Permata Singapore – Flavours of The Archipelago Indonesia [MEDIA INVITE]

In the month of October 2024, Permata Singapore is bringing you 1-FOR-1 Halal buffet with the rich Flavours of the Archipelago – a culinary journey through Indonesia.

Highlights of this feast are:

Nasi Liwet Sunda is an Indonesian rice dish, cooked in coconut milk, chicken broth, lemongrass and spices. At Permata, the Nasi Liwet is to be enjoyed with Teri Kacang Balado, Ayam Goreng Rempah, Sambal Bawang Iris Petai, Perkedel Kentang, Tahu, Tempe, Lalapan, Sambal Geprek and Cabe Ijo.

Nasi Liwet Sunda

To our surprise, the rice is one of the most aromatic and delicious rice we ever tried. It is an elevated version of regular coconut rice and we can taste the OMPH and Shiokness in this fluffy rice.

The Ayam Goreng Rempah has a super tasty exterior, followed by succulent flesh. The rempah seasoning absorbs into the chicken flesh and bones. Together with different types of sambals and petai, it just adds to the SHIOKness of this dish. Superb!!!

Mie Bakso. One of the most popular Indonesian street foods. Usually, the bakso (meatball) is made from beef but the version in Permata uses chicken instead. Although it is different from the street version, the chicken meatball is bouncy and tasty. Accompanied by the robust and savoury broth, plus quail eggs, it is worth trying.

Mie Bakso

Bubur Ayam Jakarta. A dish that is close to my heart. I enjoy this dish from a push cart during my secondary school days in Jakarta. The bubur (porridge) is blended with the chicken consommé, delivering a flavourful combo. For the toppings, I added crispy fried shallots, fried peanuts and spring onions. Thumbs up from LD (who was not a fan of Bubur Ayam), and she went for second helping.

Bubur Ayam Jakarta

Fish & Shrimp Geprek Casserole and Cabe Ijo Chimichurri Chicken Enchilada. An inspired fusion dish, presented in Western and Texmex style. The fish and shrimp casserole is creamy and spicy, while the cabe ijo chimichurri chicken enchilada is tasty, packed full of heat, and it is good to be eaten with the keropok.

Fish & Shrimp Geprek Casserole & 
Cabe Ijo Chimmichurri Chicken Enchilada. 

Mie Goreng Jawa. Classic version of fried noodle. Aromatic, loaded with egg and the thick yellow noodle is covered evenly with kecap manis. On top of that, it is also filled with a touch of “Wok Hei”.

Mie Goreng Jawa with Ayam Goreng Rempah

From the grill outdoor live station, we have Ayam Bakar Jakarta and Udang Bakar Jimbaran. One of the ingredients in Ayam Bakar Jakarta marinate is kecap manis. Due to the sugar content, the exterior of the chicken caramelises with a lovely sweet and charred flavour. On top of that, it sealed the juices in the flesh together with the marinate. Yummy!!

Udang Bakar Jimbaran & Ayam Bakar Jakarta

The Udang Bakar Jimbaran have similar marinate as the chicken, with the addition of chilli. Yes, the prawns are spicier, however, unlike the chicken, it did not seal the juice very well.

Timor Leste Barramundi Sabuko & Budu Air Asam. Hail from Timor Leste, where it used to be part of Indonesia. Permata uses the big size of barramundi, marinated in a zesty blend of tamarind, turmeric, and lime served with fermented budu and spicy tamarind sauce. The result is a refreshing coastal flavour dish. It is bold, tangy and brings up the texture of the fish nicely. LD and I scoop a big portion of this because it is just so so good. Yum Yum!!

Timor Leste Barramundi Sabuko

Balinese Lakak. Balinese traditional pandan pancake, grated coconut, sweet palm sugar. Think of it as a mini pandan pancake. It is aromatic, chewy and tasty. The topping of grated coconut and sweet palm sugar is just addictive.

Balinese Lakak

Balinese Lakak with Vegetable Fritters and Pisang Goreng

Overall, the culinary expedition through Indonesia brought back nice memories of the street food that I liked to consume when I was young, especially the Mie Bakso and Bubur Ayam Jakarta. The Nasi Liwet Sunda combination is just a “FLAVOUR BOMB”, not forgetting the flavour from the sea coming from Timor Leste Barramundi Sabuko. Cheers!!

Flavors of Nusantara Archipelago – INDONESIA (1-FOR-1 HALAL BUFFET)

When: 1st Oct to 31 Oct 2024

Time: Lunch, Daily, 12.00 – 14.30

Dinner, Mon – Fri, 18.00 – 21.30

Dinner, Sat – Sun, 1st Seating 17.00 – 19.00

Dinner, Sat – Sun, 2nd Seating 19.30 – 21.30

Price: Lunch, Daily, $88++ Adult - $15++ Children 6 yrs - 10 yrs

Dinner, $98++ Adult - $15++ Children 6 yrs - 10yrs

(1-FOR-1 Buffet Promotion)

For Reservation:

Call 9082 9941 or Email: reservation@gedungkining.sg / event@gedungkuning.sg

https://www.sevenrooms.com/reservations/permata/chef-mel-dean

Thank you very much to Chef Mel Dean and Permata team for hosting us.

Food & Drink: 8/10

Value: 8/10

Service: N/A (Tasting Invitation)

Ambiance: 8/10

Budget per Person: $51 - $80

Permata Singapore

73 Sultan Gate

Singapore 198497

T: +65 9082 9941

W: https://www.gedungkuning.sg/permata

F: https://www.facebook.com/permata.restaurant

IG: @Permata.singapore

OH:

Lunch, Daily, 12.00 – 14.30

Dinner, Mon – Fri, 18.00 – 21.30

Dinner, Sat – Sun, 1st Seating 17.00 – 19.00

Dinner, Sat – Sun, 2nd Seating 19.30 – 21.30

Permata Singapore – National Days Celebration [MEDIA INVITE]

This August, Permata Singapore celebrate the National Days of Singapore, Indonesia and Malaysia with 1-FOR-1 Halal Buffet, bringing together the best culinary menu of the three nations.

National Month 1-for-1 Buffet

Highlights of this feast are:

Punten + Sambal Ijo. Punten origin from Java, it is a rice cooked with coconut milk, crushed and mould into desired shape. It is rich, creamy and together with Chef Mel Dean’s sambal ijo, it has a kick to our palate and a good start to the meal.

Punten + Sambal Ijo

Pulut Kuning + Beef Rendang + Javanese Sambal Goreng. The yellow glutinous rice is packed with turmeric. The beef rendang is rich and fork tender and goes well with the sambal goreng made with potatoes and long beans.

Pulut Kuning + Beef Rendang + Javanese Sambal Goreng

Nasi Goreng Rawon + Ayam Goreng Rempah + Sambal Quail Eggs. This flavourful fried rice is made with beef and candlenut soup. It paired well with the tasty fried chicken and the rich quail eggs chilli.

Nasi Goreng Rawon + Ayam Goreng Rempah + Sambal Quail Eggs

Gado Gado. My favourite Indonesian salad. A combination of rice cake, fried tofu, bean sprout, fried tempeh, cabbage and keropok bind by thick, tasty and rich peanut sauce. I will usually drizzle peanut sauce until it covers the whole plate.

Gado Gado

Mee Siam Mamak. LD like the version here because of the bold flavours. It is sweet and tangy, plus the chilli is also power. Yummy!!

Mee Siam Mamak

Seafood Lemak Casserole + Rawon Risotto. I called this combination as Surf and Turf. The seafood lemak casserole is rich, creamy, infused with fish and prawns plus the flavour bomb from the Lemak Api Chilli.

Seafood Lemak Casserole + Rawon Risotto

Meanwhile, the Rawon Risotto has a closer texture to a fried porridge. It is tasty and it is great to eat with a keropok.

Soto Lamongan. Indonesian chicken consommé, flavoured with turmeric, coriander, candlenut, galangal and kaffir lime. A comforting bowl of soup.

Chargrilled Striploin with Sambal Geprek, Lemak Cili Api Sauce & Sambal Ijo. I always like the chargrilled striploin here. The beef is lean, yet tender. For me the Lemak Cili Api is the perfect companion for this dish.

Chargrilled Striploin with Sambal Geprek,
Lemak Cili Api Sauce & Sambal Ijo.

Botok Botok Barramundi. Chef Mel Dean version of Barramundi Otah. The fish is silky and the spices paired well with the fish. One of our favourite dish of the night!!.

Botok Botok Barramundi

Bubur Som Som + Kolak Pisang + Kole Kole Temasek. A sweet ending to the evening. Three traditional dessert that are full of flavours. I wanted to go for second round, but there was just too much food.

Bubur Som Som + Kolak Pisang + Kole Kole Temasek

By the way, I just found out there is a DIY Chendol Corner. So if you are in Permata, keep a look out for this.

Overall, it was another gastronomic journey at Permata, curated by Chef Mel Dean and his team. My picks are Seafood Lemak Casserole, Botok Botok Barramundi, Nasi Goreng Rawon, Beef Rendang and Bubur Som Som + Kolak Pisang + Kole Kole Temasek. Cheers!!

National Day Month Special (1-FOR-1 HALAL BUFFET)

When: 1st Aug to 31 Aug 2024

Time: Lunch, Daily, 12.00 – 14.30

Dinner, Mon – Fri, 18.00 – 21.30

Dinner, Sat – Sun, 1st Seating 17.00 – 19.00

Dinner, Sat – Sun, 2nd Seating 19.30 – 21.30

Price: Lunch, Daily, $88++ Adult - $15++ Children 6 yrs - 10 yrs

Dinner, $98++ Adult - $15++ Children 6 yrs - 10yrs

(1-FOR-1 Buffet Promotion)

For Reservation:

Call 9082 9941 or Email: reservation@gedungkining.sg / event@gedungkuning.sg

https://www.sevenrooms.com/reservations/permata/chef-mel-dean

Thank you very much to Chef Mel Dean and Permata team for hosting us.

Food & Drink: 8/10

Value: 8/10

Service: N/A (Tasting Invitation)

Ambiance: 8/10

Budget per Person: $51 - $80

Permata Singapore

73 Sultan Gate

Singapore 198497

T: +65 9082 9941

W: https://www.gedungkuning.sg/permata

F: https://www.facebook.com/permata.restaurant

IG: @Permata.singapore

OH:

Lunch, Daily, 12.00 – 14.30

Dinner, Mon – Fri, 18.00 – 21.30

Dinner, Sat – Sun, 1st Seating 17.00 – 19.00

Dinner, Sat – Sun, 2nd Seating 19.30 – 21.30

Permata Singapore – Enchanting Malacca Cuisine [MEDIA INVITE]

In the month of July, Permata Singapore (which means “Jewel” in Malay), led by culinary director Chef Mel Dean invites us to savour the enchanting Flavours of Malacca in the 1-FOR-1 Halal buffet format. Malacca cuisine offers a unique blend of Malay, Chinese, Indian, Eurasian and Peranakan culinary influences that most Singaporeans are familiar with.

Flavors of Malacca

There are a lot of foods to try on this amazing culinary adventure, and here are some of the highlights:

Starters

Asam Pedas Daging Tetel. It is a spicy and tangy dish made from beef trimmings, including tendon, tripe, offcuts and fats stewed over a long period to extract that delicious flavour. The spicy and tangy gravy is irresistible and goes well with bread or the aromatic Nasi Goreng Kerabu. I went back twice for this dish. Yummy!!

Ayam Pedas Daging Tetel

Nasi Goreng Kerabu

Nyonya Chang. This halal version of Nyonya Chang is just superb. The sticky and moist glutinous rice is divided into two parts. The top part is coloured with blue pea flowers, while the bottom part is just natural. The fillings consist of tender and succulent chicken, cooked with shitake mushroom and packed with umami.

Nyonya Chang

Chicken Rice Ball. The famous version of chicken rice in Malacca. Deboned succulent poached chicken accompanied with a fragrant chicken rice ball. Complete with the dark soy sauce, crushed ginger plus spicy and tangy chilli.

Chicken Rice Ball

Ayam Buah Keluak Risotto. The new interpretation of Ayam Buah Keluak by Chef Mel Dean. Think of it as truffle mushroom risotto, but using Asian truffle.

Ayam Buah Keluak Risotto

Chicken Curry Devil. The most famous Eurasian chicken recipe. The chicken is tender and absorbs the blend of spices. Not forgetting it can be super spicy as well.

Chicken Curry Devil

Medan Bakar Parameswara. Inspired by the popular outdoor bbq eatery in Malacca, complete with a nice cool sea breeze atmosphere. The Udang Bakar is fresh and spot on. You can dip it with kicap cili padi, but I enjoyed mine without any sauce. Meanwhile, the Chargrilled Striploin is tender accompanied by rich and spicy lemak cili api sauce.

Udang Bakar

Chargrilled Striploin

Pengat Durian. This is the more traditional version of pengat durian. Thick, gooey and served warm, just like those dips with Kuih Serabai. Since we did not have kuih serabai, I end up eating it with Roti Jala.

Pengat Durian

While the Flavours of the Malacca are the main theme for July 2024, you can also try the delicious International and Nusantara food served in Permata; such as Seafood on Ice, Tulang Merah, Soup Hayam, Laksa, Satay, Beef Rendang and many more.

Seafood on Ice

Tulang Merah

Laksa

Beef Rendang

Satay

Overall, it was a delicious journey to savour the Flavours of Malacca. LD and I enjoy the food, the taste and the experience. Don’t miss out on this! Cheers!!

Mains

Flavours of Malacca (1-FOR-1 HALAL BUFFET)

When: 1st July to 31 July 2024

Time: Lunch, Daily, 12.00 – 14.30

Dinner, Mon – Fri, 18.30 – 21.30

Dinner, Sat – Sun, 1st Seating 17.00 – 19.00

Dinner, Sat – Sun, 2nd Seating 19.30 – 21.30

Price: Lunch, Daily, $88++ Adult - $15++ Children 6 yrs - 10 yrs

Dinner, $98++ Adult - $15++ Children 6 yrs - 10yrs

(1-FOR-1 Buffet Promotion)

For Reservation:

Call 9082 9941 or Email: reservation@gedungkining.sg / event@gedungkuning.sg

https://www.sevenrooms.com/reservations/permata/chef-mel-dean

Thank you very much to Chef Mel Dean and Permata team for hosting us.

Desserts

Food & Drink: 8/10

Value: 8/10

Service: N/A (Tasting Invitation)

Ambiance: 8/10

Budget per Person: $51 - $80

Permata Singapore

73 Sultan Gate

Singapore 198497

T: +65 9082 9941

W: https://www.gedungkuning.sg/permata

F: https://www.facebook.com/permata.restaurant

IG: @Permata.singapore

OH:

Lunch, Daily, 12.00 – 14.30

Dinner, Mon – Fri, 18.30 – 21.30

Dinner, Sat – Sun, 1st Seating 17.00 – 19.00

Dinner, Sat – Sun, 2nd Seating 19.30 – 21.30

Alaturka – Authentic Mediterranean and Turkish Cuisine

We were looking for a place to celebrate LD’s & our Godson’s birthday. Surprisingly, our Godson choose Mediterranean cuisine and his mum made a booking at Alaturka Mediterranean & Turkish Restaurant.

Located in Bussorah Street, nearby the iconic Arab Street, Alaturka fits right at home. Helmed by the most experienced Turkish chefs, Alaturka served authentic and marvellous Mediterranean cuisine. They are also awarded the Michelin Guide Bib Gourmand in 2016.

Alaturka Mediterranean & Turkish Restaurant

We started the meal with Hummus ($12.50) and Havuc Salata ($12.50). Whenever LD see a Hummus on the menu, it is a must-order item for her. The version here is smooth, creamy and packs with chickpea flavour. It is served with Ekmek bread that is soft and fluffy.

Hummus

Havuc Salata is a Turkish carrot salad. The peeled carrots are cooked with olive oil and then mixed with yoghurt and garlic. If you don’t like the raw carrot taste, don’t worry, the garlic and yoghurt remove most of the raw carrot taste.

Havuc Salata

When we were ordering, we notice the next table ordered this balloon type of bread. After we find it on the menu, we decided to add Lavas ($6) to our order. Served piping hot and in a balloon shape, we were in awe and took lots of photos of it. It is aromatic and tasted light and clean, yet addictive. You can just eat that on its own and try to finish it while it’s hot.

Lavas

Calamari ($18). Deep-fried breaded calamari, served with spiced mayonnaise. It was not a special dish, but everyone just enjoys it. Crispy exterior, followed by tender yet springy calamari rings.

Calamari

Etli Pide ($24). Pide is like the Turkish version of boat shape pizza with a different selection of toppings. We choose the seasoned coarse-ground lamb and cheese. The base is crisp with a soft chewy texture, while the ground lamb is meaty, well-seasoned and absent of the gamy taste. The cheese binds all the ingredients together, giving it the deserving umami flavour and the delicate chewy texture.

Etli Pide

Next up are the meat platter. Karisik Kebab ($59 for 2) and Alaturka Platter ($79 for 2). Both the platter has similar grilled meat such as Kuzu Pirzolla (Lamb Chop), Tavuk Sis (Boneless Grilled Chicken Thigh) and Kanat (Chicken Wings). The Karisik kebab has Köfte (3 lambs and beef meatballs), while the Alaturka Platter has Adana Chicken / Lamb (Marinated minced meat, hand-formed skewer) and Patlican Lamb Kebab (Ground lamb and eggplant skewers). We also ordered extra Kuzu Pirzolla.

Alaturka Platter

Let me not bored you with the details, because at that time, I also did not know the specifics of it. Let’s make it simple, the chickens are juicy, succulent, super tender and well marinated. While most of the kebabs that I tried previously were dried, Alaturka version beat them hands down. They are moist, juicy and the seasoning is spot on. You can still taste the flavour of the meat, instead of being drowned by spices. The Lamb Chop is overcooked, but it was very forgiving as still remains juicy.

Karisik Kebab with extra Kuzu Pirzolla

Each platter is served with buttered rice, greens and house sauce. The rice is fragrant, aromatic and tasty. While the vegetables are tossed with a balsamic vinegar dressing. The house sauce is the must-try here. Instead of dunking your meat into it, I suggest you mixed it with the rice. It is just delicious!!

Karisik Kebab with extra Kuzu Pirzolla

For desserts, we settle on Kunefe ($15) A Turkish dessert made from shredded phyllo dough, butter, cheese, ground pistachios and milk. Absolutely love this dessert. The combination of the crispy texture, savoury and sweet as well. We described the taste like Chao Da Bee Hoon with Cream (in a delicious way). It is claimed to be Turkey’s finest dessert, I totally agree with them.

Kunefe

Alaturka has two dining sections, indoor and outdoor. The indoor dining room is a bit small, but it is decorated in traditional Turkish lights, carpet and plates. The outdoor area feels like you are dining in a Mediterranean restaurant near the beach. Although the place is packed, the service remains friendly and attentive. We brought a cake to celebrate our Godson’s birthday and they even plated nicely for us. Plus they took our photos with those fun placards and print a hardcopy for our memento.

Overall, it was our first time dining at Alaturka and we can’t wait to make a return visit there. The food is authentic and delicious, accompanied by friendly service. For those who never tried the Mediterranean or Turkish food, this is a good place for your first experience. For those who like it, you must visit Alaturka. Cheers!!

Food & Drink: 8.5/10

Value: 8/10

Service: 8.5/10

Ambiance: 7/10

Budget per Person: $26 - $50; $51 - $80.

Alaturka Mediterranean & Turkish Restaurant

15 Bussorah Street

Singapore 199436

T: +65 9434 6026 / 6294 0304

W: https://www.alaturka.com.sg/

F: https://www.facebook.com/alaturkarestaurantsingapore

IG: @Alaturkarestaurantsingapore

OH: Daily 11.30 – 22.30 (LO 22.00)