Bonding Kitchen @ Orchard Gateway - Private Home Private Dining Chef Establishes Modern Peranakan Restaurant In Orchard

Bonding Kitchen is the new kid on the block in Orchard, located on level two in Orchard Gateway. Chef-owner Danny Chew helms the new Peranakan restaurant. Having plied his trade in the private dining scene in Johor Bahru, he ventures into opening his restaurant.

Kueh Pie Tie 4/5

We started with the Kueh Pie Tie ($12 for 4pc). Diners can have some fun piecing the kueh pie tee together. Chef Danny handmakes each crispy shell to how the braised turnips, prawns, quail eggs and crispy lard bits, topped with Chef's speciality chilli cuka sauce.

Pong Tauhu 4.2/5

A heart-warming soup on the menu is the Pong Tauhu ($10 per pax). The thick and rich broth is a concoction of superior stock and prawn stock. The addition of fermented soybean and rempah brightens the stock, giving it a rich umami. The highlight is the handcrafted meatball made from chopped pork collar, pork belly, pork fat, shrimps and soft tofu.

Nasi Goreng Buah Keluak 4/5

For the carbo intake, I would recommend the Nasi Goreng Buah Keluak ($15). The fluffy rice stir-fried in buah keluak paste gives it an aromatic, earthy notes complemented by the fragrant eggs and fried shallots. You can go for the Blue Butterfly Pea Rice for those that don't like the acquire flavour of the buah keluak.

Chap Chye 4.5/5

I love my Chap Chye, and this is one of the best I have tried. My criteria of a good chap chye, the vegetables still need to have a crunch, and I need to taste the fermented bean paste.

Hokkien Lor Ark 4/5

The Hokkien Lor Ark ($22) is not a dish I have seen at Peranakan restaurant. Chef Danny has adapted the recipe from his wife's mother. Simmered in a blend of spices and soya sauce, the braised duck is cooked to a fork tender texture and has an intense flavour.

Wagyu Beef Rendang 4.5/5

A crowd favourite is the Wagyu Beef Rendang ($32). The version here the dry style using a traditional cooking method without the addition of water. Using Australian wagyu beef ribs, it simmered over 5 hours, allowing the rempah flavours to be absorbed. It is then topped with fried crunchy coconut shavings for an explosion of flavours.

Udang Sambal Petai 4.2/5

Another beautiful dish on the menu is the Udang Sambal Petai ($22). It is a two in one dish where diners can enjoy the huge and crunchy prawn, as well as the acquire petai tossed in fragrant sambal.

Sotong Masak Hitam 4.2/5

One of my all-time favourite Peranakan dishes is Sotong Masak Hitam ($20). It has the characteristic flavours I love, but it has an elevated tanginess, almost as if lime juice was added.

Barramundi Fish Assam Pedas 4.5/5

The other dish I enjoyed a lot is the Barramundi Fish Assam Pedas ($26). The fish fillet is cooked in a spicy and tangy  gravy infused with lemongrass, ginger flower, and laksa leaf. You can also find brinjal, pineapple, cherry tomatoes and ladies' finger in the sea of red.

Chendol 4/5

For dessert, I have the Chendol ($7). A sweet and icy treat doused in fragrant gula melaka with handmade green pandan jelly, red beans and kidney beans.

Note: This is an invited tasting.


Bonding Kitchen
Orchard Gateway
277 Orchard Road
#02-18
Singapore 238858
Tel: +65 88609087
Facebook
Website
Nearest MRT: Somerset (NS Line)

Opening Hours:
Tue-Sun: 1130am - 3pm, 530pm - 1030pm

Direction:
1) Alight at Somerset MRT station. Take Exit C. Walk to destination. Journey time about 3 minutes. [Map]

The Three Peacocks @ Labrador Park - Live Seafood & Meat Charcoal BBQ Buffet In An Al-Fresco Setting

Nestled within a slightly out-of-the-way location near Labrador Park is The Three Peacocks, a spacious outdoor dining destination that provides a wide range of meat and seafood for BBQ lovers.

We were awed by the wide selection of fresh seafood on ice available, from prawns, oysters, clams, squids, scallop, to crabs and crayfish. Each pax is also entitled to a complimentary serving of Boston Lobster. The staff grills them in huge batches on the charcoal grills.

Not to be missed is the central seafood and meat live station, which sprang to live with a variety of cooked food, such as the Peranakan seabass, cream cheese spinach baked scallops, mussels, Teriyaki Chicken, and Marinated Ribeye.

Each table is set up with a small charcoal grill, and we were first served with a cold seafood platter when we sat down. With the covid restrictions in place, diners can continue to place their orders via the online app with a QR code. The staff will serve the food to each table in ala carte buffet style.

Besides the seafood, we also picked from their extensive selection of marinated meat, such as the Pork Belly, Pork Collar, Wagyu Cubes, Thai Garlic Sukiyaki Chicken, and Chicken Satay. Others include sides such as the enoki mushrooms, cheese tofu and hotdogs. One of my favourites is the wagyu cubes. Cooked to a medium-rare and infused with a charcoal aroma, the meat is melt-in-the-mouth tender and so good on its own that it doesn't even need a dipping sauce.

From the cooked food menu, We had their fluffy deep-fried mantou with a sweet chilli crab sauce.

While we felt that the mentaiko salmon was a tad dry, the rich mentaiko flavours complemented the fish.

To fulfil your carbs intake, they have a few options available, including the Sambal fried rice, stir-fried hong kong style soba noodles, and white rice to go with your meats and seafood.

The seafood and meat buffet runs at $56 nett on weekdays and $61 nett on weekends for adults. It is priced at $55 for senior citizens and $34.10 for kids (from 7 to 12 years old). With the airy outdoor seatings, fairy lights, and vast array of seafood and meat options available, it is the perfect place to escape the hustle and bustle of the city and gather with your friends to relax and unwind over delicious BBQ food. They are only open for dinner. Even though we were there on a weekday evening, the restaurant is packed with diners. So do remember to make your reservation via their website before heading down to avoid the long queues.

Photos and words 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.


The Three Peacocks
Labrador Park
8 Port Road
Singapore 117540
Tel: +65 62510213
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Website
Nearest MRT: Labrador Park (CC Line)

Opening Hours:
Tues - Sun: 5pm - 11pm
(Closed on Mon)

Direction:
1) Alight at Labrador Park MRT station. Take Exit A. Walk to Labrador Villa Road. Turn left onto Labrador Villa Road. Walk down Labrador Villa Road. Continue onto Port Road. Walk to end of the road. Walk to destination. Journey time about 18 minutes. [Map]