The Peranakan Restaurant At Claymore Connect - Entrance

The Peranakan Restaurant At Claymore Connect – Orchard, Singapore

When I first heard about The Peranakan Restaurant opened at Claymore Connect, I was planning for a trip but was never successful. Since enjoying them requires to dine in a group, like the way we did for Chinese food. Luckily the opportunity arise and I couldn’t say no.

 

Though I may not be a true blue Peranakan, I am exposed to the cuisine since young as my mom has a Peranakan heritage. I have fond memories of my maternal grandmother’s cooking and I missed them very much. Personally, I felt that Peranakan cuisine is very much under-rated and many aren’t exposed to them as much as they did for other cuisine. As such I like to think that most have yet developed a palate to appreciate this particular cuisine. Peranakan dishes are very bold and unique in flavours. It may have a similarity to Malay food but at the same time, it combines some chapters of the Chinese cuisine as such some may term them as a hybrid. But I would like to see them as an independent cuisine since they have their heritage and characteristics. 

 

The Peranakan Restaurant At Claymore Connect - Another view of Dinning Area

 

The Peranakan Restaurant At Claymore Connect - Interior Dinning Area

 

Seeing the restaurant from afar, my reaction was “Wow” that was colourful. As I walked nearer, I saw many furniture and accessories that were found at my maternal grandparents home previously. There was a sense of familiarity. Hence the ambience is very much like home. 

 

The Peranakan Restaurant At Claymore Connect - Hae Bee Hiam Roll with Sambal Chilli

 

After we are done with our order, we were treated to complimentary snack, Hae Bee Hiam Roll with Sambal Chilli. Oh my … These are so addictive. I can’t stop until I finish them all. It was tastier when eaten with the Sambal Chilli.

 

The Peranakan Restaurant At Claymore Connect - Kueh Pie Ti Set of 10 ($20)

 

The Peranakan Restaurant At Claymore Connect - Kueh Pie Ti

 

Kueh Pie Ti Set of 10 ($20), the only starter on The Peranakan Restaurant menu. Surprisingly, the batter shell remained crispy after it was left in the open for long. The fried turnip was tasty and lucky it wasn’t too wet, otherwise, the shell would turn soggy.

 

The Peranakan Restaurant At Claymore Connect - Combination Platter ($30)

 

Offering 3 types of appetisers, Sambal Timum ($8), Vegetarian Spring Roll ($15) and Ngoh Hiang in either Prawn ($15) or Liver ($17) and the best was the Combination Platter ($30) consisting of both the Prawn and Liver. From the term platter, I was expecting more items. Perhaps includes the remaining items that were the menu, but it wasn’t hence was a little disappointing.

 

Both the Prawn and Liver Roll was delish. I thought it might be tastier if they increase the saltiness level a little more.

 

The Peranakan Restaurant At Claymore Connect - Ayam Buah Keluak ($22)

 

The Peranakan Restaurant At Claymore Connect - Ayam Closed-up

 

We skipped the soups and dived into the Mains. At any Peranakan restaurant, my must have is the classic Peranakan dish, Ayam Buah Keluak ($22). I like this recipe. The dish has strong flavour and I could savour the Buah Keluak in the sauce too. Those with Buah Keluak-acquired taste would surely dig the black gold from the shell. Buah Keluak has an earthly and nutty tone and truffle-like and olive-like and chocolaty flavour note. Personally, I am a fan of them.

 

The Peranakan Restaurant At Claymore Connect - Kaki Babi Pong Teh ($19)

 

Kaki Babi Pong Teh ($19) is another popular classic Peranakan dish. This dish is cooked over low fire for 6 hours so that the meat are fork-tender. Overall, it has a bold sweetish hint.

 

Moving on to the seafood, first was the Sotong Masak Asam ($19). The sotong is cooked in tamarind and starfruit hence the end result was a sourish dish. The sotong was only lightly chewy which was good. Overall, I find the flavour a little too flat.

 

The Peranakan Restaurant At Claymore Connect - Sotong Masak Asam ($19)

 

The Peranakan Restaurant At Claymore Connect - Assam Pedas Fish Head ($30)

 

Next is the Assam Pedas Fish Head ($30).  One of the most wonderful Assam Pedas dish. The gravy was a strong assam flavour but yet not overly sour. Though I am sure some would prefer it more sour. I don’t mind if it turned out to be the case too. The fish remained soft and no sign of over-cooked.

 

The Peranakan Restaurant At Claymore Connect - Nonya Chap Chye ($15)

 

Nonya Chap Chye ($15) is another commonly sighted dish on Peranakan restaurant menu. The braised cabbage was soft and soggy and gotten all the essence of the sauce. It is exactly the way the old Peranakan would cook it. But certainly, this may be turned off some, especially those who love their vegetable crunchy.

 

The Peranakan Restaurant At Claymore Connect - Nasi Ulam Istimewa ($17)

 

I never remember that my grandma ever prepared this cold rice salad dish, the Nasi Ulam Istimewa ($17). Together with the cold rice, a medley of chopped raw herbs, vegetables, minced fish and salted fish were tossed and then served. Some isn’t used to the grassy and herby taste of the herbs but I do enjoyed them. The herbs were complemented with the sweetish vegetables such as long beans and the savoury salted fish.

 

 

Gila Durian

 

Rejoice all Durian Fan!! The Peranakan Restaurant has created a 8-course Gila Durian set menu. This is priced at $38++ for per pax but required a minimum of 2 diners to order.

 

The Peranakan Restaurant At Claymore Connect - Gila Durian ($38++)

 

And interestingly, they designed the dessert into a set meal. The difference is that all the items on this set meal are desserts and it has durian puree in them. In this specially curated dessert set, there are 3 types of durian, D24, Kampung Durian and Mao Shan Wang.

 

Appetiser

Starting with the Toasties With D24 Durian and D24 Durian Pengat as the appetiser.

 

The Peranakan Restaurant At Claymore Connect - Gila Durian: Toasties With D24 Durian

 

The Peranakan Restaurant At Claymore Connect - Gila Durian: D24 Durian Pengat

 

These 2 were lightest in the durian flavour and as such makes a good start.

 

Starter

Moving on is the starter, Pandan Chiffon Cake With D24 And Kampung Durian. On the top and bottom of the Pandan Chiffon Cake were 2 types of Durian, Kampung Durian and D24 respectively. In betweent the cake layer was gula melaka.  Remember to dig right to the bottom to enjoy all the different elements to get the best flavour.

 

The Peranakan Restaurant At Claymore Connect - Gila Durian: Pandan Chiffon Cake With D24 And Kampung Durian

 

Intermezzo of the day

Before moving on to the Mains, it is time for an Intermezzo. Interestingly, instead of sorbet, they offered Crispy Fish Skin. It was ultra crispy and very lightly salted with thankfully no fishy taste. Once I bite into the snack, the durian flavour diminished and soon disappear with only the fish skin taste on my palate.

 

The Peranakan Restaurant At Claymore Connect - Gila Durian: Intermezzo, Crispy Fish Skin

 

Main Course

Now, it was time for the Main Course, First is the Pulot Enti D24. Sticky rice coloured in blue using natural dye from the Butterfly Peaflower and there are shredded tumeric leaves added on top of the dessert. The base of course is D24 Durian puree. One got to have it with all the ingredients in one mouth to experience the unique flavour releasing from the leaves. 

 

The Peranakan Restaurant At Claymore Connect - Gila Durian: Pulot Enti D24

 

Fragrant Rice With Mao Shan Wang Durian may sounds a little unbelievable but it is the way the Peranakan enjoys in the good old days. The rice provided a more grainy texture to complement the durian but I didn’t think it is a good combination. Anyway, this dish offers diners a slice of the Peranakan tradition. Personally, I am not a fan to have it like such. I rather have the pure durian puree without rice. 

 

The Peranakan Restaurant At Claymore Connect - Gila Durian: Fragrant Rice With Mao Shan Wang Durian

 

Dessert

Chendol is always my soft spot but so far I never like it with Durian. However after trying out The Peranakan Restaurant D24 Durian Chendol, I changed my mind. This version is far too delish. I could savour the distinct gula melaka and the coconut in the chendol and yet the durian supplemented the flavour. But to a certain extend, it does masked the flavour of chendol but I like it.

 

The Peranakan Restaurant At Claymore Connect - Gila Durian: D24 Durian Chendol

 

Free Flow Hot Beverage

That’s not all. Within the 8 course, there is a free flow Lemongrass Pandan Tea. The pandan flavour was stronger than lemongrass. Overall it was lightly sweetish even though there isn’t additional sugar in it.

 

The Peranakan Restaurant At Claymore Connect - Gila Durian: Free Flow Hot Lemongrass Pandan Tea

 

 

NAHMJ Verdict

 

Personally, I do find the food at The Peranakan Restaurant delish and are authentic. But of course, each and every Peranakan family does have a variation to the recipe as such the true blue Peranakan might find their own the best as they are used to that familiarity which I am not surprised.

 

Anyway, the most important point here is that I enjoyed and it satisfy my craving for Grandma’s cooking.

 


 

 

 

The Peranakan Restaurant

442 Orchard Road Level 2 Claymore Connect, Singapore 238879
Tel: +65 6262 4428

Websitehttp://www.theperanakan.com/
FB: https://www.facebook.com/ThePeranakanSG/

 

Opening Hours

 

Daily  1100 to 2200

 

Getting There

 

By Bus:

  • Delfi Orchard along Orchard Road   7, 36, 77, 105, 106, 111, 123, 132, 174, 502
  • Opp Four Seasons Hotel   7, 36, 77, 105, 106, 111, 123, 132, 174, 174e, 502

 

By MRT:

  • North-South line – Orchard station

 

Rating: 8.5/10

 

 

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