A Deep-fried Peranakan Meal

Just realised I haven't blogged about this yet and the next weekend is here already!

Last Saturday we went for dinner in Jurong Point, which was so crowded we couldn't get seats in our preferred restaurants at 6:30pm. So we decided to try this Peranakan restaurant, Red Lacquer, which we weren't really keen on since hubby's friend had said the Penang Fried Kway Teow there was nothing like the ones in Penang (the friend was from Penang).

The restaurant was only half-full when we arrived, so we managed to get a corner table, where Sam could scramble up & down the sofa bench. Though halfway through the meal I had regretted not restraining him in the baby chair! ;P

The waiter who took our orders was quite attentive, informing us the lack of plastic forks but readily supplied a suitable plastic bowl & spoon. He even asked if Sam needed warm plain water, even though we had ordered drinks. But unfortunately the promised H2O never materialised. We had to ask for it later, and also a straw.

Only after all the dishes arrived did I realised that everything I ordered was deep-fried. I guess I had unconsciously gotten all my favourites. ;P Still, I didn't have much choices since I don't eat spicy stuff, so what could I have ordered in a Penang Peranakan restaurant???

Well, we had Loh Bak ($7.90), Inche Kabin ($13.90) and hubby wanted Otak-Otak ($4.90). The otah was very, very good!! Basically it's what I would have expected from a Peranakan eating place. I had to swallow 2 mouthfuls of white rice ($1 a bowl) for every bite of the otah, but the burning sensation was worth enduring!

The Loh Bak tasted almost exactly like the ones we had during our holiday in Penang, with solid pieces of meat wrapped up like our 'ngoh hiong' (五香). I had the pieces cut back for Sam to eat with his rice, which he quite enjoyed, though he steadfastly refused the accompanying 'tau kwa' (豆干).

The Inche Kabin was basically deep-fried chicken, flavoured with spices. The meat was tender enough for Sam & not dry at all, the delicate spices making the dish more flavourful than the usual fried chicken dishes. I had ordered the hot Longan & Red Date tea ($3), which came in a pot (I had expected only a tall glass) and tasted not bad, though a trifle on the sweet side. Fortunately Sam didn't drop the ceramic cup when he sipped a whole cupful of the tea.

Hubby had the worst deal: the soup of his Penang Prawn Noodle ($6.90) wasn't strong at all, doesn't taste of prawns, despite the physical presence of the seafood. We concluded jokingly that the chef must have been from a 'zi cha tua' background instead of from Penang, that would explain why none of the famous Penang hawker dishes tasted genuine but the individual dishes were good. ;P

We had a good deal last weekend, as the promotion then was a 10% discount and no GST, so basically we saved on the usual 17% taxes (10% service charge + 7% GST). I understood from the waitress that in December there would be 10% discount for Shiok! card members, so I guess the restaurant changes its promotions every month.



Red Lacquer Penang Peranakan
#03-96/101 Jurong Point Shopping Centre
Tel: 6794-5427

Beautiful Cane Chair of Jia Xiang Mee Village

Wanted to try this new eating place in the new Jurong Point extension simply because of their beautiful cane baby chair!!! Isn't it a lovely sight compared to the common white Ikea ones???

But of course, there are the disadvantages, ie. no seat belt, making it unsuitable for very young children. Its roomy size makes it comfortable for older kids, since Sam is outgrowing the Ikea version. But this means he spent half the lunch sitting with the rare freedom of hugging his knees up close to his chest! I must find some other method to teach him to sit properly!

Turns out the noodle place features some well known or popular mee from Kuching, Sarawak. The place is decorated the 'old' style, with wooden tables & stools, 'brick' walls and partially open kitchen (the noodle cooking part). There're only 12 items on the menu - I ordered the Jia Xiang noodle ($6), dry, though soup version available.

Though I find the noodles a trifle too expensive, at least the portion was reasonble. Even after giving Sam 3/4 bowl of the noodles, there's still enough to fulfill my hunger. There were plenty of ingredients - lots of green vegies, minced pork, char siew, and in the separate bowl of soup, 2 prawns & 3 wantons.

The noodles were seasoned differently from the typical Singapore style. Me can't tell what they used, except perhaps sesame oil?, but definitely no soya sauce involved, cos the mee retains its yellow colour beautifully. Chili sauce available in a large porcelain bowl on each table, for those who like their noodles spicy. I enjoyed the noodles as it is, though finding it a trifle salty, & easily finished the water chestnut drink ($2).

Important point: the noodles were very springy. While that's a good quality for delicious chinese noodles, it made it a trifle troublesome for me to cut the noodles into bite-size portions for Sam. Definitely not recommended for younger children not used to all the chewing. I myself am hoping Sam did manage to chew through his meal properly.........

Jia Xiang Mee Village did not have any kids' utensils. Upon request, the waitress handed me a white plastic rice bowl, & a pair of adult size metal fork & spoon. Fortunately Sam was in his 'eating' mood - opened his mouth WIDE to accomodate the spoon & all the food on it. Perhaps his willingness to eat has to do with the crispy bits of fried wanton ($5.50 for Small) I had ordered with this exact purpose in mind. ;P

There's no service charge incurred........this means you'll have to grab a seat then make the orders at the cashier, & perhaps carry your drinks back yourself. The hot dishes will be sent to the table though, no worries. The waitresses, noting me carrying Sam, also kindly served us our drink at our table.

All in all, a place to go if you miss the Kuching-styled noodles, and if you've never eaten that (like me), a good alternative to our local Singaporean version.


Jia Xiang Mee Village 家香面村庄
#03-90 Jurong Point
Tel: 6795-6766
Other outlets in Killiney Rd, VivoCity, Marina Sq & Toa Payoh Ctr.

Little Penang Cafe in Suria KLCC

Location: Little Penang Cafe, on level 4 of Suria KLCC.

Kids' utensils: Nil! And that's a headache in the place, cos their bowls & plates are all ceramic! Luckily Sam wasn't in a play-with-plate mood that day........

Service: average. Waiter did not offer any alternatives when informing me they had no plastic utensils for my child. I had to ask specifically for a bowl & spoon - and they gave a ceramic soup spoon!

Baby chair: a nice wooden affair.

Entertainment: Nil. In fact, the full pane windows opening to the shopping aisle are a terrible distraction to my little boy, cos now he's tall enough to scramble over the low window ledges.

Kids' menu: Nil.