The Latest

Modern Peranakan Cuisine at Bonding Kitchen at Orchard Gateway - Alvinology

Modern Peranakan Cuisine at Bonding Kitchen at Orchard Gateway

byalvinology
February 22, 2021
3 minute read

Quality Peranakan restaurants are far and few in Singapore. This is because of the time-consuming preparation process for many traditional Peranakan dishes. Chef-owner Danny Chew has just launched a modern Peranakan restaurant, Bonding Kitchen at Orchard Gateway to add to the selection.

  • Modern Peranakan Cuisine at Bonding Kitchen at Orchard Gateway - Alvinology
  • Modern Peranakan Cuisine at Bonding Kitchen at Orchard Gateway - Alvinology

Coming from humble beginnings, Chef Danny started from a home private-dining gig in neighbouring Johor Bahru in Malaysia, before jumping in to launch his first restaurant in Singapore in the heart of the Orchard shopping belt.

We were invited for a media tasting and these were the dishes we sampled:

Kueh Pie Tee (4 pieces), home made crispy kueh pie tee shell filling with hand-cut julienne turnips braised with prawn stock, mushroom, pork belly, topped with prawn, pork lard, quail egg and chili cuka - $12
Kueh Pie Tee (4 pieces), home made crispy kueh pie tee shell filling with hand-cut julienne turnips braised with prawn stock, mushroom, pork belly, topped with prawn, pork lard, quail egg and chili cuka – $12
  • Modern Peranakan Cuisine at Bonding Kitchen at Orchard Gateway - Alvinology
  • Modern Peranakan Cuisine at Bonding Kitchen at Orchard Gateway - Alvinology
  • Modern Peranakan Cuisine at Bonding Kitchen at Orchard Gateway - Alvinology
Pong Tauhu (per pax), meatball made from hand-chopped pork meat, shrimps and tofu served with prawns, chicken and pork broth with bamboo shoots and seasoned fermented soybean paste - $10
Pong Tauhu (per pax), meatball made from hand-chopped pork meat, shrimps and tofu served with prawns, chicken and pork broth with bamboo shoots and seasoned fermented soybean paste – $10
Wagyu Beef Rendang, stewed Westholme Wagyu beef ribs with coconut milk and over 15 local herbs and spices until liquid caramelizes around the beef - $32
Wagyu Beef Rendang, stewed Westholme Wagyu beef ribs with coconut milk and over 15 local herbs and spices until liquid caramelizes around the beef – $32
Barramundi Fish Assam Pedas, Barramundi fillet served with aromatic sour tamarind and classic spicy gravy - $26
Barramundi Fish Assam Pedas, Barramundi fillet served with aromatic sour tamarind and classic spicy gravy – $26
Assam Ko Prawn, pan-seared marinated prawns with concentrated tamarind juices - $28 to $36
Udang Sambal Petai, stir-fried prawns and stink beans with chili, spices and shrimp paste – $22
Nyonya Chap Chye, braised cabbage, mushroom, black fungus, dried lily buds, beancurd skin, pork belly with prawn broth and soybean paste - $15
Nyonya Chap Chye, braised cabbage, mushroom, black fungus, dried lily buds, beancurd skin, pork belly with prawn broth and soybean paste – $15
Modern Peranakan Cuisine at Bonding Kitchen at Orchard Gateway - Alvinology
Nasi Goreng Buah Keluak, fried rice with egg, chili and Indonesia black nut paste – $15
Sotong Masak Hitam, wok-fried squid with squid ink, shrimp paste and concentrated tamarind juices - $20
Sotong Masak Hitam, wok-fried squid with squid ink, shrimp paste and concentrated tamarind juices – $20
Steamed Fragrant Rice - $1.50
Steamed Fragrant Rice – $1.50
Modern Peranakan Cuisine at Bonding Kitchen at Orchard Gateway - Alvinology
Chendol, local shaved ice dessert topped with pandan jelly, coconut milk, palm sugar syrup and red beans – $7
Modern Peranakan Cuisine at Bonding Kitchen at Orchard Gateway - Alvinology
Bunga Telang Lemongrass Pandan, homemade refreshing healthy drinks with blue pea butterfly juices – $6.50
  • Modern Peranakan Cuisine at Bonding Kitchen at Orchard Gateway - Alvinology
  • Modern Peranakan Cuisine at Bonding Kitchen at Orchard Gateway - Alvinology

Well-prepared Peranakan food presents a complex array of flavours to tantalise all your taste buds, mixing the sweet and the sour, the spicy and the bitter. The dishes at Bonding Kitchen are lovingly conceptualised and prepared in the skilful hands of Chef Danny, whom we were told is still extremely hands-on in the kitchen daily, all the way from the food preparations to the presentations before the dishes are served to customers.

The standout dishes for us was the Sotong Masak Hitam and the Nasi Goreng Buah Keluak. Just these two dishes are enought for us to visit again and enjoy them in a meal. The former is strong and rich in flavour with a citrusy burst from the tamarind juice while the latter packs a surprise with the Buah Keluak flavour infused nicely into the fried rice. Both dishes are not exactly pretty to look at because of the monotone colour, but packs an assortment of flavours when you dig in.

Other dishes worth trying are Chef Danny’s signature Pong Tauhu and his Wagyu Beef Rendang. The menu items are generally wallet-friendly, with most items kept under $20. The dishes are mostly in sharing portions and it would be better to dine with a group so you can try out more stuff together.

Bonding Kitchen is now open for dine-in and reservations. It is located on the second floor of Orchard Gateway shopping mall.

Bonding Kitchen

Address: #02-18 Orchard Gateway, 277 Orchard Road, Singapore 238858

Email: [email protected]
​Tel: +65 8860 9087

Opening Hours: 11.30am to 9.00pm daily from Tues to Sun, closed on Mon

Author
alvinology
Alvin is a marketer by day and blogger by night. He is a 100% geek who spends too much time surfing the web.

Leave a Reply

Related Posts