The Gen XY Lifestyle
PUTIEN At Kitchener Road: How It Earned Its Michelin Star
We find out how the popular home-grown restaurant chain earned its first Michelin Star during Singapore’s inaugural Michelin Awards this year.
Earlier in July, PUTIEN’s founding outlet at Kitchener Road received a resounding affirmation from the inaugural Michelin Awards in Singapore. While one Michelin Star indicates “a very good restaurant in its category”, according to Michelin’s assessment criteria, PUTIEN Kitchener Road was awarded based on the “quality of its products”, “mastery of flavour and cooking techniques”, “personality of the chef in his cuisine”, “value for money” and “consistency between visits”.
Starting off as a no-frills ‘coffee shop style’ eatery back in 2000, their flagship outlet at Kitchener Road was where it all began. The brand now boasts 25 outlets across Singapore, Indonesia, Malaysia, Hong Kong, Shanghai and Taiwan. Committed to offering simple, homely dishes with fresh ingredients and good service, it’s no wonder how PUTIEN managed to bag its one Michelin Star.
PUTIEN at Kitchener Road now takes on the status of the brand’s worldwide flagship store, and will see a new facelift and unique dining experience set to launch by the first half of 2017.
Here are some of PUTIEN’s top dishes that we were invited to try:
Braised Pig Intestines
Even if you are repelled by innards, PUTIEN’s Braised Pig Intestines (SGD 14.50) will have you change your mind about them. The 12 inch-long intestines are tirelessly and meticulously washed, looped, cooked, extended, selected and braised to perfection with the brand’s 12-spice house sauce. The resulting springy texture makes it rather enjoyable (even for someone who usually avoids innards), and the intestines are devoid of any heavy ‘porky’ scent, tasting almost like a cross between ham or sausage.
Seaweed with Mini Shrimps
The level of freshness and crunchiness in this seaweed dish is pretty much unparalleled. Just one bite of PUTIEN’S Seaweed with Mini Shrimps (SGD 7.50) and you’ll know for sure that it’s no ordinary seaweed. Imported from the South China Sea region, the seaweed used in this dish is top-grade and has to be specifically 15 cm-long (no more, no less). What’s different about the seaweed is that they are harvested within 30 days after cultivation (first harvest), and not what you would commonly find in the market.
Braised Beancurd with Chinese Cabbage
One of those things you’d appreciate in a restaurant like PUTIEN is the homely flavours they deliver in their dishes. The Braised Beancurd with Chinese Cabbage (from SGD 17.90) dish is certainly no exception, and features a rich soup with seasonal clams, dried shrimps and dried scallops for that added flavour. The amount of work and effort that goes behind making the braised beancurd will have you appreciating this dish even more. With many thin layers within, the dried beancurd is made by freezing and filtering the soy milk, before it is flattened. The result is a beancurd that isn’t overly dried out, and oozes a little soup with every bite.
Deep Fried Pig’s Trotter with Salt and Pepper
This dish may seem slightly intimidating due to its size and seemingly oily exterior, but it really isn’t as unhealthy as it looks. The 7-inch pig trotters have been fried three times to completely remove the fat, leaving only bones and gelatinous parts. Perfect for the ladies who want to get their fill of collagen, the Deep Fried Pig’s Trotter (SGD 5.90 per piece) is adequately seasoned with simple spices such as salt and pepper. The deep-fried nature of this dish can make it slightly overwhelming after awhile though, and those who aren’t into gelatinous textures might not enjoy this dish as much.
Stir-Fried Yam
A crowd favourite, PUTIEN’s Stir-Fried Yam (from SGD 12.90) is a must-order when you visit. It may sound almost crazy how a simple ingredient like yam can be made this delicious, but the secret lies in the fact that only the middle (and best) portion of premium yam (taro) is used to make these little cubes of delight. Skilfully fried and tossed in a savoury sweet sauce, the yam cubes offer a crisp golden exterior that unveils a fluffy texture within.
Spinach with Salted Egg Yolk and Century Egg
If you’re a fan of salted egg yolk, well, PUTIEN will show you how it’s truly done. Using only soft, tender and round-shaped baby spinach, the salted egg yolk sauce that accompanies this dish is made with duck eggs that contain a bit of oil. The result is a yellower and smoother egg yolk texture that is then cooked together with a supreme-stock broth. The Spinach with Salted Egg Yolk and Century Egg (from SGD 12.90) is certainly a great vegetable option that will please the senses.
PUTIEN Lor Mee
One of PUTIEN’s best-selling main courses, the PUTIEN Lor Mee (from SGD 9.50) is brimming with premium ingredients that are at the same time, light on the palate. Featuring silky PUTIEN noodles with mushrooms, pork belly, prawns, clams and scallops, this dish also features PUTIEN’s very own rich and creamy pork broth.
Fried Heng Hwa Bee Hoon
Featuring the only sun-dried bee hoon in the market, PUTIEN’s Fried Heng Hwa Bee Hoon (from SGD 8.90) is certainly another popular favourite. Undergoing a very tedious process that requires the bee hoon to be manually dried under the sun at the crack of dawn, the bee hoon retains its moisture and boasts a fine and silky texture without being brittle. The flavours you savour in the bee hoon can be attributed to the rich, milky stock of pork bones and old hens, alongside its generous variety of ingredients.
Health-conscious diners may also delight in the fact that PUTIEN’s Kitchener Road outlet is completely MSG-free. With such no-frills dishes that are presented so simply yet effortfully, PUTIEN is certainly well deserving of its one Michelin Star.
For more information, visit putien.com.
