Popular with diners for serving local favourites within the comfort of a quaint nostalgic setting, Kopi Tiam at Swissôtel The Stamford has introduced a delightful choice of brand new dishes.

Meat lovers can also look forward to the Steamed Preserved Vegetables and Pork Belly, served in oyster sauce with garlic and shallots that give a nice aromatic flavour in each bite. The Stir-Fried French Beans ($18) with dried shrimps and minced chicken was a little old and dry.

Other highlights include Ayam Panggang and Wok-Fried Beef with Shaoxing Wine and Soya Sauce. Well-received classic dishes like the Nasi Goreng Istimewa, Fried Carrot Cake, Bak Kut Teh (Pork Rib Soup) and Kopi Tiam’s Signature Black Pepper /Chilli Crabs ($108) will remain as menu mainstays, much to the delight of regular patrons

Take a cultural trip down memory lane as Kopi Tiam brings back a unique blend of Malay and Chinese culinary influences through its popular rendition of Nyonya cuisine. Available from 17 August to 13 September 2015, enjoy classic Peranakan dishes such as Itek Tim, Ikan Assam Kari and Sambal Sotong.

Made with chicken braised in a thick, spicy tamarind gravy with buah keluak nuts, Ayam Buah Keluak ($20) is one of the most labour-intensive Peranakan dishes to prepare. The gravy is made from a blend of spices consisting of candlenuts, turmeric, chilli, galangal etc and stir-fried till fragrant. We love that the chicken were served in generous chunks with flesh that is tender but I thought the gravy can be thicker and more aromatic.

Babi Pong Tay ($20) is a classic nonya dish where the soybean paste is braised with pork with right proportion of lean and fats. Fried Petai Prawn Sambal ($22) is stir fried with sambal belacan sauce which has a combination of flavour – sweet, salty, slightly sour and spicy!

We ended our lunch with Pisang Goreng ($9) featuring sweet ripe bananas deep-fried to crispy, golden perfection and paired with maple syrup and vanilla ice cream.

Kopi Tiam

Address: Level 2, Swissôtel The Stamford
Tel: +65 6431 6156
Website: www.swissotelkopitiam.com.sg
Opening hours: Lunch 11.30am to 2.30pm (Monday to Friday); 12.00pm to 2.30pm (Saturday, Sunday and Public Holidays). Dinner 6.00pm to 10.30pm (Monday to Sunday).