A taste of Paradise
Teochew cuisine isn't flying under the radar any more, thanks to places such as Paradise Teochew Restaurant
In the midst of the many Cantonese and Sichuan restaurants in Singapore, Teochew cuisine has been flying under the radar but thriving all the same.
I guess its lighter flavours are a reprieve for when the heavier fare become too much.
When I ate at Paradise Teochew Restaurant - its second outlet opened at Scotts Square about half a year ago - I was thinking it'll be a meal of steamed fish and chives on everything, but I was happy to discover a few new dishes.
And some of them are not tepid at all.
The braised dishes, the roast suckling pig ($208, order a day in advance) and the orh nee (mashed yam dessert, $4.50) are excellent, but be adventurous and try the lesser-known dishes too.
We are so lucky to have access to so many types of food from so many parts of the world. Let's just not forget to appreciate the food our elders ate.
Chilled Yellow Roe Crab ($9 per 100 grams) could well be the ambassador of Teochew cuisine. The version here is not new but why mess with perfection? I ate every piece.
You'd smell the Pan-fried Oyster Omelette ($16) before it even arrives. It has the right combination of crispy and savoury, and although a portion serves four, you might end up finishing it yourself.
The fattier Irish duck is used for the Braised Sliced Duck ($60 for a whole duck). Cinnamon is one of the ingredients in the marinade, which lends a festive touch.
I love the Crispy, Sweet and Sour Noodles (from $14). The noodles - imported from Hong Kong - are fried with chicken and pork stock, then pan-fried to a crisp. You eat it with vinegar and sugar so it's sweet and sour too. You must try it.
The addictive and crunchy dessert Crispy Pumpkin, Yam and Sweet Potato Sticks ($12) is a street snack in China's Chaoshan region. The strips are deep fried and sprinkled with peanuts and sugar. Surprisingly, it isn't as sweet as I had feared.
WHAT Paradise Teochew Restaurant
WHERE Scotts Square #03-04 to 07
WHEN Weekdays 11.30am to 3pm, 6pm to 10.30pm Weekends and public holidays 10.30am to 3.30pm, 6pm to 10.30pm
CALL 6538-0644
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