Kitchen wonderland ToTT celebrates its second birthday with a compilation of DIY recipes from the wives of top Singapore chefs.
By Yong Yung Shin
PHOTO COURTESY OF ToTT.
Ever wondered what male chefs eat at home? The truth will likely surprise you. Contrary to what many people think, the kitchen belongs to the lady of the house, no matter how decorated her husband is at his work kitchen.
But fret not, the men seem to be in good hands, as this new cookbook featuring recipes from the wives of Singapore’s top chefs shows. Launched in conjunction with culinary store Tools Of The Trade’s second anniversary, Cook. Bake. Host contains 24 Asian and European recipes from the likes of Mrs Emmanuel Stroobant, Edina Hong’s Asian Bouillabaisse, Mrs Andre Chiang, Sudarampai Pam Chiang’s Thai-style Yum Niew Yang Ma Keoew Yaw (Grilled Eggplant Beef Salad), Mrs Antonio Massagli, Yani Massagli’s Kueh Dadar and Mrs Oskar Pasinato, Tracy Ng Pasinato’s White Chocolate and Green Tea Tart.
Some are accompanied by interesting anecdotes, such as Jennifer Ang’s (wife of Valrhona regional pastry chef Vincent Bourdain) Snapper and Bacon Chaudree, a herb-filled, aromatic stew of fish and bacon bits. Her interest in the history of food origins led her to discover this authentic French dish that originated from the very province Bourdain’s ancestors hailed from.
The book also contains tips on stocking a well-equipped kitchen—using a pressure cooker, for example, helps to retain the vitamins, minerals and flavour of vegetables as compared to boiling them. For those who want the basics in setting a table for a classy sit-down dinner, there’s a guide toward the end on getting the right cutlery and appropriate stemware.
This book makes a thoughtful gift for a housewarming party.
Cook. Bake. Host. is available from ToTT and major bookstores at S$9.90.
