PeraMakan @ Keppel Bay

I was tasked with looking around for good Peranakan places and somehow stumbled upon Peramakan from various singapore foodie blogs. So I decided to give it a try in spite of the "ulu-ness" of the place.

For the benefit of those that do not know, Peranakans' ancestry can be traced back to the Chinese that settled here even before the British came (some put it around 700 years ago). Generations after generations, these local chinese soon became localized and formed the core group of the indigenous people in Singapura. Their culture has elements of both Malay and Chinese, making it an unique blend in Southeast Asia.

Getting into this Peramakan is a chore on its own - my advice: just take cab! Located within the Keppel Club (Note: NOT keppel BAY), it was a drive in from the main road and it was pretty quiet when I stepped in at 6.30 p.m

There were only 2 of us, so we could only give at most (as recommended by the waitress) 4 dishes a try. So first up is the Nonya Chap Chye ($10). Note that the portions here are fixed (3 - 4 people to a dish), so don't expect different prices if you have only 1 - 2 people. I have to admit, I am not a fan of the Chap Chye. The dried beancurd skin taste is a little too overwhelming but for those that love that, the dish is actually quite tasty. 

Nyonya Chap Chye

Next up is the Babi Pongteh ($14). This Nyonya dish (which is more common in Singapore & Malacca) consist of braised pork cooked with "taucheo" (salted soy beans), sugar and cinnamon beans. This mixture of ingredients gives it an unique sweet and savory taste and is one of my favorite Peranakan dish. The usual Babi Pongteh usually comes with the fatty meat but the dish here is served with a healthier chunk of meat. The taste actually borders the blend side but is still acceptable, especially for the health-conscious ones.

Babi Pongteh

Awhile later, our last main dish came - Sotong Goreng Assam ($14). The stir-fried squid was drenched in Tamarind sauce and has a very sweet taste to it. Compared to the Babi Pongteh, this dish was almost too sweet. However, on its own, the rich flavor and the nicely cooked squid makes this dish really tasty and a good break away from the typical savory food. My favorite dish for the night!

Sotong Goreng Assam

After all the mains came the desserts. We ordered the Sago dessert with the usual Gula Melaka. Pretty decent desserts and a good end to our meal. Though I would prefer a little more Gula Melaka.

Sago Gula Melaka

All in all, this place is one of the better places I have been for Peranakan food. Despite its "ulu" location, I would still recommend anyone interested in Peranakan food to give this place a shot. I would recommend the Chap Chye and Sotong Goreng Assam, but there are so many other choices that I'm sure I'll need to visit it again to make a better judgement.

Peramakan

Level 3, Keppel Club
10 Bukit Chermin Road S109918
(5 minutes drive from Vivo City)

Tel: +65 63772829
http://www.peramakan.com/

Monday - Sunday
Lunch 11:30 am - 3.00 pm
Dinner 6.00 pm - 10.00 pm

Price Range: $$$ (out of 6 $$$)

For more photos: http://on.fb.me/JoJ4N4