The Social Outcast

Mint traded his comfortable offi ce for a hot charcoal oven, prompting family and friends to ask if he had lost his mind. But this outcast has since found his true calling

- Jonathan Ho

“I WONDER WHAT MY LIFE WOULD HAVE BEEN IF I HAVEN’T BEEN THIS STUBBORN.” – AMINURRASHID HASNORDIN

AMINURRASHID HASNORDIN (Mint to friends) is not your typical Singaporean dude. He isn’t a “high flier” in the corporate sense either. His success is measured in the joy he brings to people with his cuisine. Passionate, curious, facile, his entrepreneurial spirit was sparked during a trip to Japan.

Finding fresh seafood, meats, and vegetables available at every corner of Tokyo, his inventiveness birthed the idea of meats grilling over wood and charcoal. Backed by a supportive life partner, he breathed life into The Social Outcast.

Not many Singaporeans pick up this trade, what drew you into it?

Cooking has been something I love. Throughout my life, laughter, levity, and fellowship have always revolved around food and the kitchen. Many Singaporeans are brought up to believe that success is found in the corporate world and manifested in the 5Cs. What I found was melancholy in the corporate rat race.

Swapping out a comfortable office chair, stable income and the yearly bonus for life in F&B seems crazy when you consider the alternative of long hours, perpetual grease, extreme heat, and pressure.