Like many other fusion cuisines in the region, Peranakan cuisine has become a mainstay in our daily lives, with dishes that feature a unique blend of Chinese, Malay and other Southeast Asian cultures.

With rich food traditions and unique, mouth-watering flavours, Peranakan dishes are widely popular in Singapore, Malaysia and Indonesia, allowing the locals and foreigners a food experience that celebrates the region’s history.

Since there’s always a story behind every unique cuisine, we’re bringing you on a historical journey about Peranakan food and how it differs from other Asian cuisines. Not only that, but we’ll also be sharing why this cuisine is a worthy food experience whenever you travel to Singapore or looking to introduce your family or friends to unique cuisines.

Peranakan Food Cuisine: The Diversity of Asian Food

As the largest continent on Earth, it’s no surprise that Asian food comprises a wide variety of cuisines that are unique to each region. In the case of Peranakan food, it was a result of cultural adaptation between the Chinese and locals in Singapore, Malaysia, and Indonesia.

During the height of the spice trade in the 1400s, there was a slew of marriages between locals and the early Chinese immigrants. This resulted in new practices and habits as the Chinese maintained many of their traditions while adopting local customs and language.

When you think of Peranakan food and its culture, it’s neither Chinese nor Malay. But rather a whole new culture with new dialect, cuisine, and practices. As the term Baba-Nyonya became part of the Peranakan’s identity, their food also became known as such.

So, if you hear anyone mentioning Peranakan or Nyonya food, just know that they’re referring to the same cuisine.

That said, no two Peranakan food are the same as each creation is an interpretation based on the preferred flavours, ingredients of the chef, and region. This is what makes Peranakan food special – the diverse regional interpretation and recipe adaptation.

For instance, there are several variations to the Laksa with Laksa Lemak being a variation that most Singaporeans are familiar with, while the tangy Assam Laksa being a variation of Malaysia’s Peranakans. Other famous Peranakan dishes include Ayam Buah Keluak and Nyonya Kueh.

Where to Get Mouth-watering Peranakan Food in Singapore?

If you’re already salivating over the dishes that we mentioned above, don’t worry because we’ll share with you where you can get these mouth-watering Peranakan food in Singapore.

Candlenut is the world’s first Michelin-starred Peranakan restaurant in Singapore, which takes on a contemporary yet authentic approach to the traditional Peranakan food cuisine while National Kitchen by Violet Oon is part of a highly-acclaimed group of restaurants serving Asian gourmet delights rooted in Nyonya and Singapore cuisine.

If you prefer a Peranakan food catering for your social event, you can check out Chilli Manis, a halal-certified caterer offering a diverse range of Peranakan food for any style of event. You can even get them delivered to your venue for peace of mind so that you don’t have to go out amid this pandemic.

Among the dishes they serve are Signature Kampong Dry Laksa, Nonya Curry Chicken with Potato, Steamed Assam Sambal Fish, Udang Goreng Assam, Classic Nonya Beef Rendang, Homemade Chicken Ngoh Hiang with Sweet Sauce, Nonya Chap Chye with Mushroom, and more!

Keen to Try Peranakan Food Catering for Your Event in Singapore?

Engaging a Peranakan food catering for your event will create a unique experience for your guests. On top of that, you’ll be introducing new flavours that may leave your guest wanting more.

The best caterer can balance the quality as well as the presentation of the food while delivering the best value for your money. When you choose a Peranakan food catering service from Chilli Manis, you’ll have a variety of dishes and side menu items to choose from.

As a halal-certified caterer, we seek to present the best Peranakan food catering service in Singapore. Keen to try our food catering service? Contact us at 6250 1112 or email sales@chillimanis.com.sg.

When it comes to planning an event, the food served during the event itself is often an item that is high on the priority list. Why? Because people love to eat! It’s a well-known fact that delicious food brings people together, and good food always results in happy guests!

However, if you’re planning or managing an event for the first time, you’ll know that food and food catering isn’t a simple outsourcing task and is much more complicated than it seems.

In this article, we’ll go through a few Do’s and Dont’s when it comes to event catering and where you can find catering services from one of the best high tea catering in Singapore has to offer.

What you should definitely do when it comes to event catering?

• Do work out your budget carefully  

Your event hinges on your ability to budget properly. Before you attempt to start planning, work out exactly what you’re setting aside when it comes to food for your event. This includes catering hire, waste disposal, transport and accommodation. The specific details will be unique to your event. The goal is to work out exactly what each item will cost and prioritise the essentials.

Don’t be tempted to splash the cash on any impressive “extras” if the necessities are not already in place and accounted for. This is the best way of ensuring your event does not run over budget.

• Do plan your schedule well in advance  

One of the first rules of smooth event planning is to make a schedule at the beginning of the event as soon as you have worked out your budget.

The best event planners put schedules together for every event they run, and this includes selecting and planning the food catering aspect of the event well in advance.

This can keep you calm and organised, and ensures you have some essential room to manoeuvre and come up with alternative solutions if anything doesn’t go to plan.

• Do communicate clearly  

There are so many people involved in event planning that it is important to keep communication channels open between all of them.

This is especially true with your food caterer for your event. You will be responsible for liaising with your team, the venue, caterers, providers of equipment and your guests.

• Do let the catering staff do their jobs

The catering staff knows what they are doing. If you have preferences for the staff, let them know ahead of time and not at the event. Typically the catering staff is more than willing to accommodate certain requests, but also keep in mind that this is their job and they work the way they do for a reason.

What you shouldn’t do when it comes to event catering?

• Don’t change things last minute

Once you finalize everything with your caterer, stick to the plan. It’s hard for caterers to adjust once they have placed orders and are preparing for an event. Last-minute changes can create unneeded stress and confusion, such as adding people to the guest count once the number has been confirmed.

The majority of the time, a caterer will plan for a few extra guests, but having a large number of unaccounted people is not something a caterer is prepared for. Keeping the number consistent makes life easier not only for you and your guests but also for the caterer.

• Don’t give the caterer an unrealistic timeframe to prepare for the event

Plan ahead. It takes time for the caterer to order food and schedule staff to work at an event. If you need a caterer ASAP, you may not be able to get exactly what you want. Also, please remember to give the caterer enough time to set up prior to the event start. There’s nothing worse than having a set-up taking place as guests arrive.

• Assume every caterer can serve alcohol

If you would like alcohol served at your event, make sure your caterer is licensed to do so. It is easy to forget that not every catering company is permitted to serve alcohol, so double-checking is always a good idea.

Looking For The Right Caterer For High Tea Or Afternoon Tea In Singapore?  

Choosing the caterer for your Afternoon Tea or High Tea session is not as easy as it looks.

The best caterer can balance the quality as well as the presentation of the food while delivering the best bang for your budget!

When you order an afternoon tea or high tea catering Singapore from Chilli Manis, you’ll have a variety of dishes and small menu items to choose from. You can also mix and match your dishes for a memorable Afternoon Tea or High Tea session.As a halal-certified caterer, we seek to present the most authentic Afternoon Tea to all in Singapore. Keen to try our Afternoon Tea or High Tea catering services? Contact us at 6250 1112 or email sales@chillimanis.com.sg.

If you’re throwing a part, mini gathering or just a small occasion, it’s always a good idea to consider a mini buffet to make things easier for both you and your guests!

However, no matter how convenient buffets are, they are also a few shortcomings. This includes people bunching up, messiness when it comes to self-serving food as well as the infamous long buffet line!

With a few simple tips, you can avoid these common pitfalls when it comes to buffets and ensures your mini buffet catering style gathering or catering is a success!

Here are a few essential tips on how to maintain an efficient yet high-quality buffet table line:

Tip 1 : Plates at the start of the table, cutlery & napkins in the end

As one of the most fundamental, yet important top to set up a buffet line, this allows your guest to have their hands available and free to hold their plates and take their food safely without the risk of spilling and dropping.

Tip 2 : Is your serving container suitable for the food?

For example – will your noodles need to be served in a soup bowl, or will a shallow plate be sufficient? This is key to avoid waste, mess and too many plates to clean after.

You should also consider the positioning of your food items. Dishes earlier in the line will be finished earlier, and the food items later down in the buffet line will last longer.

Tip 3 : Make space for a centrepiece decoration

Buffet tables aren’t just for food – it’s an excellent way to set the theme and feel of your mini gathering! Hence, attractive decorations can make or break your party, and the center of your buffet table is often the best place for this!

Tip 4 : Separate drinks from food

This is why you’ll often see drinks at a separate station from the food table at buffets. Drinks also often make its surrounding items wet as they are often chilled, and will not be great to be in proximity with hot and fresh food

You should also regularly clean your drink stations as they are notorious for spills and mess! Keeping that area clean by consistently wiping it down will make a major difference.

Tip 5 : Provide ample food disposal bins and trash cans

This is where stylish bins come in handy. With a higher number of these, your guests will have no issues disposing of their leftovers such as bones, skin and leftover gravy.

Be sure to use leak-proof bins or bags to contain the mess! These bins should be far away from the food but close enough for guests to spot and utilize.

Looking For The Right Caterer For A Mini Buffet Catering In Singapore?

Choosing the caterer for the perfect mini buffet catering is never an easy task.

The best caterer can balance the quality as well as the presentation of the food while delivering the best bang for your budget!

When you order mini buffet catering from Chilli Manis, you’ll have a variety of dishes and small menu items to choose from as well as the certified expertise of our crew to set up your gathering without you lifting a finger!

As a halal-certified caterer, we seek to present the most authentic mini buffet catering to all in Singapore. Contact us at 6250 1112 or email sales@chillimanis.com.sg.

How much do you know about Singapore’s famous Peranakan food?

In fact, Peranakan cuisine is a unique and popular item that’s been around for decades. It prides itself on its rich, mouth-watering flavours that hold an immense amount of history and tradition to it.

While it consists of a mixture of Malay, Chinese, and Southeast Asian influences, there are subtle nuances about Peranakan food that differentiates it from the rest. In this article, let’s find out more about the interesting facts about Peranakan food buffet catering and where to find the best Peranakan buffet caterer in Singapore!

1. Peranakan and Nyonya are not exactly the same

Firstly, Peranakan means “locally born and bred”. This comes from the fact that many Chinese immigrants got married to the local population after they immigrated from China.

This act of coming together thus resulted in the cultivation of a new and unique culture with their own set of traditional beliefs and customs. With that came along their own style of cuisine!

On the other hand, “Baba Nyonya” is a term used by the Peranakan Chinese in Malaysia. These are words inspired by the Indonesian language!

2. Peranakan food is truly one of a kind

Peranakan food has become a global phenomenon for good reason – no two Peranakan dishes are alike!

As we already know, Peranakan cuisine consists of a combination of Chinese and local Malay cooking methods and spices. This is exactly the reason as to why Peranakan dishes are so distinctive, as each dish has been created or invented based on the chef’s interpretation and choice of ingredients.

Take, for example, some signature must-have ingredients in Peranakan food include the likes of coconut milk, tamarind, and lemongrass. This is why Peranakan food is famous for having a myriad of different flavours and dishes as a result of the various different ingredients. There are of course countless others, as Peranakan cuisine is known for being highly flavourful in their own ways!

3. Peranakan food requires a long and tedious cooking process

Unlike many other foods out there such as fast food, Peranakan cuisine isn’t a one-pot-wonder dish that can be prepared as a simple weekday dinner meal.

In fact, Peranakan food is renowned for its meticulous and tedious preparation before the food is cooked!

This is usually done many hours beforehand. For example, the meat or seafood that is going to be cooked will be marinated hours before to make sure that the flavour is well absorbed. Small ingredients such as spices are not left out during this preparation process too. Peranakan food cooks often grind their herbs with a mortar and pestle to make sure that the food has a strong and distinct flavour.

Another testament to the complexity of preparing Peranakan food is the Kueh Lapis, a confection made up of multiple layers, symbolising the ladder or prosperity. It takes skill and time to prepare all those layers!

For Peranakan people, food had a religious significance, and many dishes were originally served only on holidays.

Looking For The Right Caterer For Peranakan Buffets In Singapore?

Choosing the best caterer for your Peranakan food buffet in Singapore is no easy matter.

The best caterer combines the quality of your food well while delivering the best bang for your budget!

When you order a Peranakan buffet from Chilli Manis, you’ll have a variety of dishes and small menu items to choose from. You can also mix and match your dishes for a memorable buffer event! Contact us at 6250 1112 or email sales@chillimanis.com.sg.

While many of us have heard of high tea, there is, in fact, another form of tea tradition called afternoon tea. They’re often used interchangeably as many believe that they’re the same! This is understandable due to both tea traditions being steeped in British tradition and history.

In this article, we’ll explore the basic differences between the two and how do you go about organising the best high tea you can find!

What Is The Difference Between Afternoon Tea And High Tea?

Afternoon Tea is a British tradition of sitting down for an afternoon treat of tea, sandwiches, scones, and cake. While the name Afternoon Tea suggests it’s served at noon, it is instead served around 4PM.

In fact, Afternoon Tea is the occasion for what most people know as high-tea – it involves things like elaborate socialisation, detailed decorations that often include lace or even delicate finger foods that are bite-sized. Today, as before, they’re considered more of a ladies’ social occasion than men’s

On the other hand, high tea was a working-class meal served on a high table at the end of the workday. For workers in the newly industrialized Britain, tea time had to wait until after work – hence, tea was generally served with heartier dishes which were substantially more than just tea and cakes. High Tea was given its name because it was traditionally served at higher dinner tables, not because it involves a higher class of people!

What Do You Usually Eat During Afternoon Tea?

Today, Afternoon Tea is no longer a ‘quick snack’ between meals. It’s a treat or a ritual that we choose to indulge in! Naturally, this will then involve food that are enjoyed leisurely than other forms of food while spending time in lovely tea rooms and having amazing conversations with friends and family.

A typical Afternoon Tea menu is light in nature but doesn’t miss out on flavours. Common appearances are scones, tarts, finger sandwiches, assorted pastries, muffins and much more! They’re also usually served with an assortment of jam, marmalade, clotted cream lemon curds, and herbed butter. In terms of presentation, they often come in a multi-tiered platform that’s a delight to both your eyes and tastebuds!

Lastly, the favourite teas for Afternoon Tea include black teas like Earl Grey as well as lighter teas like Chamomile and Mint.

Looking For The Right Caterer For High Tea Or Afternoon Tea In Singapore?

Choosing the caterer for your Afternoon Tea or High Tea session is not as easy as it looks.

The best caterer can balance the quality as well as the presentation of the food while delivering the best bang for your budget!

When you order an afternoon tea or high tea catering in Singapore from Chilli Manis, you’ll have a variety of dishes and small menu items to choose from. You can also mix and match your dishes for a memorable Afternoon Tea or High Tea session.

As a halal-certified caterer, we seek to present the most authentic Afternoon Tea to all in Singapore. Keen to try our Afternoon Tea or High Tea catering services? Contact us at 6250 1112 or email sales@chillimanis.com.sg.

Are you looking to plan for a mini gathering, office party or just for an important board meeting? When it comes to planning any form of gathering, it is widely known that the quality of food will make or break its success!

However, having a good caterer that serves good food with great service is much easier said than done. In fact, caterers that serve food below the expected standard can be very frustrating for any event planner, and can ruin the gathering itself!

In this article, we’ll explore a few tips on choosing the best food catering service in Singapore and the key questions you should be asking your caterer to make sure they’re the right caterer for the job.

3 Tips On Selecting The Best Caterer

Tip 1 – Find A Caterer With Experience

Not every caterer is perfect or every type of event – and a good caterer will openly inform you of this. More importantly, you should find a caterer that specializes in the gathering that you’re planning to ensure they have the right kind of experience for you.

For example, caterers that excel in catering for wedding banquets would probably not excel in office-type gatherings even with ample experience and reputation.

Hence, you should always be specific about the type of event you are planning, the type of food and the exact presentation you are expecting. Otherwise, you may end up selecting a caterer who simply isn’t a good fit for the type or style of your gathering.

Tip 2 – Find A Caterer With Local Reputation And References

Want to know more about a potential caterer, and what it’s like to work with them? Want to find out if they consistently deliver their promises for the events that they were hired for?

Here’s what you can do – ask them for a list of references and past clients! A good caterer will happily let you contact their past clients and let the quality of their catering speak for themselves.

Tip 3 – Find A Caterer That Cooks Your Food Freshly For Your Event

Lastly, you should be sure about the method of preparation and delivery of the food that will be served at your gathering.

This is a key element of any food catering service that you choose in Singapore as it will affect your budget and timeline significantly.

For example, the typically more affordable option would be to have your food cooked offsite and brought to your gathering space. However, if you prefer freshly-cooked and by-the-order catering services, you should have a solid idea on how the caterer will fulfill this type of service efficiently.

Questions You Must Ask Your Food Caterer

If you’d like to ensure your food caterer is suitable for your next gathering, here are a few key questions across the most important categories to ask.

Venue & Availability

• Do you have our event date available?
• Do you have any other obligations that day?
• How will your staff balance multiple events that day (or weekend)?
• Have you ever catered at our venue before?
• Can you accomplish our vision at our venue?
• What are your specific needs to be able to cater at our venue?
• How much space will you need at the venue?
• How much time will you need for set-up and clean-up at our venue?

Food & Drink

• Do you have a static menu, or can you do a custom menu?
• What are your most popular dishes?
• Do you offer halal food ?
• Do you charge a bulk fee or cost per person?
• What is the difference between a plated meal, buffet, family-style, etc.?
• Can you make kid’s meals?
• Can you provide vendor meals?
• Can you take care of various allergy/dietary requests?
• Will food be made on-site or brought in?
• When will you need final menu choices?
• When will you need a final headcount?
• Where do you source your food from?
• Can/how will you handle last-minute requests?
• What are the portion sizes?
• What do you do with leftovers?
• If not, will you provide cake cutting services?
• Do you offer other desserts?
• Can you provide bartending services?
• If so, will we need to provide alcohol, or can you?
• Are any non-alcoholic beverages included in the food costs?

Others

• How many events have you done in the past?
• Do you have photos of past events and references from past clients?
• Do you provide linens, table settings, and accessories?
• What colors and style options do you have for linens, table settings, and accessories?
• If you don’t provide linens, table settings, etc., will you handle coordinating the rental?
• Will your staff handle setting place cards and menus, if desired?
• Do you have the proper catering license requirements, as well as liability insurance?
• Will we need any special event permits? Will you obtain those?
• Will there be an onsite coordinator on day-of? Can we meet them ahead of time?
• Can you provide a copy of your standard contract?
• What is the amount of the deposit due to hold our date, and when will the remainder be due?
• What is your cancellation policy?
• Do you offer a payment plan?

Looking For The Right Caterer For Your Next Gathering?

Choosing the right food for your mini gathering can be challenging but with the help of a local catering service, you won’t have to be troubled by the preparations.

When you order mini buffet catering services from Chilli Manis, you’ll have a variety of dishes to choose from. You can also mix and match your dishes for a memorable and cosy gathering.

As a halal-certified caterer, we seek to present the most authentic cuisine to all in Singapore. Keen to try our mini buffet catering services? Contact us at 6250 1112 or email sales@chillimanis.com.sg.

For most of us working adults, it’s fair to say that lunch is part of the highlight of our working day. It’s a nice respite from the first half of work, and it’s a great time to catch up with your colleagues.

But imagine having to plan for lunch not just you and your colleagues, but potentially hundreds of other people – if that sounds like a stressful scenario, then planning for a business conference lunch is exactly that!

In the world of business meetings, conferences or conventions, it’s common to have speaker presentations and panels that are followed by networking sessions that happen during lunch.

This is the challenge for business conference lunch planners – how do you make sure the food and service from your caterer make your conference a success with all the right ingredients? Is the common mini buffet catering the right way to go?

In this article, we’ll explore the important things to consider when you’re planning a business conference lunch as well as the different lunch event options that you should consider when planning your conference!

4 Things To Consider When Planning A Business Conference Lunch

1. Follow the theme of the occasion

Whether it’s specified or not, every conference has a theme to it, whether it’s a formal business conference theme that’s meant for corporate presentations, or a networking-focused theme where your guests are encouraged to mix among each other.

Regardless, you’ll want your lunch conference to reflect upon the formality of the conference and inspire or stimulate conversation. This means choosing the right kind of food to be served, the right kind of service and the right kind of ambiance.

2. Know your guests and their requirements

You’ll need to know who is coming to your event. Get as much information about your guests as possible before you start making food arrangements to create as inclusive a menu as possible.

This includes details such as specific food requirements. By doing proper research and guest vetting ahead of time, you can get the jump on crafting an inclusive menu.

3. Coordinate your lunch menu with the timing of the event

Half the success of a business conference lunch is down to timing. This is important to take note of because the final menu and food you decide upon will have different time lengths to consume, and it will affect the overall flow of the event itself.

For example, western menus such as sandwiches and salads will be much faster to consume, while certain menus that include multiple dishes and longer serving times will take up more time ,

If you’d like a longer and slower-paced business conference lunch, you should choose a menu where your guests can comfortably find the time to sit around and chat in a fixed location.

Different Types Of Business Conference Lunch Menu Options

Deli Buffets

Deli buffets are popular at simpler business conference lunches for a good reason – they’re economical, easy to choose from and are generic crowd-pleasers!

A great example of a deli buffet menu might include finger foods that are easy to serve and consume, such as:

• Salads such as mixed greens, fruit salads, potato salads
• Finger-friendly foods such as chips and drips
• Miniature sandwiches that are bite-sized
• No-frills and no-mess desserts such as cupcakes or brownies

Box Lunches

If you’ve done your research and preparation right, box lunches are one of the most effective menu choices to serve your guests at a business conference lunch. Think bento sets or cafeteria lunches that have fixed food items that come pre-packed!

The reasons are simple – they are incredibly easy to be distributed to your guests, easy to consume and often easy to clean and dispose of.

However, you should ensure that the food that’s included in the box lunches meet the dietary requirements of most of your guests as they can’t pick and choose their food as compared to other lunch menu options.

Mini Buffet Catering

With appropriate preparation and planning, a mini buffet catering is the best option for formal conferences with the goal of impressing guests and ensuring the outcome of the conference is successful.

In fact, showcasing a plethora of delicious dishes that your guests have the privilege to choose from is the best way to leave a lasting impression of an event. Luckily, you’re at the right place – Chilli Manis offers some of the best mini buffet catering services in Singapore!

Some of Chilli Manis’s signature mini buffet catering menus include:

• International Mini Buffet
• Peranakan Mini Buffet
• Classic Mini Buffet

Looking For The Right Caterer For Your Business Conference Lunch?

Choosing the right food for your conference can be challenging, but with the help of an expert catering service, you won’t have to be troubled by the preparations!

When you order a mini buffet from Chilli Manis, you’ll have a variety of dishes to choose from. You can also mix and match your dishes for a memorable conference.

As a halal-certified caterer, we seek to present the most authentic cuisine to all in Singapore. Keen to try our mini buffet catering services? Contact us at 6250 1112 or email sales@chillimanis.com.sg.