Mama Pinto’s Kitchen – Homey Eurasian Private Dining That’s Hard to Come By

Private dining concepts continue to flourish, but Eurasian cuisine remains a rarity in Singapore’s dining landscape. That was precisely why the foodie gang decided to try Mama Pinto’s Kitchen, opting for a Eurasian-focused menu, though Mama Pinto does a mix of Eurasian and Peranakan dishes. At $90 for 7 dishes, it’s also one of the more value-for-money private dining menus we’ve come across.

Pomelo Salad 4/5

We started with the Pomelo Salad, a refreshing opener that whetted the appetite. The natural sweetness of the pomelo is lifted with a spicy lime dressing, then topped with nuts, garlic crisp and dried prawns for extra crunch and umami.

Stuffed Beancurd Puff 4.2/5

Next came the Stuffed Beancurd Puffs, packed with minced beef and potatoes. Deep-fried to a golden crisp, the exterior gives way to a soft, hearty centre. Pair it with the sambal kicap on the side for a spicy-sweet kick that elevates the bite.

Itek Teem 4.2/5

The Itek Teem was a standout soup course. A good version hinges on a well-built broth, and here it’s slow-cooked with pork ribs for added depth, along with duck and salted vegetables. Mama Pinto even marinates the duck with brandy. Diners can add an extra splash of brandy to the soup for more flavour dimension.

Eurasian Beef Semur 3/5

The Eurasian Beef Semur unfortunately leaned on the tougher side due to the cut used. Stewed with onions, potatoes and carrots, the flavours were promising; a better choice of beef would have made this dish shine.

Eurasian Kari Devil 4.8/5

The clear favourite of the night was the Eurasian Kari Devil. This spicy chicken curry, brightened with mustard and vinegar, features tender chicken pieces, potatoes, and chicken sausages. Bold, tangy and full-bodied — the table unanimously approved.

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Eurasian Pork Tambrinyu 4.5/5

The Eurasian Pork Tambrinyu, an Eurasian take on babi assam, was another enjoyable dish. Using both pork belly and pork ribs, diners get two different textures: thick slices of belly for melt-in-the-mouth richness, and rib meat that slips off the bone effortlessly.

Eurasian Sambal Ma Juliana Prawns 4.5/5

We wrapped up with the Sambal Ma Juliana Prawns with Petai. The sweetness of the prawns pairs well with the spicy, tangy tamarind-based sambal, while the petai adds a distinct aroma and bite.

We ended the meal with a comforting homemade Pineapple Tart served with a scoop of Vanilla Ice Cream. A simple yet satisfying finish, the warm tart and cold ice cream made a delightful pairing. I enjoyed it so much that I completely forgot to take a photo.


Mama Pinto
Upper East Coard Road
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Godmama @ Funan - Presenting Godma And Mama's Heirloom Recipes Anew

Godmama at Funan is a modern Peranakan restaurant and bar. Stemming from the initial idea of preserving an heirloom recipe of egg skin popiah which is passed down from one of the co-owners' Godma and Mama. The concept eventually evolved into one that serves not only the egg skin popiah but also includes the classic Peranakan dishes, a mod-Peranakan brunch and cocktails.

All Star Egg Skin Popiah 4/5

Our dinner started with the All Star Egg Skin Popiah ($6.50), recreated using Godma’s family recipe. It takes 4 hours to prepare the jicama stew. Despite its dark colour, the jicama was quite balanced in flavour, and there was still a light crunch to it. Toppings include cucumber strips, lettuce, crispy garlic bits, coriander, sprouts and tiger prawns, which made it all the more satisfying for me as a popiah lover.

Ngoh Hiang 3.8/5

Next up was Ngoh Hiang ($11.90). The filling is a blend of fresh prawns, minced meat and water chestnut seasoned with five-spice. I like that it was not overly seasoned with spices, and it was of a looser mix that was moist and juicy. The chilli cuka at the side was punchy, which made the meat roll even more appetising.

Babi Assam 3.8/5

Babi Assam ($13.90 as part of the Executive Lunch Set; $18.90 for dinner) is Head chef’s signature dish. The pork belly is simmered in a spicy and tangy tamarind stew. The melt-in-your-mouth pork belly was the highlight for sure, and the gravy was robust without being too salty.

Ayam Buah Keluak 3/5

Although the menu states that the Ayam Buah Keluak ($15.90 as part of the Executive Lunch Set; $19.90 for dinner) is a stew, it appeared to be more of a braised dish. Presented in a more contemporary manner, you get two tender chicken thighs and buah keluak which are infused with fresh root spices of galangal and turmeric. I love that the nuts are served as a whole, which allows me to enjoy its flavours on its own. However, the meat did not seem to have taken in the flavours of the sauce. This mild version of Ayam Buah Keluak may sit well with diners who are not that into buah keluak.

Sambal Udang 2.8/5

One of the seafood choices is Sambal Udang ($17.90 as part of the Executive Lunch Set; $23.90 for dinner). The tiger prawns are tossed in a weak sambal sauce that lacked zest. My prawns were dry too.

Nyonya Chap Chye 4/5

Godmama's Nyonya Chap Chye (available as part of the Executive Set Lunch; $13.90 a la carte) is refined with prawn bisque as the base for braising the vegetables.

Sticky Red Date Pudding 4/5

The desserts left a much deeper impression than their main dishes. Turning a traditional drink of Longan Red Date into a dessert, the Sticky Red Date Pudding ($9.90) is served hot with longan tea glaze and vanilla ice cream. It was this dessert that made me overate that evening.

Pulut Hitam Panna Cotta 3.8/5

The jiggly Pulut Hitam Panna Cotta ($8.90) was light with a mellow sweetness. I love the chewy pulut hitam resting underneath the panna cotta especially.

Gingerflower Lychee Sorbet 2.8/5

A much lighter option would be Gingerflower Lychee Sorbet ($10.90). Sorbet tends to be overly sweetened to compensate for the lack of creaminess, which was the case here as well.

Godmama may not have dived into the complexity of Peranakan cuisine, but it allows diners to have a glimpse of the flavours in a relatively more casual and fun manner.

Written By Si An. A girl who is allured by travelling, loves the feel of freedom, smell of the rain and the aroma of fine coffee and food.


Godmama
Funan
109 North Bridge Road
 #04-07
Singapore 179105
Tel:+65 69700828
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Nearest MRT: City Hall (EW Line, NS Line)

Opening Hours:
Sun- Thu: 10am - 10pm

Direction:
1) Alight at City Hall MRT station. Take Exit D. Turn left and walk down North Bridge Road. Cross the road at the junction of North Bridge Road and Coleman Street. Walk to destination. Journey time about 5 minutes. [Map]