Simply Peranakan@ the Esplanade

Both dad and mum loves Perananka food, especially my dad's a peranankan, so it brings back fond memories of the old days for him i guess. Mum booked a table for 4 at Simply Peranakan@ the Esplanade. We wait in eager anticipation that saturday as we missed the one at turf city which has closed. We were staying over at Raffles the Plaza that night so mum decided that it wasn't a good idea to go dinner without planning as we have left our family car at home.

It was literally full house and with a queue snaking outside and although we had made reservations in advance, we still had to queue for awhile!

Lucky thing was, we weren't really hungry so we didnt mind waiting for awhile. i saw many people eating Fish head curry! heard it was one of their speciality but we just had fish head curry a week ago at Samy's...

Did i mention that the one at Dempsy has temporarily moved to Serangoon area. But it will be back soon as it is under renovation and beside it at Dempsy's, Long Beach Seafood is opening!!! WOOHOO! then whenever i have cravings for chilli crab i can just walk there!!! *slurps* i love their eggy spicy sweet and tangy chilli crabs!!! As for pepper crabs, i still prefer Jumbo Seafood ones for their fragrant peppery crabs, the peppers are done till perfect, or roasted, fried. Really haven a clue what they did to their peppers but they are simply heavenly! okie too much deviation here....Back to Peranankan Cuisine....

ritey, so we ordered:

1. Sambal Kangkong
   
2. Bakwang Kepeting


3. Buah Keluak


4. Beef Rendang


5. Chap Chye


6. Bakwang Kepeting

So before the dishes came, the waitress offered us Keropok, spicy and appetising achar and chilli padi!!!The achar was quite good! Loads of crushed peanuts with just the right hint of sweetness and spicyness in all that strips of veggie. LURVE IT!

First up was the Bakwang Kepeting!!Seasoned meat-balls made with minced pork, crab meat and prawns simmered in a specially prepared broth accompanied with finely shredded bamboo shoots. Crunchy to the bite with nicely favoured morsels of crab meat. Thumbs up here. and servings was just one 'ball' per person. Sob sob, cant i help more please????
Arriving quickly was the Beef rendang,Sambal Kangkong and Nyonya Chap Chye.
Sambal Kangkong, nothing special here. But it's dad's favourite dish all time anywhere, anytime for a plate of greens. I find it abit oily...but i guess sambal 'anythin' is always oily.

This traditional Nyonya Chap Chye delicacy is prepared with an assortment of different vegetables and herbs like cabbages, mushrooms, glass noodles (tang hoon), black fungus and a touch of green paste in a claypot. Flavours all immersed in. Nice! and really good for those who cant take spicy food, this dish is a sure favourite!

Marinated beef stewed in a rich gravy of coconut milk spiced with chilli paste, ginger, lime leaves and a dash of curry powder - is the Beef Rendang!A dish of Indonesian origin with a Nyonya twist. Personally i didnt think the beef was tender enough, i thot the one i had in Batam was better! As for taste, it was quite savoury, just too bad that the beef was abit too 'stringy'

Ayam Buah Keluak (recommended!!!) Really love this one!Pieces of juicy chicken stewed with black nut gravy. A good balance of spicy, sweet and the unique aroma of the nut. A signature dish not to be missed! Yup, i think it's one of their signature dishes as there aint many restaurants that actually will take the effort to do a Buah Keluak dish. And it was simply lovely to dig the black paste out from the shell and mix it with my rice! SEDAP!!!

Finally to cap up the delicious night, we ordered one portion of all the house's dessert but only got 3 out of 4. Wells, what can i say, they've sold out and still in good business!