Singaporeans should be familiar with Paradise Group – the Singapore-based restaurant group with an impressive portfolio of mainly Chinese restaurants under their belt. Think Taste Paradise, Paradise Dynasty and Beauty In The Pot.

The reputable empire has recently launched an entirely new concept – Paradise Teochew Restaurant, where its speciality lies in authentic Teochew-style offerings to preserve and glorify the Teochew culture that many Singaporeans are more than familiar with.

Paradise Teochew Restaurant’s talented kitchen team is helmed by Hong Kong-born Executive Chef Cheng Fa Kwan. Raised in a family of Teochew chefs, Chef Cheng’s love for food is unmistakable; he has been exposed to and cooking Teochew cuisine for the past 34 years!

Of authentic Teochew dishes and dim sum and traditional Teochew desserts, Paradise Teochew Restaurant is our new favourite place to bring the folks to. Or any time when we care for some comfort food that we grew up loving.

Paradise Teochew Restaurant is a 196-seater restaurant, interestingly located at Chinese Swimming Club and offers a quick respite from the city’s suffocating crowds. We love how the common area is a bright space with natural sunlight streaming in in the day through the floor to ceiling glass windows.

Private rooms are also available for bookings.

The East is too far-flung for you? Then countdown to the second outlet of Paradise Teochew Restaurant that will be opening at Scott’s Square some time around June this year. The upcoming outlet in the heart of town will boast a slightly more posh environment with a slightly different menu, but with most of the signatures still available for all to indulge in.

Teochew cuisine – also known as Chaozhou cuisine – is renowned for its healthier renditions of seafood and poultry (when compared to other Chinese recipes). Oil and seasonings are used sparingly in the preparation of Teochew dishes as the essence of Teochew cuisine lies in bringing out the food’s natural taste through various preparation and cooking methods.

Braising, poaching and steaming are popular cooking techniques in Teochew cuisine and over at Paradise Teochew Restaurant, you will notice that most main dishes are prepared via these methods.

The Teochew Style Steamed Pomfret is a Teochew classic, and a dish that will put a smile on your folks’ faces. Trust us on this – we’ve made our moms happy with this steamed fish dish served in a fragrant broth with tomatoes and salted vegetables (seasonal price).

The Crispy Sweet and Sour Noodle in Teochew Style (small – S$14++, medium – S$21++, large – S$28++) is an unmissable staple of Teochew fare. Definitely one of our favourite and must-order dishes when at Paradise Teochew Restaurant!

At first glance, the signature dish looks like a pan-fried pancake – but it certainly isn’t. Noodles are interestingly pan-fried on both sides, yet leaving the centre still moist, then cut up into triangular shapes. And because Teochews love enjoying their food with condiments, this crispy noodle dish is to be eaten with the accompanying vinegar and sugar.

It may sound weird, but it really is a refreshing take from the usual noodle dish, with a sweet and sour (as its name has it) contrast that is easy on the palate.

Teochew braised specialties are an integral part of a typical Teochew meal too.

Here at Paradise Teochew Restaurant, choose from a selection of braised goodies that include duck web, duck tongue, pork knuckle, pork belly, pig’s intestines, octopus and more.

There is a trio combination (small – S$24++, medium – S$36++, large – S$48++) where you get to select three different braised delicacies.

Some sharing dishes to try are Sautéed Scallop with Asparagus in XO Sauce (small – S$26++, medium – S$39++, large – S$52++) and fluffy Pan-fried Oyster Omelette in Teochew Style (S$16++ per portion). They are guaranteed crowd pleasers, and goes great with the in-house chilli dip.

Another must-order is the Sautéed Sliced Beef in Satay Sauce (small – S$20++, medium – S$30++, large – S$40++). This is an underdog, and we were ashamed of judging it by its rather unappetising outlook!

Ultra thin slices of beef are browned almost instantaneously over high heat, hence retaining its tender texture and savoury juiciness. Served atop generous amount of greens and doused in aromatic satay sauce specially imported all the way from Hong Kong, this is one sharing dish that packs a punch and is more than surprising.

We love our dim sum, and Paradise Teochew Restaurant’s superb Teochew-style dim sum deserve a special shoutout. Its comprehensive menu of classics and contemporary interpretations are only available during lunchtime.

Where should we even start from?

Customers can expect the usuals, e.g. Baked BBQ Honey Pork Buns (S$5.40++ / 3 pcs) and Steamed Pork Dumpling “Siew Mai” (S$5.80++ / 4 pcs).

But will you take a look at them Steamed Custard Bun in Piggy Shape (S$5.80++ / 3 pcs)? The kids are bound to love these sweet buns filled with custard and pine seeds.

The Steamed Glutinous Rice Roll in Teochew Style (S$4.80++ / 3 pcs) is a dim sum dish of scrumptious sticky rice encased within a pillowy soft white bun. Soft, warm and mildly sweet, this dim sum dish is certainly something we don’t see every day at regular dim sum houses. Good on its own, or you can dip it in the in-house chilli dip too.

And of all that we tried, it was Paradise Teochew Restaruant’s Deep-Fried Mango Roll (S$5.80++) that stole the limelight. We never thought a ubiquitous mango roll would made us swoon, but the fried treat is really a lavishly-stuffed roll of juicy mangoes, and the flavours burst certainly had us hooked.

The all-inclusive dim sum list too showcases irresistible fried options. We reckon their Deep-fried Taro Puff with Diced Chicken and Prawn (S$5.80++ / 3 pcs) and Crispy Spring Roll with Braised Duck Meat (S$4.80++ / 3p pcs) would fit the bill.

The Deep-fried Diced Abalone Dumpling in Jumbo Shape (S$6.50++) will have all you Instagram addicts squealing in delight, too!

No meal is complete without sweets and Paradise Teochew Restaurant’s traditional Teochew desserts are well worth the indulgence.

Age-old recipes stay gold. Hearty and unpretentious, we won’t leave without a serving or two of these traditional Teochew desserts.

When we talk about Teochew cuisine, we think of ‘orh nee’ as desserts. And yes, the Mashed Yam with Gingko (S$4.50++ per pax) and Mashed Yam with Pumpkin (S$4.50++ per pax) is exactly what represents Teochew desserts best.

The deep purple-coloured dessert is effectively yam puree that is consistently smooth and creamy, without being overbearingly sweet.

This pretty plate of Steamed Sweetened Yam, Sweet Potato and Gingko (S$8++ per serving with sesame seeds and gingko nuts are quite simply steamed yam and sweet potato. Simplicity is key to healthy Teochew dishes, remember?

Paradise Teochew Restaurant
21 Amber Road, #03-01
Chinese Swimming Club (Arrival Pavilion)
Singapore 439870
Tel: +65 6348 7298
Mon to Fri: 11.30am – 3.30pm, 6pm – 10.30pm
Sat, Sun & PH: 10.30am – 3.30pm, 6pm – 10.30pm
Nearest Station: Dakota

This post was brought to you by Paradise Teochew Restaurant.

Updated on 27 Apr 2014: LÈ Restaurant is no longer in operations.

Regulars will know that I am a huge fan of Paradise Group. It is really inspiring to see how a small Chinese seafood restaurant at Defu Lane has evolved and expanded to a restaurant empire within such a short span of time.

LÈ Restaurant & Bar at Suntec City is Paradise Group’s latest venture – and its biggest project till date, spanning over 10,000 square feet – consisting of a trendy bar, contemporary restaurant which faces the open kitchen, and eight classy private dining rooms. LÈ offers a complete dining experience where you can indulge in pre-dinner cocktails and tapas, before having a delectable dinner at the restaurant. After the meal, relax at the lounge over post-dinner digestifs till late.

If I were to sum up LÈ Restaurant & Bar in a paragraph, it would be this: polished and well-furnished interior decorations; attentive and genuine service from the eloquent and smartly-dressed staff; unconventional and ingeniously concocted cocktails at the swanky bar and lounge; tantalising modern and refined Chinese cuisine; stylish and sensuous music and lighting – LÈ takes pride in delivering even the tiniest details for an immaculate experience. It is very sexy and it makes you feel alive.

Here are some of the highlights of some of the signature dishes at LÈ Restaurant & Bar.

We started with cocktails and tapas at the bar. While you can find the classic cocktails (S$20 – S$28) like mojito and martini, what you must not miss is the list of LÈ’s Asian-inspired signature house cocktails. There are many brilliant concoctions such as the LÈ Special (S$22), a cocktail inspired by ice kacang; and Little Nonya (S$22), a combination of bombay sapphire east gin with fresh laksa leaf. Surely something you cannot get anywhere else.

There is also a wide range of Asian-style tapas which go very well with the house cocktails. Interesting options include Baked Escargot with Parmesan Pastry (S$9), Chilli Crab Kuey Pie Tie (S$15), Braised Cherry Foie Gras (S$26), and my favourite Mantou Burger with Braised USDA Prime Beef (S$16).

LÈ is having a 1-for-1 cocktail promotion (excluding house cocktails) till 31 October. On Wednesday, Thursday and Friday nights, DJs will be spinning upbeat groove tunes at the bar. So, if you are looking for a place to unwind and have some drinks and snacks after work, LÈ is the undisputed destination.

Upon stepping in to the main dining hall, you will find yourself in a voguish and grand space which feels more like an upmarket chi-chi Western restaurant rather than a Chinese restaurant. Another point that is worth mentioning is LÈ has a team of international service crew, all of them are well-trained and speak frequent English. No other Chinese restaurants in the market have hit this standard, and your benchmark of Chinese restaurants will never be the same again.

LÈ offers many popular, well-executed and straightforward dishes that you might expect from a good Chinese restaurant. But what sets them apart, however, is their effort to push the boundaries of Chinese cuisine to a new high. LÈ’s menu offers many novel creations, and there is a strong emphasise on table side service as it creates an intimate dining experience for the guests.

One of our favourite dishes was the Coral Trout Poached in Lobster Broth (S$16 per 100g, S$28 for the broth) with a whole filleted coral trout freshly and lightly poached right before our eyes. While the lobster broth was intense and robust in flavours, it did not overwhelm and mask the freshness of the fish. If any, it was beautifully balanced – the separate sweetness of the fish and lobster broth was so unpredictably yet so impressively complementary that we emptied our soup bowls almost instantaneously.

Another dish that was served ala table side style was the Pan-Seared Grade 9 Australian Wagyu (S$160 for 200g, S$240 for 300g). The beef on its own was fantastic, but the addition of truffle oil and lemon zest sea salt elevated and brought out the flavours of the beef; every bit was a joy to eat and gave every reasons to order this dish again on my next visit.

The piece de resistance was LÈ’s Dirty Duck (S$38 for half, S$68 for whole). Instead of the ubiquitous Peking Duck, LÈ serves an interpretation by stewing the duck in a special blend of spices, then flash-fried till crispy. The Dirty Duck was shredded tableside by the skilful staff, then wrapped with cucumber, Hoisin sauce and basil in homemade scallion crepes. If you love Peking Duck, you must try the Dirty Duck because it is a fascinating re-invention of the classic Chinese favourite. Simply put, I would not dine at LÈ without ordering this dish.

To round up the meal, try the Stir-fried Angel Hair with Dried Japanese Ebi (S$28/S$42) with assorted seafood in truffle oil. It had a good balance of Chinese and Western cooking styles and ingredients. On one hand, foreigners would not be intimated to try it as it is primarily a European-originated dish. While on the other hand, it is very similar to fried bee hoon, which most Chinese are familiar with. The addition of fried sakura ebi also completes the dish with just the right touch of sweetness.

Among the options on the dessert menu, you will be tempted by the Layered Durian Crepe (S$8/pax), Candied Strawberry (S$4/pax, min 3 orders) with candy floss, but we recommend the Sweet Temptation (S$13/pax) which is essentially a dessert platter of Yakult and Sesame Pudding, Avocado Puree with coffee ice cream, Chilled Mango Puree with Sago, and fruits.

LÈ Restaurant & Bar is, without a doubt, one of the most spectacular Chinese restaurants in Singapore. While concepts like LÈ are common in Western countries, it is the first-of-its-kind in Singapore, and it is indeed enthralling that Paradise Group has created LÈ. Bold and innovative, this is one destination that offers a uniquely complete dining experience which no other Chinese restaurants in town can match up to. I have no doubt that it is set to redefine the high-end Chinese dining spectrum in Singapore.

It is the kind of place where I would bring my partner to for a special date or to celebrate an important occasion. If you love Chinese food, and have always lamented the fact that most Chinese restaurants are more than predictable and have nothing exhilarating to offer, I say with confidence that LÈ fills the gap very nicely and is your definite answer.

If you need any more reason to go there, LÈ is currently having an opening promotion of 30% off total bill, valid till 30 September.

LÈ Restaurant & Bar
#02-314 Suntec City Mall (Convention Centre)
3 Temasek Boulevard
Tel: +65 6338 8775
Restaurant Lunch: 11.30am to 3pm daily
Restaurant Dinner: 6pm to 10.30pm daily
Bar: 3pm to 11pm (Sun to Thu), 3pm to 12mn (Fri & Sat)
Nearest Station: City Hall, Esplanade