Violet Oon at ION Orchard

Classic refined Peranakan cooking Located in the historic City Hall building which houses the National Gallery, National Kitchen by chef Violet Oon let me taste Perenakan food for the first time. Perenakan, or Nyonya cuisine, is a cuisine of the rich and diverse history of the Asian continent (influences by countries such as China, Malaysia, Singapore, and Indonesia, etc.) We started with Kuay Pie Tee, a must, cute little pastry cups with delicious stuffing topped with shrimp. The grilled chicken satay was delicious on its own, but even better when dipped into the sweet & savory peanut sauce. The Beef Rendang was my guest’s favourite dish of the night and the expression on his face certainly made that evident. It really is one of the best dishes in this part of the world and for good reason. The beef rendang was so tender, in a yummy sauce flavoured with kaffir and bay leaves. But the most special dish we ate was something we will never forget: Buah Keluak Ayam, a classic Peranakan dish that was a bit adventurous bc it’s cooked with the pungent buah keluak nut that could be poisonous if not handled correctly. Being an adventurous eater, the story made me more excited to try the dish, and it was delicious, especially eaten with white rice. And enjoyed everything that our friend, a local, ordered for us. Chef Oon is a local celebrity chef, known for her exceptional Perenakan cooking.