Where to go for Peranakan Buffets

The trend of fusion cuisine may be all the rage in recent years, but no one does it quite as well as Peranakans. Blending Chinese ingredients with various spices and Malay/ Indonesian cooking techniques, dishes come aromatically charged with distinct notes of spice and tang, thanks to the dominant ingredient - Rempah, where mixed spices are pounded into paste with a mortar. Several hotels in Singapore have revamped their buffets and brought in an army of Peranakan dishes to the table. If you have an insatiable appetite for rich Nonya flavours with tons of coconut milk, look no further - these were curated for you. Peranakan Pleasures at Ellenorough Market Café Catch it from 13 to 22 June 2014

Swooping into Ellenborough Market Café for a limited time period of ten days is a rich gastronomic affair of Straits cuisine. The buffet, embedded with Peranakan favourites like Nonya Achar, Sambal Petai Udang, Kueh Pie Tee and Ayam Buah Keluak, also includes the café’s famed Durian Pengat. After you’re done eating to your heart’s content, channel all that energy to a selfie at their Peranakan Showcase at the hotel lobby – three of the most creative snapshots stand to win a high tea buffet voucher for two. Price/ Time Lunch | 12pm to 2.30pm daily: $54++ per adult, $27++ per child Dinner | 6.30pm to 10pm daily: $60++ per adult, $30++ per child *For HSBC Cardholders , one gets to dine free with every three paying adult buffet diners. Weekend Themed Buffets at Flavours Straits Signatures, Bibik’s Catch & Afternoon with Bibiks

On top of being an all-day-dining restaurant focusing on Straits Chinese cuisine, Flavours at Zhongshan Park has launched themed buffets for the weekends earlier this year. Spend your Friday evenings drooling over their Straits Signatures buffet, which includes distinctive Peranakan mains like Beef Rendang and Homemade Otak Otak. You won’t miss the dessert table, decked in the green hues of Durian Pengat, Chendol Jelly and Sago Gula Melaka. For seafood lovers, come on Saturdays for Bibik’s Catch, where seafood delights are given a nonya nudge – think Assam Fish Curry and Chilli Crayfish. Treat yourselves to a Peranakan and dim sum high tea buffet on Sundays – Afternoon with Bibiks. We’re talking Kueh Pie Tee, Nonya Kueh, a unique Pulau Hitam with Longan plus … free-flow (and pulled on the spot) Teh Tarik. Price/ Time Straits Signatures | Fridays, 6pm - 10.30pm: $48++ per adult, $24 per child Bibik's Catch | Saturdays, 6pm - 11pm: $58++ per adult, $29++ per child Afternoon with Bibiks | Sundays, 2pm - 5pm: $28++ per adult, $14 per child New Peranakan Kitchen at Lime Led by Peranakan Chef Nancy Teo with 30 years of experience

The month of May saw one of Lime Restaurant's three open kitchens being transformed into a traditional Nonya heritage kitchen, complete with tiffin carriers, stone pounders, as well as elegant porcelain tableware. With 30 years of experience, Peranakan Chef Nancy Teo of Lime Restaurant takes you back in time with flavours of spice and everything nice. Classic highlights include Ayam Buah Keluak, Babi Pong Teh, Pong Tau Hu, and Udang Masak Nanas. Have a look-see at the sustainable garden of PARKROYAL on Pickering on Level 5, where spices used in the Nonya dishes are gathered from. As of now, the Peranakan dishes are slated to be available till the end of June. Cross your fingers for an extension! Price/ Time Lunch | 12pm to 2.30pm: $45 (Mon - Fri), $48 (Sat) Dinner | 6.30pm to 10.30pm: $58 (Mon - Thu), $62 (Fri - Sun) Straits Cuisine Buffet at Orchard Café Authentic Peranakan food, traditional roasts and all-time local favourites

Rich blends of Straits cuisine dishes have made their way to Orchard Café with a sumptuous buffet featuring authentic Peranakan food, traditional roasts, as well as some all-time local favourites. Expect a mouthwatering spread of Nonya Hokkien Mee, Fish Curry, Steamed Black Cod Otah, Sambal Sting Ray in Banana Leaves, as well as Orchard Café’s famous Ah Huat Braised Fatty Pork, also known as Kong Ba Pao. If that’s not enough, have a go at traditional Peranakan claypot dishes like Chap Chye and Lembu Rendang. Desserts include hot and comforting bowls of Tau Suan with Yew Char Kway, Peanut Cream, assorted Nonya Kueh, as well as Chempedak Crepes with your pick of Chocolate, Gula Melaka, Coconut or Cold Durian Pengat. Price/Time: Lunch | 12pm to 2.30pm daily: $48++ per adult, $24++ per child Dinner | 6pm to 10pm daily: $68++ per adult, $34++ per child *Senior citizens (aged 55 years and above) can enjoy 50% off the “Straits Cuisine” buffet lunch from Monday to Thursday, valid till 31 October 2014. Here are more places to get your Peranakan Cuisine fix. By Peh Yi Wen See Also: Don't miss the best eats in town - check out OpenSnap now! Explore more buffets at these fine dining restaurants