Categories: FeaturedFood & Drinks

Modern Peranakan Cuisine at Bonding Kitchen at Orchard Gateway

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.

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
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
Barramundi Fish Assam Pedas, Barramundi fillet served with aromatic sour tamarind and classic spicy gravy – $26
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
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
Steamed Fragrant Rice – $1.50
Chendol, local shaved ice dessert topped with pandan jelly, coconut milk, palm sugar syrup and red beans – $7
Bunga Telang Lemongrass Pandan, homemade refreshing healthy drinks with blue pea butterfly juices – $6.50

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: bondingkitchen@outlook.com
​Tel: +65 8860 9087

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

alvinology

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

Recent Posts

Step Into the Mystery: Disney+ Presents The Light Shop Interactive Pop-Up

Disney+ is lighting up the streets with an enchanting and immersive pop-up experience, The Light…

2 hours ago

The Pace Officially Launches at Funan: A Game-Changer for Multi-Discipline Athletes

The Pace has officially launched at Funan. Blending sports, style, and community, this unique destination…

4 hours ago

KORIO Returns for Good: A Permanent Home with Zouk Group

KORIO is making its permanent comeback in partnership with Zouk Group. Following the massive success…

6 hours ago

Affordable Art Fair Singapore Celebrates 15 Years with Record-Breaking Success

The 15th edition of Affordable Art Fair Singapore wrapped up in spectacular fashion, marking a…

20 hours ago

Starbucks Celebrates a Magical Holiday Season with Wicked-Inspired Merchandise, Festive Collections, and Gourmet Treats

This holiday season, Starbucks invites fans into a world of wonder with a dazzling lineup…

23 hours ago

LIXIL Takes Bold Steps in Sanitation Innovation Ahead of World Toilet Day 2024

As part of World Toilet Day 2024 celebration, LIXIL is proud to spotlight its significant…

1 day ago