Are you looking to serve Peranakan cuisine for your next buffet catering but you don’t know where to start? Don’t fret! Here are some of our recommendations on the quintessential Peranakan dishes to impress your guests.

Peranakan cuisine’s fusion of Chinese and Malay food offers a distinct flavour profile that will be a treat for newbies.

Here are the 5 essential Peranakan dishes you should serve at your next Peranakan buffet in Singapore.

List of 5 Must-Have Peranakan Dishes at Your Buffet

Whether it’s your first time hosting a Peranakan buffet or you prefer having it occasionally,  these five dishes will have your guests wanting more the next time round.

1. Signature Kampong Dry Laksa

Some of us are familiar with savouring clear broth noodle soup with meat or seafood. But, the Peranakans had a different idea, and they modified the recipe to create a dish known as laksa. This dish is not only loved by most Singaporeans but also Malaysians.

While most of us are familiar with the spicy, rich broth that comes with a bowl of laksa, it’s time to wow your guests with a twist. Our one-of-a-kind, Signature Kampong Dry Laksa, is a unique dish that captures the same savoury and fragrant taste in each bite.

2. Signature Ayam Buah Keluak

The Ayam Buah Keluak is an important dish for many Peranakans, but cooking this dish can be tricky because the rich taste comes from the seeds of the kepayang tree – now a heritage tree in Singapore. Even so, you will not regret having a taste of this dish.

Depending on the cooking style, the gravy is made from a blend of spices, which is then stir-fried till fragrant, after which other ingredients like lemongrass and the flesh of the keluak nuts are added. This makes the Signature Ayam Buah Keluak a unique dish.

3. Udang Masak Nenas

For prawn and pineapple lovers, this Peranakan dish is a must-have for your buffet catering. The sauce features a unique combination that results from the sweetness and sourness of the tamarind and pineapple, the pungency from the shrimp paste (belacan), the creaminess of the coconut milk, and the heat from the chillies.

While these ingredients don’t seem to match, they can make any seafood taste splendid, like prawns or fish. With more flavours that make your tastebuds tingle, the Udang Masak Nenas is sure to delight.

4. Nonya Chap Chye with Mushroom

No Peranakan buffet is complete without this traditional favourite. The Nonya Chap Chye with Mushroom is a simple stir-fried vegetable using taucheo and prawn stock. And the Peranakans have tweaked the dish to give it a flavourful taste.

Featuring sweet cabbage, cloud fungus, woodsy lily bud, tofu skin, and vermicelli, these ingredients then absorb the rich flavours of the sauce to give you a satisfying yet tasty dish.

5. Pulut Hitam with Coconut Milk

You should never forget about dessert and the Pulut Hitam with Coconut Milk is one of the most popular Peranakan desserts in the region, making it one of the must-haves for your next Peranakan buffet catering in Singapore.

Made of black glutinous rice and coconut milk, it is the equivalent of a rice porridge to relieve your tastebuds after savouring all the dishes above. It is first sweetened with palm sugar or rock sugar to give it a rich flavour. You can mix coconut milk into the rice for a creamier texture, depending on your preference.

Why should you have Peranakan food buffet catering?

There are many reasons to have other types of cuisine for your next catering. But, you can create a unique tasting experience for your guests with Peranakan foods. Besides, there are various interesting facts that you and your guests may not have known about Peranakan cuisine.

About Chilli Manis

Chilli Manis, which means “sweet chilli” in the Indonesian language, is a halal buffet catering service in Singapore that seeks to showcase the best of Peranakan cuisine – dishes that have amalgamated signature flavours across Chinese, Malay, and Indonesian fares. It is also a subsidiary of Neo Group.

Ordering from Us 

Over the years, Chilli Manis has become one of Singapore’s popular Peranakan Buffet Caterer, serving a wide array of regular buffet, mini buffet, bento sets and more that combines nostalgic Peranakan taste with a touch of modern influence.

Conclusion

You can rest assured of the quality of food and services that we offer as we take pride in providing only the best dining experience. Depending on what you order, you can enjoy as many as over ten types of dishes in one seating for your social gatherings or corporate events. You can explore our buffet menus on Chilli Manis’ website.

When you host an event in Singapore, the food you serve plays a big role in ensuring its success. This is to ensure that everyone who attends your event gets a taste of the food served and enjoys their time there.

If the majority of your guests are Muslims, you will need to choose a halal buffet catering in Singapore.

The reason being is that Muslims can only consume food that is permissible according to Islamic law, which is known as halal food. It’s a type of food that doesn’t contain any pork products, alcohol, and other forbidden substances.

And why is serving halal food important? Well, this is so that it can be consumed by Muslims and non-Muslims alike without any worries about the ingredients used in its preparation. In this article, we will explain why you should choose a halal buffet catering in Singapore.

 Why Choose Halal Buffet with Food Catering? 

Halal food is a growing market as more people in Singapore and abroad are embracing the Muslim lifestyle. The diversity of halal food also means there’s something for everyone regardless of age or taste preference. 

The following are some of the benefits of choosing a halal buffet catering:

1. Excellent food safety and hygiene standards
2. You can enjoy healthy proteins
3. You get better meat quality
4. You’re making an ethical choice
5. You can treat a halal certification as evidence of quality

1.  Excellent food safety and hygiene standards 

When it comes to preparing halal buffet catering, there is a strict set of food safety and hygiene standards that halal food caterers have to adhere to.

As per Muslim scriptures, the consumption of pork, blood, and animals that have been slaughtered in specific ways is prohibited. Hence, halal meat has to come from the right species and the animal has to be slaughtered in a specific way.

Consequently, this results in a low contamination incidence rate for halal meals. Thus, if you want to ensure the safety of the food served at your buffet event in Singapore, you should choose a halal buffet catering.

 2. You can enjoy healthy proteins 

We all know that pork is banned for all Muslims. Even if you’re not a Muslim, there are significant health benefits when you avoid pork for any of your events.

Besides, pork is often priced higher than many other proteins such as chicken and fish. By avoiding pork, you can save a lot more on your budget while ensuring that your guests get to enjoy a wide array of healthy proteins such as beef, chicken, and fish.

After all, these are lean proteins with lower fat content and a good source of healthy lipids and minerals.

 3. You get better meat quality 

As per Muslim scriptures, halal meat has to come from the right species, which needs to be cared for in a specific way compared to the standard way of farming.

This means the animals have to be grass-fed and are free from antibiotics, and other chemicals. Additionally, there must be no preservatives added to halal meat.

With the absence of such additives, it will result in better meat quality and more delicious meals. Whether you’re opting for a mini buffet catering or any halal food catering services, you get to indulge in higher quality meals.

 4. You’re making an ethical choice 

Did you know that the halal method of animal slaughter for their meat is aimed at inflicting minimal pain and suffering? In fact, halal butchers are trained for this specific process to ensure it’s a quick and painless process.

With this awareness about standard meat production, more people are beginning to switch to halal meat. While this doesn’t guarantee the living conditions of the livestock, choosing a halal buffet caterer means you’re serving cruelty-free meat to your guests.

At the same time, you will still benefit from a halal buffet food catering service in Singapore.

 5. You can treat a halal certification as evidence of quality 

We all know that getting a halal certification is not an easy process. There is a list of requirements that every Singapore food caterer will have to comply with in order to get the certification.

Frequently, the process of obtaining one will be a lengthy one and many caterers will require some time to meet all of the criteria to ensure complete compliance with the requirements.

Therefore, when you opt for a halal food catering service in Singapore, you know that the caterer will follow the best practices and standards in preparing a halal buffet for your event.

Now that you’ve learned about the importance of choosing a halal buffet catering in Singapore, it’s time for you to seek the best halal buffet caterer for your event – Chilli Manis.

 Keen to try a halal food catering service for your event in Singapore? 

When you serve halal food at your event, you’re ensuring that everyone who attends it gets a taste of the food served and enjoy their time there. Who knows? It’ll be the talk of the town when you show consideration in terms of dietary planning.

That said, 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 food catering service from Chilli Manis, you will have a variety of dishes and side menu items to choose from.As a halal-certified caterer, we week to present the best food catering service in Singapore. Keen to try our food catering service? Contact us at 6250 1112 or email sales@chillimanis.com.sg.

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.