UrbanWire

Something's sizzling hot on Channel 8 and no, we aren't talking about a cooking show starring Feng Tai.

Rather, we have a delicious mix of both veteran actors and fresh talent in Channel 8's latest drama, Spice Siblings, which looks set to spice up your TV sets from April 19, with hot eye-candy talents like Tay Ping Hui and Jeanette Aw.

Set in Katong, Singapore's famous laksa [noodles in coconut gravy] hotspot, the story revolves around the trials and tribulations of the 5-member Wen family. The Wens own a well-established laksa stall run by the father of the family, Wen Shui (Ye Shipin). Because of his poor health, third sister Wen Qing (Jeanette Aw), an aspiring model, helps him out at the stall. Her temperament, however, doesn't go down too well with her competitors (Liu Qianyi and MC King).

"It was satisfying to play the role [of Wen Qing] for a change because it's rare that I get the opportunity to bully the guys!" said Jeanette jokingly in Mandarin at a press conference 2 weeks ago. She was referring to a scene where she punched MC King after he angered her.

Another pivotal character is Wen He (Tay Ping Hui), the eldest brother in the family, who returns to Singapore following a 13-year long stay in Britain. Due to his own failing health, the chef returns to find someone to help take care of his young daughter.

Despite the initial cold shoulder-treatment from his other siblings, Wen He eventually gets into their good books after he helps with the family business. He gets by with much assistance from the ang ku kueh [red glutinous rice flour cake] seller, Ding Zhen Zhu (played by Cynthia Koh less than a year after her turn in Holland V, a marathon series involving another family food business of nasi lemak). Not surprisingly, she develops a major crush on him.

The remaining siblings include his spendthrift second brother, Wen Quan (Andrew Seow), who goes all out to find the family's secret laksa recipe for his own benefit, and fourth sister, Wen Xin (Le Yao), a simple and sweet character who tries not to get herself involved in any family mess.

The 20-parter gets even more fascinating, especially with word of a love triangle, a potentially incestuous relationship, and the obligatory scheming in future episodes.

Le Yao comments on the show's twisted plots, "It's complicating." She adds that the show's essence can be summed up in a Chinese idiom - "suan tian ku la", which literally means sour, sweet, bitter and spicy.