Expat Choice | Unforgettable Peranakan Buffet Experience at Pan Pacific Singapore's Peppermint

Relish the scrumptious flavours of true-blue Peranakan cuisine at Peppermint’s all-you-can-eat-buffet with its first-ever collaboration with one-MICHELIN-starred Auntie Gaik Lean’s Old School Eatery from Penang, Malaysia. From 17 March until 30 April 2023, Peppermint’s Chef de Cuisine Leon Yee is proud to join hands with Chef Owner Beh Gaik Lean of Auntie Gaik Lean’s Old School Eatery to introduce a selection of heritage Peranakan dishes as prepared and enjoyed in Penang.

Auntie Gaik Lean’s Old School Eatery was one of the four restaurants recognised with one MICHELIN Star in the first edition of the MICHELIN Guide Kuala Lumpur and Penang. Fondly known as Auntie Gaik Lean among fans and loyal diners, the chef owner of Auntie Gaik Lean’s Old School Eatery is a fourth generation Nyonya who started cooking at the age of 12 under the tough training by her mother.

Chef Owner Beh Gaik Lean

After decades of perfecting and preserving Nyonya recipes and cuisine, she is proud to share a slice of it with Singapore in dishes like her signature Brinjal Sambal (eggplant stir-fried in shrimp belachan sambal), Egg Belanda (sweet and sour egg in tamarind sauce) and Kerabu Kacang Botol (four-angled bean salad).

She also cooks up Fish Curry Tumis (hot and sour fish curry) and fragrant Assam Prawns(prawns stir-fried in tamarind paste)that are perfect to go with Nasi Ulam (steamed herbed rice with ulam).

Bolder flavours are served in meat dishes like Curry Kapitan (Captain’s chicken curry in coconut milk with potatoes) and Beef Rendang (spiced beef in caramelised coconut curry). Dessert sweetens the whole affair with Pulut Hitam with Fresh Santan (black glutinuous rice porridge with coconut milk) and Ubi Kayu with Gula Melaka (poached sweet potato in Gula Melaka treacle).

Chef Leon

Auntie Gaik Lean’s dishes complement Chef Leon’s spread of age-old Peranakan recipes from his great grandmother, showcasing all-time favourites, such as the Ayam Buah Keluak (Chicken with fermented pangium edule seeds), Itek Sio (Braised duck leg with tamarind and coriander), Sustainable Crispy Barramundi, served with Udang Kering (Sustainably sourced barramundi, cooked with dried shrimp chilli paste),Black Angus Beef Oxtail Pongteh (Angus beef oxtail, stewed with fermented soy bean paste), the popular Wok Fried Seafood Dry Laksa, and the signature Blue Pea Rice Lemak, served with Spicy Coconut Floss,and more!

Desserts include traditional favourites, such as Pulut Hitam Cake (Black glutinous rice, served with coconut milk), Pandan Kaya Cake with house-made Kaya, as well as Bubor Cha Cha, Chendol Cake, Ondeh Ondeh Swiss Roll, served with Gula Melaka, and more.

In celebration of Peppermint’s Peranakan buffet spread, guests aged 55 years and above are welcome* to dine with for $55 nett during lunch from 13 March until 21 April. Children below the age of 12* dine for free with every one paying adult guest on weekends for lunch from 18 March until 21 April

Ramadan Specials for Iftar During the holy season of Ramadan,diners can enjoy the complimentary refreshments, Iced Bandung and Pandan Iced Tea, specially concocted to kick-start Iftar.

The Flavours of Peranakan all-you-can-eat-buffet at Peppermint is priced at:

Weekday Lunch (Mondays to Fridays excluding public holidays, 12:00pm to 2:30pm) SGD68++ per adult and SGD34++ per child (6 to 12 years old)

Weekday Dinner (Mondays to Thursdays excluding eve of public holidays and public holidays, 6:30pm to10:00pm) SGD98++ per adult and SGD49++ per child( 6 to 12 years old)

Weekend Lunch (Saturdays, Sundays and public holidays, 12:00pm to 3:00pm) SGD78++ per adult and SGD39++ per child (6 to 12 years old)

Weekend Dinner (Fridays to Sundays, eve of public holidays and public holidays, 6:30pm to 10:00pm) SGD108++ per adult and SGD54++ per child (6 to 12 years old)

*Terms and Conditions apply.

a. 6 Raffles Boulevard Singapore 039594

e. [email protected]

w. www.panpacific.com/en/hotels-and-resorts/pr-collection-marina-bay/dining/peppermint.html

t. +65 6845 1111

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Comments

Douglas

11 Apr 2023 , Tue

59 comments

CONTRIBUTOR

RATED 7.5 / 8

Peppermint at the Parkroyal Collection Marina Bay Hotel has teamed up with One-Michelin-starred Auntie Gaik Lean's Old School Eatery from Penang, Malaysia, to present a spectacular Peranakan buffet. From March 17th to April 30th, 2023, guests can enjoy a delectable selection of old-school Peranakan food as you’ll find in Penang. The ambience of Peppermint at the Parkroyal Collection Marina Bay was fittingly sophisticated and elegant, with a refined yet relaxed atmosphere that was ideal for indulging in the rich and flavourful dishes on offer. The collaboration between Chef de Cuisine Leon Yee and Chef Owner Beh Gaik Lean of Auntie Gaik Lean's Old School Eatery was a triumph of Peranakan cuisine. Both chefs showcased their culinary expertise to create an incredible culinary experience.

Fondly known as Auntie Gaik Lean, the chef-owner of Auntie Gaik Lean's Old School Eatery is a fourth-generation Nyonya who started cooking at 12 when she was learning to cook from her mother. Auntie Gaik Lean has been perfecting her mother’s Nyonya recipes ever since. In December 2022, Auntie Gaik Lean's Old School Eatery was recognised with one Michelin Star in the first edition of the Michelin Guide Kuala Lumpur and Penang. It's a remarkable achievement for this family-run business. Despite the recognition, their prices remain the same. The restaurant is popular with Singaporean foodies, regularly welcoming groups of diners from the Lion City.

I tried some of Auntie Gaik Lean’s favourite dishes. The Nonya Fish Maw soup with bamboo shoots and seafood dumpling ball was an excellent start to the meal, with its rich and savoury broth bursting with flavour and the tender bamboo shoots adding a delightful crunch to the dish. The Brinjal Sambal, a perennial favourite at Auntie Gaik Lean's Old School Eatery, was no less impressive at Peppermint. The vegan sambal provided a welcome twist on this classic dish. The Curry Kapitan and Beef Rendang were bold and flavourful, with the caramelised coconut curry adding a touch of sweetness to the spiced beef. The Assam King Prawns were another highlight, with their juicy, succulent flesh complemented perfectly by the tangy tamarind and spicy seasoning. Despite the five-star setting, I did not hesitate to crunch the giant prawn heads and savour the head juices.

Chef Leon's Ayam Buah Keluak was a standout dish, with the fragrant braised chicken coated in a delectable sauce made from the Keluah nut. The blue-pea coconut rice perfectly complements it, and Buah Keluak fans will definitely be asking for seconds. The Itek Sio braised duck was similarly impressive. Its tender meat bathing in luscious tamarind and coriander gravy is simply divine. The Sustainable Crispy Barramundi was perfectly cooked, with the dried shrimp chilli paste adding a touch of heat and depth of flavour to the dish.

Desserts were a fittingly sweet end to the meal, with the Pulut Hitam and Pandan Kaya Cake standing out as particular highlights. The dessert spread is impressive, and you must try the refreshingly crisp Peppermint Cucumber sorbet.

Overall, the collaboration between Parkroyal Collection Marina Bay and Auntie Gaik Lean's Old School Eatery was a resounding success. Both chefs brought their unique culinary styles and expertise to create a memorable dining experience showcasing the very best of Peranakan cuisine. Whether you're a classic dish fan or looking to try something new, this Peranakan buffet is a must-try for any foodie in Singapore.