Bored flight attendant quits job to start a food stall. Now, he has 31 outlets and is in Michelin Guide

Time of India

5 days ago

There was a time when Noorman's days revolved around aisle service and in-flight announcements. For seven years, he donned the crisp uniform of
Singapore Airlines
, traversing continents with ease, earning a handsome paycheck of SG$5,000 a month, and soaking in the allure of the skies. But inside, he felt a growing emptiness.
'The job was too easy,' he admitted in a report by
Business Insider
. 'Just asking, 'Do you want coffee or tea?' I didn't need to have done a degree for it.'
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That quiet dissatisfaction led him to quit in 2011. He took up a maintenance role in the oil and gas industry, eventually rising to a managerial post. Yet even that didn't satisfy the urge simmering beneath the surface—to return to his roots in food.
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He took up a maintenance role in the oil and gas industry, eventually rising to a managerial post. (Image: LinkedIn)
Stirring Up Something New
Cooking wasn't new to Noorman. As a child, he helped run his father's hawker stall selling Malay dishes. But this time, it was personal. When Yishun Park Hawker Centre opened near his home in 2017, he decided to take a leap of faith. Along with a friend, he invested SG$40,000 of their savings and launched
Nasi Lemak Ayam Taliwang
—a bold twist on the traditional Malay dish, featuring his wife's fiery Indonesian ayam taliwang.
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Mornings began at 2:45 a.m., followed by prep, a full-time job, and late-night cooking. For months, the returns were modest, and exhaustion loomed large. 'The thought of working almost 18 hours a day, every day, for the next two to three years—that was the most challenging,' he confessed.
But he kept going.
Pandemic, Perseverance, and Plates
The COVID-19 pandemic brought yet another storm. Like many small businesses, his stall faced existential threats during Singapore's lockdown. But Noorman remained undeterred. His 2020 LinkedIn post became a rallying cry: 'See the opportunities in every problem… make that step.'
In 2021, his food was quietly listed in the Michelin Guide as a Michelin Plate—recognition for good food. 'Never in my dreams have I ever thought The Michelin Guide would even think of eating our food,' he wrote, humbled.
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That quiet mention became a turning point.
31 Outlets and a Dream Realized
Today, Nasi Lemak Ayam Taliwang isn't just a humble hawker stall—it's a 31-outlet success story, with daily sales soaring up to SG$4,000 per stall. From neighborhood centers to Marina Bay Sands, Noorman's creation has become a local icon.
And recently, after four years of being featured, he finally received the official Michelin letter and decal. 'It still gives me chills,' he posted recently. 'We are in the red book!'
Noorman's story is more than a tale of business growth. It's a reminder that fulfillment rarely arrives on a silver tray—it must be cooked slowly, seasoned with sacrifice, and served with resilience.
In his own words: 'It is always Day One for me. The real work always starts today.'