he agreed.
[Benny & Jamie Oliver's mentor, Genaro Contaldo]
I thought I had a lot of passion. Then I went over there and I realised what passion actually is.
One day, I was in the entrée department doing salads. I was scolded by the sous chef for the way I was treating the vegetables. He said I should toss them with both hands because the greens have life. He made me realise how passionate they are.
The most important lesson I learned is that “Food has life”. Also, I learned that in the kitchen, teamwork is very important. I treat my staff better than myself.
[Benny with his staff, whom he treats like family]
Qn4) Is the food served here all your own inventions? Any from Fifteen?
Cheese baked rice has nothing to do with Jamie Oliver. He’s more associated with risotto. Cheese baked rice is very “Hong Kong, Macau”. Mine is more Italian with sauces like spicy garlic and creamy mango.
I believe young Singaporeans love choices. Do you know how many choices of cheese baked rice we have?
8 kinds of sauces, 13 types of ingredients and 12 top-ups. If you do a permutation, there are over 300,000 choices!
I invented the Root Beer Fish & Chips. I got some support from A&W Root Beer. In the UK, Beer Batter Fish & Chips can be found everywhere. Because of the CO2 content, the batter becomes more crisp. I couldn’t do Beer Batter, so I came up with Root Beer Batter.
And a lot of people laughed at me. But like it or not, in every one of my outlets, I’m selling cartons everyday!
Qn5) What’s a must-try here?
Seafood Aglio Olio! And I also have Crabby Wednesday – you have to make a reservation.
Previously I was a Chinese chef in Geylang. My chilli crab is quite good. I invented the cheese baked chilli crab.
Qn6) Which is your proudest moment in Life?
Two weeks ago, I met Dr Tony Tan and his wife, before he became the President. And Mrs Tony Tan told me that she knows what I am doing, and if Dr Tan is elected, he would be working with a lot of social entreprises and mine stands out.
On ChannelNewsAsia, we were also voted 1 of the Top 3 Social Entreprises in Singapore.
Being recognised is another pat on my back. I need the recognition because not every time is so smooth.
There was once when ex-convicts made up 50% of my staff. I spent more time solving their problems than running the business; and my partners jumped on me.
Also, people mistakenly think that social enterprises are charities and that ex-convicts are underprivileged people. I will never think of my men as underprivileged!
If they can come out with a positive mindset, they can work better than a normal person!
Grace says: Eighteen Chefs is well-known for its cheese-baked rice and pasta which you definitely should order when you visit.
Also, you absolutely must try the Root Beer Batter Fish & Chips. Imagine that! Root Beer IN Fish & Chips! Incredibly yummy!
If you’re a student or nurse, you can enjoy the meal at $10.20 before GST (no service charge! how awesome!) It includes an Iced Lemon Tea and Ice Cream too! 
My friend Calvin took the photos for this blog post and I took a photo of him. Haha!
Thank you, Uncle Benny! You are truly an inspiration. The usual interviews have 5 questions but you have 6!
