{"id":1206,"date":"2020-10-01T16:31:32","date_gmt":"2020-10-01T08:31:32","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/feeds.oddle.me\/?p=1206"},"modified":"2021-05-05T15:17:15","modified_gmt":"2021-05-05T07:17:15","slug":"humans-of-fnb-penang-place","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/eats.oddle.me\/feeds\/humans-of-fnb-penang-place","title":{"rendered":"Retrenched at 48 with 6 kids: How Paul Ooi of Penang Place turned his life around"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p>Anyone who has spent time with Paul Ooi, founder of <a href=\"https:\/\/eats.oddle.me\/menus\/penang-place\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\"><strong><span style=\"color:#d2100b\" class=\"tadv-color\">Penang Place<\/span><\/strong><\/a>, would be no stranger to his warm, hospitable nature. Affable and cheery, his demeanour speaks volumes on his philosophy. During this interview, we had the joy of uncovering his outlook on life, his work ethic, and the people-first culture at his restaurant.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed-youtube wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio\"><div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n<iframe title=\"Retrenched at 48: How Paul Ooi of Penang Place Turned His Life Around\" width=\"1170\" height=\"658\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/oDypg8XyprI?feature=oembed&#038;enablejsapi=1&#038;origin=https:\/\/feeds.oddle.me\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe>\n<\/div><figcaption><br><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>Located at Suntec City, Penang Place serves authentic Penang street food and Northern Peranakan Food at affordable prices. They\u2019re most known for their affordable buffet,<em> <\/em>which promises a selection of quality Penang fare that transports you back to the rustic streets of the sunny island.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-retrenched-at-48-with-6-kids\"><strong>Retrenched at 48 with 6 kids<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>One would never have guessed that the decision to open Penang Place was made during one of Paul\u2019s lowest points in life. At 48 years old, Paul was retrenched from a huge multinational company in 2002, having served as an employee services manager for over 21 years.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-gallery columns-2 is-cropped wp-block-gallery-1 is-layout-flex wp-block-gallery-is-layout-flex\"><ul class=\"blocks-gallery-grid\"><li class=\"blocks-gallery-item\"><figure><img fetchpriority=\"high\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1000\" height=\"750\" src=\"https:\/\/eats.oddle.me\/feeds\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/Jyoungfamily-1000x750.jpg\" alt=\"\" data-id=\"1217\" data-full-url=\"https:\/\/eats.oddle.me\/feeds\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/Jyoungfamily.jpg\" data-link=\"https:\/\/eats.oddle.me\/feeds\/?attachment_id=1217\" class=\"wp-image-1217\" srcset=\"https:\/\/feeds.oddle.me\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/Jyoungfamily-1000x750.jpg 1000w, https:\/\/feeds.oddle.me\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/Jyoungfamily-770x578.jpg 770w, https:\/\/feeds.oddle.me\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/Jyoungfamily-1400x1050.jpg 1400w, https:\/\/feeds.oddle.me\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/Jyoungfamily-300x225.jpg 300w, https:\/\/feeds.oddle.me\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/Jyoungfamily-768x576.jpg 768w, https:\/\/feeds.oddle.me\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/Jyoungfamily-450x338.jpg 450w, https:\/\/feeds.oddle.me\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/Jyoungfamily-1024x768.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/feeds.oddle.me\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/Jyoungfamily-800x600.jpg 800w, https:\/\/feeds.oddle.me\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/Jyoungfamily-853x640.jpg 853w, https:\/\/feeds.oddle.me\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/Jyoungfamily-150x113.jpg 150w, https:\/\/feeds.oddle.me\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/Jyoungfamily.jpg 1440w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px\" \/><figcaption class=\"blocks-gallery-item__caption\">When Paul was retrenched in 2002, he was the sole breadwinner of the family.<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/li><li class=\"blocks-gallery-item\"><figure><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"1000\" height=\"751\" src=\"https:\/\/eats.oddle.me\/feeds\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/Paul-Oois-family-1000x751.jpg\" alt=\"\" data-id=\"1219\" data-full-url=\"https:\/\/eats.oddle.me\/feeds\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/Paul-Oois-family.jpg\" data-link=\"https:\/\/eats.oddle.me\/feeds\/?attachment_id=1219\" class=\"wp-image-1219\" srcset=\"https:\/\/feeds.oddle.me\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/Paul-Oois-family-1000x751.jpg 1000w, https:\/\/feeds.oddle.me\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/Paul-Oois-family-770x578.jpg 770w, https:\/\/feeds.oddle.me\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/Paul-Oois-family-300x225.jpg 300w, https:\/\/feeds.oddle.me\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/Paul-Oois-family-768x577.jpg 768w, https:\/\/feeds.oddle.me\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/Paul-Oois-family-450x338.jpg 450w, https:\/\/feeds.oddle.me\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/Paul-Oois-family-799x600.jpg 799w, https:\/\/feeds.oddle.me\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/Paul-Oois-family-853x640.jpg 853w, https:\/\/feeds.oddle.me\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/Paul-Oois-family-150x113.jpg 150w, https:\/\/feeds.oddle.me\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/Paul-Oois-family.jpg 1024w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px\" \/><figcaption class=\"blocks-gallery-item__caption\">With 6 children, aged 6 to 16, he turned his life around by starting Penang Place.<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/li><\/ul><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cIt was such a scary time,\u201d recalls Paul. He was the sole breadwinner, with 6 children, aged 6 to 16, to account for.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-paying-homage-to-his-peranakan-upbringing\"><strong>Paying homage to his Peranakan upbringing<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Born an hour away from Penang, Paul grew up in a traditional Peranakan family. His childhood memories consisted of nyonya feasts and both his grandmothers donning sarong kebayas all their lives.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-gallery columns-2 is-cropped wp-block-gallery-2 is-layout-flex wp-block-gallery-is-layout-flex\"><ul class=\"blocks-gallery-grid\"><li class=\"blocks-gallery-item\"><figure><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"1000\" height=\"1000\" src=\"https:\/\/eats.oddle.me\/feeds\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/Penang-Hokkien-Mee-1000x1000.png\" alt=\"\" data-id=\"1222\" data-full-url=\"https:\/\/eats.oddle.me\/feeds\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/Penang-Hokkien-Mee.png\" data-link=\"https:\/\/eats.oddle.me\/feeds\/?attachment_id=1222\" class=\"wp-image-1222\" srcset=\"https:\/\/feeds.oddle.me\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/Penang-Hokkien-Mee.png 1000w, https:\/\/feeds.oddle.me\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/Penang-Hokkien-Mee-120x120.png 120w, https:\/\/feeds.oddle.me\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/Penang-Hokkien-Mee-240x240.png 240w, https:\/\/feeds.oddle.me\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/Penang-Hokkien-Mee-360x360.png 360w, https:\/\/feeds.oddle.me\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/Penang-Hokkien-Mee-540x540.png 540w, https:\/\/feeds.oddle.me\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/Penang-Hokkien-Mee-720x720.png 720w, https:\/\/feeds.oddle.me\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/Penang-Hokkien-Mee-770x770.png 770w, https:\/\/feeds.oddle.me\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/Penang-Hokkien-Mee-125x125.png 125w, https:\/\/feeds.oddle.me\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/Penang-Hokkien-Mee-150x150.png 150w, https:\/\/feeds.oddle.me\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/Penang-Hokkien-Mee-300x300.png 300w, https:\/\/feeds.oddle.me\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/Penang-Hokkien-Mee-768x768.png 768w, https:\/\/feeds.oddle.me\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/Penang-Hokkien-Mee-450x450.png 450w, https:\/\/feeds.oddle.me\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/Penang-Hokkien-Mee-600x600.png 600w, https:\/\/feeds.oddle.me\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/Penang-Hokkien-Mee-640x640.png 640w, https:\/\/feeds.oddle.me\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/Penang-Hokkien-Mee-96x96.png 96w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px\" \/><figcaption class=\"blocks-gallery-item__caption\">Penang Hokkien Mee<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/li><li class=\"blocks-gallery-item\"><figure><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1000\" height=\"1000\" src=\"https:\/\/eats.oddle.me\/feeds\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/Big-Prawn-Char-Kway-Teow-1000x1000.png\" alt=\"\" data-id=\"1223\" data-full-url=\"https:\/\/eats.oddle.me\/feeds\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/Big-Prawn-Char-Kway-Teow.png\" data-link=\"https:\/\/eats.oddle.me\/feeds\/?attachment_id=1223\" class=\"wp-image-1223\" srcset=\"https:\/\/feeds.oddle.me\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/Big-Prawn-Char-Kway-Teow-1000x1000.png 1000w, https:\/\/feeds.oddle.me\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/Big-Prawn-Char-Kway-Teow-120x120.png 120w, https:\/\/feeds.oddle.me\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/Big-Prawn-Char-Kway-Teow-240x240.png 240w, https:\/\/feeds.oddle.me\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/Big-Prawn-Char-Kway-Teow-360x360.png 360w, https:\/\/feeds.oddle.me\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/Big-Prawn-Char-Kway-Teow-540x540.png 540w, https:\/\/feeds.oddle.me\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/Big-Prawn-Char-Kway-Teow-720x720.png 720w, https:\/\/feeds.oddle.me\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/Big-Prawn-Char-Kway-Teow-770x770.png 770w, https:\/\/feeds.oddle.me\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/Big-Prawn-Char-Kway-Teow-1400x1400.png 1400w, https:\/\/feeds.oddle.me\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/Big-Prawn-Char-Kway-Teow-125x125.png 125w, https:\/\/feeds.oddle.me\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/Big-Prawn-Char-Kway-Teow-150x150.png 150w, https:\/\/feeds.oddle.me\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/Big-Prawn-Char-Kway-Teow-300x300.png 300w, https:\/\/feeds.oddle.me\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/Big-Prawn-Char-Kway-Teow-768x768.png 768w, https:\/\/feeds.oddle.me\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/Big-Prawn-Char-Kway-Teow-450x450.png 450w, https:\/\/feeds.oddle.me\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/Big-Prawn-Char-Kway-Teow-1024x1024.png 1024w, https:\/\/feeds.oddle.me\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/Big-Prawn-Char-Kway-Teow-600x600.png 600w, https:\/\/feeds.oddle.me\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/Big-Prawn-Char-Kway-Teow-640x640.png 640w, https:\/\/feeds.oddle.me\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/Big-Prawn-Char-Kway-Teow-96x96.png 96w, https:\/\/feeds.oddle.me\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/Big-Prawn-Char-Kway-Teow.png 1500w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px\" \/><figcaption class=\"blocks-gallery-item__caption\">Big Prawn Char Kway Teow<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/li><\/ul><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cI\u2019ve had traditional Penang street food and Northern Peranakan food growing up and I want to share our delicious cuisine with more people\u201d, says Paul. With that childhood dream in mind, Paul turned crisis into opportunity, and started Penang Place.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>As a brand new restaurant, it took a long time for Penang Place to attract customers and gain traction.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-gallery columns-2 is-cropped wp-block-gallery-3 is-layout-flex wp-block-gallery-is-layout-flex\"><ul class=\"blocks-gallery-grid\"><li class=\"blocks-gallery-item\"><figure><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" src=\"https:\/\/feeds.oddle.me\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/Jurong-East-International-Business-Park-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" data-id=\"1214\" data-full-url=\"https:\/\/feeds.oddle.me\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/Jurong-East-International-Business-Park.jpg\" data-link=\"https:\/\/feeds.oddle.me\/humans-of-fnb-penang-place\/jurong-east-international-business-park\" class=\"wp-image-1214\" srcset=\"https:\/\/feeds.oddle.me\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/Jurong-East-International-Business-Park-300x225.jpg 300w, https:\/\/feeds.oddle.me\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/Jurong-East-International-Business-Park-770x578.jpg 770w, https:\/\/feeds.oddle.me\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/Jurong-East-International-Business-Park-1400x1050.jpg 1400w, https:\/\/feeds.oddle.me\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/Jurong-East-International-Business-Park-768x576.jpg 768w, https:\/\/feeds.oddle.me\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/Jurong-East-International-Business-Park-1000x750.jpg 1000w, https:\/\/feeds.oddle.me\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/Jurong-East-International-Business-Park-450x338.jpg 450w, https:\/\/feeds.oddle.me\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/Jurong-East-International-Business-Park-1024x768.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/feeds.oddle.me\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/Jurong-East-International-Business-Park-800x600.jpg 800w, https:\/\/feeds.oddle.me\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/Jurong-East-International-Business-Park-853x640.jpg 853w, https:\/\/feeds.oddle.me\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/Jurong-East-International-Business-Park-150x113.jpg 150w, https:\/\/feeds.oddle.me\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/Jurong-East-International-Business-Park.jpg 1440w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\" \/><figcaption class=\"blocks-gallery-item__caption\">Penang Place opened its doors at International Business Park in 2003<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/li><li class=\"blocks-gallery-item\"><figure><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"300\" height=\"191\" src=\"https:\/\/feeds.oddle.me\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/penangplace-300x191.png\" alt=\"\" data-id=\"1220\" data-full-url=\"https:\/\/feeds.oddle.me\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/penangplace.png\" data-link=\"https:\/\/feeds.oddle.me\/humans-of-fnb-penang-place\/penangplace\" class=\"wp-image-1220\" srcset=\"https:\/\/feeds.oddle.me\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/penangplace-300x191.png 300w, https:\/\/feeds.oddle.me\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/penangplace-770x490.png 770w, https:\/\/feeds.oddle.me\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/penangplace-768x489.png 768w, https:\/\/feeds.oddle.me\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/penangplace-1000x636.png 1000w, https:\/\/feeds.oddle.me\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/penangplace-450x286.png 450w, https:\/\/feeds.oddle.me\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/penangplace-1024x652.png 1024w, https:\/\/feeds.oddle.me\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/penangplace-943x600.png 943w, https:\/\/feeds.oddle.me\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/penangplace-150x95.png 150w, https:\/\/feeds.oddle.me\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/penangplace.png 1257w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\" \/><figcaption class=\"blocks-gallery-item__caption\">They&#8217;re now based at Suntec City, occupying a 10,000 square foot space. <\/figcaption><\/figure><\/li><\/ul><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<blockquote class=\"wp-block-quote has-text-align-left\"><p>When we first opened, it really wasn\u2019t easy&#8230; My father came all the way from Malaysia to distribute flyers together with my 6 children.<\/p><cite>\u2014Paul Ooi, Founder of Penang Place<\/cite><\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n<p>Thankfully, with their persistence and never-say-die spirit, Penang Place steadily took off, and grew in strength over the years. The restaurant relocated from its humble beginnings at International Business Park to Fusionopolis. Now, it occupies a 10,000 square foot space in the heart of Suntec City.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-penang-place-s-people-first-culture\">Penang Place&#8217;s <strong>people-first culture<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cThe COVID-19 crisis was probably the lowest point of our business. But it was also a good reminder for us to hold dear to the things that matter the most\u2014our people,&#8221; shares Paul.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Based in a central location like Suntec City which depends on footfall from the working crowd, Penang Place definitely saw the impact of work-from-home and circuit breaker measures. Despite losing well over half of its revenue in recent months, Paul has not let any of his staff go.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-gallery columns-2 is-cropped wp-block-gallery-4 is-layout-flex wp-block-gallery-is-layout-flex\"><ul class=\"blocks-gallery-grid\"><li class=\"blocks-gallery-item\"><figure><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"300\" height=\"200\" src=\"https:\/\/feeds.oddle.me\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/2020-09-30-10.43.26-300x200.jpg\" alt=\"\" data-id=\"1212\" data-full-url=\"https:\/\/feeds.oddle.me\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/2020-09-30-10.43.26.jpg\" data-link=\"https:\/\/feeds.oddle.me\/humans-of-fnb-penang-place\/2020-09-30-10-43-26\" class=\"wp-image-1212\" srcset=\"https:\/\/feeds.oddle.me\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/2020-09-30-10.43.26-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/feeds.oddle.me\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/2020-09-30-10.43.26-360x240.jpg 360w, https:\/\/feeds.oddle.me\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/2020-09-30-10.43.26-720x480.jpg 720w, https:\/\/feeds.oddle.me\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/2020-09-30-10.43.26-770x514.jpg 770w, https:\/\/feeds.oddle.me\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/2020-09-30-10.43.26-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/feeds.oddle.me\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/2020-09-30-10.43.26-1000x667.jpg 1000w, https:\/\/feeds.oddle.me\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/2020-09-30-10.43.26-450x300.jpg 450w, https:\/\/feeds.oddle.me\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/2020-09-30-10.43.26-1024x683.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/feeds.oddle.me\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/2020-09-30-10.43.26-899x600.jpg 899w, https:\/\/feeds.oddle.me\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/2020-09-30-10.43.26-150x100.jpg 150w, https:\/\/feeds.oddle.me\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/2020-09-30-10.43.26.jpg 1280w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\" \/><figcaption class=\"blocks-gallery-item__caption\">Paul with Alvin, head chef of Penang Place, who&#8217;s born and raised in Penang.<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/li><li class=\"blocks-gallery-item\"><figure><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"289\" height=\"300\" src=\"https:\/\/feeds.oddle.me\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/paul-alvin-289x300.png\" alt=\"\" data-id=\"1221\" data-full-url=\"https:\/\/feeds.oddle.me\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/paul-alvin.png\" data-link=\"https:\/\/feeds.oddle.me\/humans-of-fnb-penang-place\/paul-alvin\" class=\"wp-image-1221\" srcset=\"https:\/\/feeds.oddle.me\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/paul-alvin-289x300.png 289w, https:\/\/feeds.oddle.me\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/paul-alvin-770x800.png 770w, https:\/\/feeds.oddle.me\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/paul-alvin-768x798.png 768w, https:\/\/feeds.oddle.me\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/paul-alvin-450x467.png 450w, https:\/\/feeds.oddle.me\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/paul-alvin-578x600.png 578w, https:\/\/feeds.oddle.me\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/paul-alvin-150x156.png 150w, https:\/\/feeds.oddle.me\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/paul-alvin.png 799w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 289px) 100vw, 289px\" \/><figcaption class=\"blocks-gallery-item__caption\">They&#8217;ve developed a close bond over their 2 decades of working together. <\/figcaption><\/figure><\/li><\/ul><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>A few of the 7 Penang chefs, who&#8217;ve come all the way to Singapore to make a living, have been working with Paul for over 2 decades. They are amongst the many wait and kitchen staff who depend on Penang Place to provide for their families and make Penang Place what it is. With this, Paul remains steadfast in his commitment to his 30-strong staff.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cWe need to do right by the people who depend on us for a livelihood, who have families they need to feed.\u201d&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator\"\/>\n\n\n\n<p>If you\u2019d like to support a restaurant with heart for its people and food that\u2019s equally as awesome, have <strong><a href=\"https:\/\/eats.oddle.me\/menus\/penang-place\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\"><span style=\"color:#d2100b\" class=\"tadv-color\">Penang Place<\/span><\/a><\/strong> delivered to your doorstep today.&nbsp;<br><br><\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-buttons aligncenter is-layout-flex wp-block-buttons-is-layout-flex\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-button\"><a class=\"wp-block-button__link has-ccp-white-color has-ccp-primary-background-color has-text-color has-background\" href=\"https:\/\/eats.oddle.me\/menus\/penang-place\">Get your authentic Peranakan meal from Penang Place today!<\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Penang Place began as a leap of faith to make a living, but its authentic Penang fare won it great success. Meet the restaurant&#8217;s warm, gallant owner.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":1241,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"om_disable_all_campaigns":false,"_monsterinsights_skip_tracking":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_active":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_note":"","_monsterinsights_sitenote_category":0,"_uf_show_specific_survey":0,"_uf_disable_surveys":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[1,449],"tags":[216],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v23.5 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/wordpress\/plugins\/seo\/ -->\n<title>Retrenched at 48 with 6 kids: How Paul Ooi of Penang Place turned his life around<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Penang Place began as a leap of faith to make a living, but its authentic Penang fare won it great success. 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