Singaporebrides | Fine Dining

August 2017

The Blue Ginger Restaurant: A Bib Gourmand Journey in Peranakan Delicacies

By Audrie Soh

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New to this year’s Bib Gourmand list, The Blue Ginger Restaurant is famed for its affordable and authentic Peranakan dishes.

Named after one of the key ingredients in Peranakan cooking, The Blue Ginger Restaurant joins other Bib Gourmand rated restaurants and eateries in 2017’s Singapore Michelin Guide. We were thrilled to visit the first-time Bib Gourmand recipient for a tour of their three-storey restaurant and an eye-opening meal of traditional Peranakan fare.

Michelin Approved Peranakan Cuisine

The Blue Ginger Restaurant has been the go-to restaurant for authentic and affordable Peranakan cuisine since 1995, and for the first time in over two decades since they opened their doors, their efforts in championing and promoting wholesome Peranakan fare has paid off with their first ever Bib Gourmand rating in the 2017 Singapore Michelin Guide. For those who are unfamiliar, Peranakan cuisine is a harmonious blending of Chinese ingredients with various distinct spices and cooking techniques used by the Malay and Indonesian community, producing dynamic dishes that are tangy, aromatic, spicy and rich all at the same time.

We were delighted with the opportunity to sample the restaurant’s Michelin approved dishes, including staple Peranakan fare such as the Otak-Otak, Ayam Buah Keluak, a dish of braised chicken flavoured with tumeric, galangal and lemongrass cooked with Indonesian black nuts, and Babi Pong Tay, a dish of stewed pork shoulder with preserved bean paste flavoured with cinnnamon bark. Although Otak-Otak is widely available and commonly eaten, the one we had at The Blue Ginger Restaurant was moist, juicy and flavourful, and was the perfect starter to our meal. The meat in the Ayam Buah Keluak and Babi Pong Tay were well marinated and cooked to a soft, melt-in-your-mouth perfection, and perfectly paired with flavourful gravy that went well with rice

We also feasted on some of the restaurant’s signature dishes, including the Beef Rendang, Chap Chye Masak Titek, a mixed vegetables dish specially prepared in a tasty prawn stock, Durian Chendol and Gula Melaka. Aside from the two desserts, which won everyone over with its richness and subtle sweetness, the Udang Kuah Pedas Nanas, a dish of tiger prawns gently cooked in a tasty pineapple gravy, was the favourite course of our meal. The prawns were cooked to perfection, firm and succulent, and paired amazingly well with the refreshingly sweet pineapple gravy which we couldn’t help but drink spoonfuls of.

A Unique Wedding Venue

Nestled along the vibrant Tanjong Pagar Road, just a few minutes walk away from Tanjong Pagar MRT station, The Blue Ginger Restaurant is housed in one of Singapore’s iconic shop-houses and spans three floors, each with its own distinct beauty and personality. The restaurant’s charm lies in its unique layout and nostalgic interiors and ornate furnishing that invoke a homely vibe.

Cohesively designed and furnished, yet slightly different on every level, each level of the restaurant can be booked separately for smaller celebrations or solemnisations for as little as 20 guests*, or the restaurant can be exclusively reserved for intimate weddings of up to 130 guests. With its dining rooms spread across three floors, couples have the unique option of styling each level with a different theme or choose to decorate all three levels in the same theme.

Solemnisations are also welcomed at The Blue Ginger Restaurant. The private dining room on the second floor provides the perfect space for cosy solemnisations, especially in the day when sunlight streams in from tall, white framed windows that overlook the bustling Tanjong Pagar streets. For bigger solemnisations, couples can choose to exchange their vows on the top floor of the restaurant.

Capacity: 130 guests (Entire Restaurant) ; 30 guests (Level 1) ; 50 guests (Level 2) ; 50 guests (Level 3)
Minimum Spending: $1,500 (with a minimum of 20 guests*)

Customisable Wedding Packages

Wedding packages at The Blue Ginger Restaurant start at an affordable rate of $70++ and $75++ for a 10-course wedding lunch and dinner respectively, and includes complimentary styling of the venue so long as it is within the restaurant’s team of creatives’ means. The restaurant also works with an esteemed pastry chef to customise wedding dessert tables and unique wedding favours such as personalised bottled achar or Peranakan pineapple cookies at an additional cost.

Price: $70++ (Lunch) ; $75++ (Dinner)

Centrally located and tastefully designed and furnished, The Blue Ginger Restaurant is an excellent choice for couples searching for affordable and authentic Peranakan cuisine for their wedding celebration. But don’t just take our word for it – head on over to the restaurant for a look and to learn more about their wedding packages as you indulge in a hearty Michelin-worthy meal.

The Blue Ginger Restaurant is located at 97 Tanjong Pagar Road, Singapore 088518

Credits: All images courtesy of The Blue Ginger Restaurant ; Food images by SingaporeBrides.

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