Joining the rest of Les Amis’ numerous dining concepts, Indigo Blue Kitchen is the latest and only Peranakan eatery in the company’s portfolio. Billed as a restaurant with “traditional Peranakan cuisine in a modern setting,” the place is inspired by Group Chairman Desmond Lim’s experience growing up in a Peranakan home in the ’60s, and serves as a tribute to his grandmother.
Inside the Shaw Centre space, the Peranakan influence is subtle but contemporary, with batik patterns on a laser-cut screen at the entrance, heritage tiles on the bar counter, and a main area awash in hues of white and powder blue.
Building on recipes by Lim’s grandmother, the kitchen team specializes in comfort Peranakan food, with a young, non-Peranakan chef at the helm. Signatures to try include the Nonya poh piah ($32/two), which wraps turnip, bamboo shoot, pork belly, and fried bean curd in freshly made egg skins, served with condiments such as Chinese sausage, omelette strips, and dried sole fish sprinkle.
There’s also the satay babi lemak ($16), of stir-fried pork in candlenut spice paste and coconut cream; otak-otak jantan ($16), with fish balls and fish paste-stuffed beancurd puffs in a spiced turmeric curry; and bakwan kepiting soup ($22), a chicken, pork, and crustacean broth swimming with orbs of crab, prawn, minced pork, and julienne bamboo shoots.
For dessert, it offers apom with three pengats ($14/six pieces), a plate of fluffy rice pancakes that comes with D24 durian, jackfruit, and banana cooked in gula melaka and coconut milk.
Now in its soft opening phase, with set lunch ($40) and dinner ($55) menus, Indigo Blue Kitchen’s full culinary line-up will be available after its official launch on June 7.
FIND IT:
Indigo Blue Kitchen opens officially on June 7 at #03-09/10/11 Shaw Centre, 1 Scotts Rd.
6235-3218. Tues-Sun noon-3pm & 6:30pm-10pm.
MRT: Orchard
