With the Lunar New Year just around the corner, there is no better time than now to make plans for an abundant and hearty reunion dinner with your loved ones. Nestled in Katong and an occupant of the former Joo Chiat Police station, Baba Chews Bar & Eatery is an all-dining restaurant imbued with contemporary Peranakan elements, and plays a modern fusion to its selection of traditional cuisine from the Straits of Malacca, western favourites and local delights. This festive season, diners can relish in a scrumptious set menu specially curated for reunion dinner on 15 Feb 2018 to usher in the Year of the Dog.
Baba Salmon Yu Sheng 4.5/5
As with all Lunar New Year reunion dinners, we start off the meal with the classic Baba Salmon Yu Sheng ($48/$68) which comes in a platter of assorted vegetables and ingredients including the pickled radish, cucumber, pineapple, sweet turnip, corn flakes, and generous salmon slices. A tangy home-made kaffir lime plum sauce is poured over the Yu Sheng before tossing to good fortune and health.
Hee Piow Ting 4/5
Also known as the Paranakan-styled Fish Maw Soup, the Hee Piow Ting ($16 per bowl) comes with pork meatballs, fish maw and cabbage. While the minced meats in the meatballs boast a soft and tender texture, the pork-based soup has a rich but balanced flavour which makes for a comforting dish to have before the mains are served.
Red Garoupa Tempra Style 4.2/5
The Red Garoupa Tempra Style ($88) features a fried red garoupa fish with peranakan onion and chilli sauce. While the sauce adds a tinge of spice to the dish, it is not spicy and packs a rich savoury flavour to the fish, which retains a soft and moist texture beneath its crispy skin.
“Lobster” Carrot Cake 4.5/5
A local all-time favourite, the “Lobster” Carrot Cake features a stir-fried Singapore style carrot cake with a soft chewy texture and a taste familiar to many. The addition of lobster and silver fish brings a unique upgrade to the dish, elevating its entire taste with a subtle hint of crustacean sweetness from the lobster and saltiness from the silver fish.
“Ong Lai” Noodle 4/5
The “Ong Lai” Noodle comes in a bowl of sauteed tumeric noodle coated with generous amounts of curry cream sauce, and served with seafood and chopped abalone. The robust piquancy from the curry cream sauce is by no means an easy feat, while the addition of seafood and chopped abalone lends a refreshing zing to the edging spice flavour.
Pulut Hitam with Sesame Dumplings 4.2/5
One of the quintessential traditional desserts, the Pulut Hitam with Sesame Dumplings is a must-have to end off the meal on a sweet note. The black glutinous dessert soup is thick, gooey, and packed full of goodness. A gentle bite on the delicate skin of the dumpling oozes out a fragrant black sesame lava which is simply pure indulgence.
During Chinese New Year, most eateries and restaurants will be closed to celebrate the festive occasion. You will be glad to know that Baba Chews Bar and Eatery will be open throughout the Chinese New Year Holidays. From 16 to 18 February 2018, look forward to a sumptuous Chinese New Year a la carte buffet brunch ($42++ per adult) with a pantry laden with delights such as Seared Tuna Ahi, Prawn Shooters and Smoked Sea-Caught Fish from the chiller, a soup pot of Bakwan Kepiting, D.I.Y. Rojak and Kueh Pie Tee as well as desserts like the restaurant’s signature Nangka Cheesecake, Durian Mousse with Gula Melaka, Lychee Crème Brulee, Salted Egg Kaya Macaroons, assorted Chinese New Year cookies and many more.
Further complementing the spread in the pantry are the Baba Chew’s all-you-can-order menu of 12 mains, cooked a la minute. The season’s highlights include: Lobster Carrot Cake – stir-fried Singapore style carrot cake with lobster and silver fish; Conpoy Glutinous Rice – stir-fried glutinous rice with ‘lap mei’ (waxed meat), mushroom, dried shrimps and dried scallops; Chef Alvin’s special “Ong Lai” Noodles - sautéed turmeric noodles with curry cream sauce, served with seafood and chopped abalone; Tempura Niao Gow – fried glutinous rice cake drizzled with yuzu caramel sauce; just to list a few.
Words and photos by Crystal. A girl who likes to eat, photograph, and write about food, and dreams about travelling around the world one day. Note: This is an invited tasting.
Baba Chews Bar & Eatery
Hotel Indigo
86 East Coast Road
#01-01
Singapore 428788
Tel: +65 67232025
Website
Nearest MRT: Dakota (CC Line)
Opening Hours:
All Day Dining Menu: 11am - 1030pm
Dinner Menu: 630pm - 1030pm
Bar Bites Menu: 11am - 12am
Weekend Brunch: 1030am - 3pm
Direction:
1) Alight at Dakota MRT station. Take exit A. Walk to bus stop at Blk 99 Old Airport Road (Stop ID 81181). Take Bus 10 or 32. Alight 6 stops later. Cross the road. Walk to destination. Journey time about 15 minutes. [Map]
