Many years ago, my former boss introduced me to PuTien's Fujian cuisine. I was very impressed by the quality and taste of their dishes. When PuTien was given a 1-star rating in the newly released Michelin food guide, I was not surprised at all. A long lost friend came to pay me a visit recently, so nothing could be more suitable than giving him a treat at our Singapore's own 1-star Michelin restaurant.
I picked PuTien at Tampines Mall for convenience for both of us. On a Monday night, it was not crowded at all. We were warmly ushered in and settled down in a 4-person table, although there were only two of us.
The restaurant is spacious, with comfortable space between tables. I noticed there are private rooms for more cosy family or business dining. The decoration is towards the retro style, the happy 70s probably.
We ordered quite a number of dishes, but I will definitely recommend three of them.
1. Iced Bitter Gourd
Bitter gourd is cooked in boiling water, then it is sent to the freezer to freeze up the entire bitter gourd. Upon serving, the bitter gourd is then sliced to translucent-thin slices, served cold with ice. Bitter gourd has the COOL property in traditional Chinese medicine. Ice of course is cool too. Cool plus cool is very cool, it is quite a treat in a hot summer day. You can dip your slice into the honey that accompanies the dish. Bitter-sweet, how fitting is this dish as a reflection of our life.
I first had this dish many years ago, the presentation at that time was still quite primitive, just slices, without any sense of art. Now, the slices are laid out like a lotus flower. Wow, food is truly an art now.
2. 100-second Yellow Croaker
This dish has 10/10 rating from me. They claim to cook the fish in just 100 seconds. The meat is just nice, fully cooked, a bit more will be too much, a bit less will be not enough. Perfection is expected and delivered in this dish. The fish is cooked in 100 seconds, the broth definitely not. I guess the broth could have been boiled with fish head and bones for hours to get that milky color. Don't think they just add milk like your neighborhood food stall. Leek and ginger add to the fragrance.
3. Deep-fried pig trotters with salt and pepper
This dish is quite a love-hate for me. It is not really considered to be a 'healthy' food by my standard, and the appearance is not exactly very appetizing. However, the taste is quite special. The skin is quite crispy. The thick layer of fat, or collagen if that makes you feel better, that we usually expect from a pig trotter is actually gone. Salt and pepper help to enhance the taste buds too. Inside, the meat is smooth as silk, and melts in your mouth.
Well, these three dishes are my recommendations. I hope to hear some feedback from you guys, what is your favorite dish?
I picked PuTien at Tampines Mall for convenience for both of us. On a Monday night, it was not crowded at all. We were warmly ushered in and settled down in a 4-person table, although there were only two of us.
The restaurant is spacious, with comfortable space between tables. I noticed there are private rooms for more cosy family or business dining. The decoration is towards the retro style, the happy 70s probably.
We ordered quite a number of dishes, but I will definitely recommend three of them.
1. Iced Bitter Gourd
Iced Bitter Gourd - $6.90
Bitter gourd is cooked in boiling water, then it is sent to the freezer to freeze up the entire bitter gourd. Upon serving, the bitter gourd is then sliced to translucent-thin slices, served cold with ice. Bitter gourd has the COOL property in traditional Chinese medicine. Ice of course is cool too. Cool plus cool is very cool, it is quite a treat in a hot summer day. You can dip your slice into the honey that accompanies the dish. Bitter-sweet, how fitting is this dish as a reflection of our life.
I first had this dish many years ago, the presentation at that time was still quite primitive, just slices, without any sense of art. Now, the slices are laid out like a lotus flower. Wow, food is truly an art now.
2. 100-second Yellow Croaker
100-second Yellow Croaker - $13.80
This dish has 10/10 rating from me. They claim to cook the fish in just 100 seconds. The meat is just nice, fully cooked, a bit more will be too much, a bit less will be not enough. Perfection is expected and delivered in this dish. The fish is cooked in 100 seconds, the broth definitely not. I guess the broth could have been boiled with fish head and bones for hours to get that milky color. Don't think they just add milk like your neighborhood food stall. Leek and ginger add to the fragrance.
3. Deep-fried pig trotters with salt and pepper
Pig Trotters - $13.00 for 2 pieces
This dish is quite a love-hate for me. It is not really considered to be a 'healthy' food by my standard, and the appearance is not exactly very appetizing. However, the taste is quite special. The skin is quite crispy. The thick layer of fat, or collagen if that makes you feel better, that we usually expect from a pig trotter is actually gone. Salt and pepper help to enhance the taste buds too. Inside, the meat is smooth as silk, and melts in your mouth.
Well, these three dishes are my recommendations. I hope to hear some feedback from you guys, what is your favorite dish?
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