Cherry Garden @ Mandarin Oriental Singapore - Luxurious And Largest Traditional Pen Cai

From 18 January to 19 February 2019, usher in the Lunar New Year with a wide range of epicurean delights from Cherry Garden at Mandarin Oriental Singapore, available both dine-in and takeaways. You might not want to miss the Singapore's largest traditional ‘basin dish’!

Yu Sheng 3/5

Be it in the comfort of your own home or at Cherry Garden, start off the celebration with one of the Yu Sheng offerings on the menu, such as Yu Sheng with Salmon, Alaskan Crab Meat and Black Truffle ($138/$276). Unique to Cherry Garden is the julienned Rosella fruit and spring onion sauce to enliven the flavour of the Yu Sheng. It might be a good idea to leave out the crab meat during the tossing as those delicate meat pieces will be inundated by the sauces and other ingredients.

Pen Cai 4/5

As mentioned, one of the highlights from Cherry Garden is its Luxurious Pen Cai and is supposedly Singapore’s largest traditional ‘basin dish’, loaded with premium ingredients such as braised four-head abalone, lobsters, scallops, sea cucumbers, prawns, roasted duck, lotus chicken, roasted pork belly and more. If you are dining in, you will witness the sea creatures and greens swimming in a large pot of superior broth and have the fun of ladling the ingredients out of the big pot. It is available for takeaway as well but it will be presented in a daintier fashion.

Pig Trotter 3/5

The Year of Pig calls for a pork dish - Pig Trotter with Black Moss ($68) made with soybean paste and braised for two hours. Although it isn't my favourite kind of braising method, which is the dark and blackish kind, the tender meat made up for it. The accompanying abalones actually fared better in such braising sauce.

Red Date Nian Gao 4/5

As part of the set menus, rounding off your meal will be some Chinese New Year delights. The Fried Red Dates Nian Gao is probably one of the best that I have tried. It is not easy to produce in small quantities and this ended my meal perfectly. It came hot with a crisp exterior, soft and chewy with a pronounced red date sweetness. Most importantly, it was not cloying at all. It is available for takeaway ($48) as well.

Aloe Vera Jelly 3.8/5

Part of a set menu is the Chilled Aloe Vera Jelly with lemongrass and rose. It felt so good having it after all the heavyweight dishes.

If you are keen for a more casual celebration, head down for the Weekend Dim Sum Brunch instead, which you will taste new dishes such as Crispy Wasbi-aioli Prawns with fresh mango and tobiko, and the all-time favourite Five Grain Fried Rice with Cantonese pork sausage.

Photos and words 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. Note: This is an invited tasting.


Cherry Garden
Mandarin Oriental Singapore
Marina Square
5 Raffles Avenue
Singapore 039797
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Website
Nearest MRT: Promenade (CC Line), Esplanade (CC Line)

Opening Hours:
Weekday Lunch: 12pm - 230pm
Weekend Dim Sum Buffet: 11am - 1pm, 130pm to 330pm
Dinner: 630pm to 1030pm

Direction:
1) Alight at Promenade MRT station. Take Exit A. Cross the road. Walk to Marina Square. Follow the signage to destination. Journey time about 6 minutes. [Map]

2) Alight at Esplanade MRT station. Take Exit B or D. Walk to Marina Square. Follow the signage to destination. Journey time about 8 minutes. [Map]

Baba Steven's Private Dining - Our Cheapest Private Dining Experience

Our next private dining adventure brought us to the humble home of Baba Steven's Private Dining at Bukit Batok. The chef is Mr Steven Quak who is in his 70s and used to work in a Peranakan Restaurant. We are hosted by his wife while he sweated it out in the kitchen preparing our Peranakan feast. We paid $480 for a table of 8 pax which works out to be $60 per pax.

Pineapple Tarts 3.5/5

While we waited for the rest of the group to turn up, we were offered some home-baked Pineapple Tarts to snack on. They also made these for sales too. The pineapple jam is not too sweet and it is complemented by the buttery pastry.

Bakwan Kepiting Soup 3.8/5

Having tried a number of Bakwan Kepiting Soup, I find the version here is much cleaner and lighter in taste. While the meatball was a bit firm, it stood out for the addition of the bamboo shoot for that extra crunch.

Sambal Lady Finger 4/5

The Sambal Lady Finger is simple but it shone through that simplicity with the beautifully blanched and crunchy lady fingers paired excellently with the homemade sambal. Though the sambal can be more spicy.

Chilli Sotong 4/5

Another homely and simple dish is the Chilli Sotong. Fresh bouncy sotong cooked with chilli, allowing the ingredients to speak of themselves.

Tulang Babi Sio 4.2/5

Well braised prime rib with fall of the bone meat is the Tulang Babi Sio. Besides the tender meat, I really enjoyed the tanginess in the sauce, so much that I was drenching my plate of rice with them.

Ayam Buah Keluak 3.8/5

Most of time when I have Ayam Buah Keluak, the chicken turned out rather dry. I am glad that uncle Steven manage to keep them juicy and tender, with the nuttiness of the acquire fruit shining through.

Nonya Chap Chye 3.8/5

I like the Nonya Chap Chye for the fact that it is cooked to a delectable crunchy bite. I only wish that the fermented beancurd flavour can come across stronger.

Beef Rendang 3.5/5

Unlike the saucy version which I usually have, the Beef Rendang is like a dry version with a thick coat of rempah blanketing the tender beef.

Ikam Kuah Lada 4.5/5

Last but not least we have the Ikam Kuah Lada. This is a dish that I have not eaten before. In the orangey curry-like gravy it comes with chunky stingray and eggplant. The gravy is quite unique with a peppery kick to it. I am glad to discover a new dish for my food journal.

Besides opening his house for private dining, Uncle Steven also do a bit of takeaway catering too. All you need to contact him. Psst...besides Peranakan food, he can cook Thai food too.


Baba Steven Private Dining
Blk 204 Bukit Batok Street 21
Singapore 650204
Tel: +65 97506564
Nearest MRT: Bukit Batok