As Rempapa prepares for its next chapter at the National Gallery Singapore, Chef Damian D’Silva offers a poignant farewell to its Paya Lebar home with a final menu that is as much a tribute as it is a celebration. This last hurrah is a heartfelt showcase of forgotten Peranakan recipes and never-before-served dishes, capturing the deep soul of a cuisine often overshadowed by modern reinterpretations.

Rempapa 01
Babi Assam set the tone beautifully with fork-tender pork belly, slow-simmered in a tangy tamarind broth laced with cinnamon and star anise, then finished over charcoal for a subtle kiss of smoke. It is bold, aromatic, and unapologetically rich.
Rempapa 02
The Ayam Buah Keluak was a standout. A deeply comforting stew where chicken mingles with the earthy intensity of buah keluak nuts, lovingly stuffed with their own flesh, pork fat, and salt. Simmered in a medley of spices, coconut milk, and belachan, it was a masterclass in balance – nutty, spicy, and umami-packed.
Rempapa 03
The Penang Fish Gulai, my favourite savoury dish, arrived bathed in a turmeric and coconut milk gravy. Light yet full-flavoured, the dish was brightened by lady’s fingers and the floral lift of torched ginger flower, a delicate counterpoint to the richer dishes.
Rempapa 04
In the Otah Otah Sotong, minced cuttlefish was folded into a fragrant homemade rempah with egg and coconut milk, then grilled over charcoal. The result was smoky, creamy, and intensely savoury, a beautiful reinterpretation of the familiar.
Rempapa 05
The Nonya Chap Chye surprised with its dry approach, a slow-braised medley of vegetables steeped in prawn and pork broth. Each bite was a sponge of layered flavours, especially when paired with the house-made fiery sambal belachan. Finally, dessert.
Rempapa 06
The Kueh Bengkah was nothing short of stunning. Moist, chewy, caramelised just right, a sweet, understated end to a meal full of nostalgia and pride.
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For those who love variety, their kueh platter has 4 different kueh, depending on what is available that day.  Their kueh salat is excellent!  

This final menu is not just food. It is memory, heritage, and a love letter to Peranakan culture. Rempapa may be moving, but its soul is firmly rooted in every dish served here.

Budget: $30 to $50 per person

  • Rempapa

  • Phone
    +65 9459 1603
  • Address
    2 Paya Lebar Rd, #01-01/02/03 Park Place Residences at PLQ, Singapore 409053
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