The gorgeous shophouses are the landmark of the city! Round Katong, the city of Pranakan Pranakan is historically important to Singapore, as it refers to the descendants of Chinese traders and Malay women who moved to the city from China in the 19th century and were called “local children. The Katong area is a place where this culture is still very much alive today. The Katong area is a place where Chinese, Malay, and European cultures are exquisitely blended, with beautiful and dainty decorations, clothes, bead embroidery, and even colorful sweets made with lots of sugar. Once you visit, you are sure to be hooked. We visited “Kim Choo Kueh Chang,” established in 1945, and “Rumah Kim Choo,” a Pranakan general store next door. Traditional sweets called “Nyonya Kueh” are lined up in front of the store, and the famous chimaki (rice cake) is also hanging from the storefront. The sweets are slightly sweet and soft in texture, and the portions are large, so sharing is recommended. There is also a store and gallery next door that sells traditional costumes. The Katong area is also characterized by many murals newly created to convey the culture. There are various types of murals, from tiles to those depicting auspicious symbols such as phoenixes and peonies. One of the area’s highlights is KOON SENG ROAD HOUSES. The pastel-colored shophouses are even cuter than one would imagine! There is a chance to live in one of these houses if you work hard. If you want to experience the culture, you must taste the authentic Pranacan cuisine. So we moved on from Katong to Dempsey Hill, a commercial district that used to be a former British military barracks. My destination was Candle Nut, the first Michelin-starred restaurant in Planakan cuisine. The restaurant has a great reputation for its modern Planakan cuisine. The depth of spicy flavors and decorations show the wide range of Planakan cuisine. The basic lunch course, “Taste of candlenut” (S$108), is expensive at over 10,000 yen, but the dining experience is well worth it.
Gaze at lucky charms and munch on fruit and zucha cuisine. Chinatown, which is always full of excitement, was designated as a Chinese immigration area in the 19th century. Chinatown is still full of life today, with many people still living there. The streets are full of Chinese style, with the familiar Singaporean shophouses and the streets colored in auspicious red. The Kok Sen Restaurant along Keong Saik Road is recommended for dinner in the Chinatown area. Kok Sen Restaurant was selected as a Michelin Bib Gourmand for its popular zucha (boiled and stir-fried) Chinese home-style cuisine, which satisfies the stomachs of the common people. Although it is called “home cooking,” zucha requires a lot of cooking skills, so people eat it outside (according to locals).
© Source travel watch