Yvonne Tan, a former bank executive, left her corporate career to join her husband, Seth Sim, in the food and beverage industry.
On Tuesday, Nov 10, Sim shared the history of their 10-year partnership in an Instagram video, detailing how his wife transitioned from the financial sector to running their eatery, Da Shi Jia Big Prawn Mee.
The couple’s relationship began after friends introduced them, as Sim’s demanding schedule at his father’s seafood zi char business left him little time for socializing. Sim worked shifts that often ran until 1 a.m. or 2 a.m. During their early dates, Tan distinguished herself by offering to pay for meals, a gesture that surprised Sim.
“I never imagined that a woman working in a bank in Singapore would marry someone like me, who sells prawn noodles,” the 36-year-old owner of Da Shi Jia Big Prawn Mee, Seth Sim, said in an Instagram video.
“I thought it was strange because it was really the first time a woman had paid for me,” said Sim, 36. He viewed the gesture as an indication of her willingness to share his burdens.
Building the business at Killiney Road
As their relationship grew, Tan struggled to understand the late-night demands of Sim’s work. When he suggested she join him, she resigned from her banking position to support the venture. The couple opened Da Shi Jia Big Prawn Mee in 2017, just two weeks after their wedding, forgoing a traditional honeymoon.
The reality of the food industry proved different from what Tan initially anticipated. While she had expected the role of a business owner’s wife to be straightforward, she soon found the daily tasks—such as wiping tables and replenishing condiments—to be physically demanding.
“When she actually started doing the work, she found it very tiring,” Sim said.
Sustaining a Michelin-recognized eatery
Despite the initial difficulties, Tan remained committed to the business. After the couple became parents in 2020, she continued her work at the eatery, at times carrying their child on her back while taking customer orders. Their efforts contributed to the establishment’s success, with Da Shi Jia Big Prawn Mee earning a Michelin Bib Gourmand designation for six years since 2021.
The eatery, located at 89 Killiney Road, currently operates daily from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. Its menu features dishes such as Wok-fried Big Prawn White Bee Hoon and Da Shi Jia Signature Prawn Noodle. Reflecting on their shared professional path, Sim emphasized that he intends to demonstrate his gratitude for his wife’s support through his actions.
“I really have to thank her for being by my side and supporting me,” said Sim.
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