For the month of September 2013,
Makansutra held its biggest ever
Makan Dinner in their 12 years of organising this monthly makan session at
Red Star Restaurant. I understood the overwhelming response because we were at Red Star to indulge in a 9 course dinner specially put together by the remaining 2 of the
Four Heavenly Kings of Chinese Cuisine,
Chef Hooi Kok Wai and
Chef Sin Leong.
This is the menu for the night. The 9 course dinner showcases the classic Cantonese dishes back in the 1960s that are not commonly serve in restaurant nowadays.
Chef Sin Leong
Chef Hooi Kok Wai
We were also very fortunately to be allowed into the kitchen and experienced first hand the 2 Master Chefs in their near 80s meticulously checking the preparation and cooking of the food for the night.
Deep Fried Chicken Liver with Pig Caul 4/5
The
Deep Fried Chicken Liver with Pig Caul is a tedious dish to make. It is not a surprise that it is rarely being offered in restaurants nowadays. I can appreciate the labour behind the dish in assembling all the components of the dish to together. Being a fan of innards and salted egg, the dish definitely hits the soft spot of me with its flavour and texture.
Drunken Chicken 2.8/5
This really got me drunken of words. The chicken really could hold its liqueur well, it probably took a whole bottle of the alcohol to knock the chicken out . The beautifully poached
Drunken Chicken unfortunately has a drink too much that the bitterness of alcohol had overpowered the sweetness of the chicken.
Golden Coin Chicken 3/5
Having an interesting name the
Golden Coin Chicken actually involved no chicken at all. This traditional Cantonese roast is made with candied pork lard, ham and pork loin that involved skewering and BBQ. I can taste the delectable flavours but I have a hard time appreciating it.
Minced Venison with Rice Crust 2.8/5
I have my reservation with the Minced Venison with Rice Crust. I enjoyed the crackling texture of the rice crust but some how I just did not feel that the minced venison together with the rice crust felt more distant in individual goodness instead of coming together as a complete dish.
Double Chicken Soup with Ginseng and Snow Fungus 4.5/5
One sip and one could tell the bowl of tonic soup had been cooked for hours. The
Double Chicken Soup with Ginseng and Snow Fungus was infused with the sweet bitterness of the ginseng, both nourishing and rejuvenating. The whole chicken was also cooked to fork tender with the meat falling off with ease.
Old Style Steamed Triple Layered Garoupa 3/5
The
Old Style Steamed Triple Layered Garoupa was topped with mushroom, ginger, carrot, cuttlefish and dried tangerine peels. While the fish was steamed to a nice moist, its lacking a sauce to accentuate the flavour of the fish.
Pan Fried Jumbo Prawns in BBQ Sauce 4/5
The
Pan Fried Jumbo Prawns in BBQ Sauce was fresh, big and succulent. Nothing quite special about it but I can imagine this should be considered a delicacy and probably only enjoyed during special occasions during the 1960s.
3 Legged Duck 4.5/5
A pre-war Cantonese village classic dish, the
3 Legged Duck was actually duck served with 3 different types of animal legs. The duck, chicken feet, pig trotter and duck web were braised to a beautiful gelatinous soft texture that is worth clogging the arteries.
Stewed Pig Trotter with Yam
Pig Belly with Yam 3.5/5
Served with steamed bun, the
Pig Trotter with Yam fell short of my expectation. It was lacking the tenderness and thick braising sauce which I prefer.
Treasure in Jade Bowl
Treasure in Jade Bowl 4.2/5
I already noticed the chef preparing the dish in the kitchen and I was eagerly waiting for it. The
Treasure in Jade Bowl was cooked in a seafood stock until so soft that the melon basically melted in the mouth. Cutting into the melon bowl unveiled a hidden treasure of braised mixed vegetarian ingredients.
Celebration Braised Rice 4/5
According to the 2 Master Chefs, the
Celebration Braised Rice is a celebration dish whereby a newly wed bride will present this dish to her parent when she returns to visit them after the 3rd day, signifying her fertility. Not sure the meaning behind it but even thought I was full to the brim, I could not help going for a few spoonful to our Chinese version of risotto.
Traditional Green Bean and Barley Dessert 2/5
Dessert was a bit disappointing because the
Traditional Green Bean and Barley Dessert was burnt.
As our dinner was held during the Mid-Autumn festival, we were given a treat to the traditional mooncake wrapping up the feast on a sweet note.
I am glad that Makansutra has organised this dinner and I am able to meet the remaining 2 of the Four Heavenly Kings of Chinese Cuisine. I also got to try many dishes that is not served in restaurants nowadays, understand the history and culture behind these dishes. It was a dinner that was both educational and enjoyable.
Red Star Restaurant
Blk 54 Chin Swee Road
#07-23
Singapore 160054
Tel: +65 65325266/ 65325103
Nearest MRT: Chinatown (NE Line, DT Line)
Opening Hours:
Daily: 7am - 3pm, 6pm - 1030pm
Direction:
1) Alight at Chinatown MRT station. Take Exit C. Turn right and walk towards Upper Cross Street. At Upper Cross Street, turn left , walk along Upper Cross Street to the end of block 34. Cross Pearl's Hill Road and walk toward block 52. Continue walking pass block 52 to block 54 and take lift to level 7. Journey time about 10 minutes.
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