Sesame Ginger Chicken
Oh, the sadness of discovering that a beloved haunt has closed its doors. Joo Heng Restaurant on Joo Chiat Road was more than just a place to eat, it was an institution. Its age-old Cantonese offerings were the stuff of culinary legend, a gastronomic haven where traditional flavours met heart-warming comfort. Imagine my lunch kakis and I walking up to its entrance last month, buzzing with excitement to tuck into our favourite Steamed Song fish head and minced pork with salted fish. Our excitement turned into collective dismay when we found that sign on the door. Closed until further notice. It was as if someone had unplugged the jukebox in the middle of a dance.
I felt a twinge of sadness, but I take comfort knowing that many of Joo Heng's classic dishes can still be savoured at places like Desmond's Creation (吃饱先) and Eat First (食之为先). Yet, there is a dish that is proving to be quite elusive - the sesame ginger chicken. A straightforward masterpiece, if ever there was one. It is all about the aromatic dance between old ginger, julienned and fried to golden perfection, and sesame oil, humble yet fragrant. Add in the chicken pieces, and you have got a taste sensation that is as understated as it is unforgettable.
With Joo Heng out of the picture for now, I decided to roll up my sleeves and recreate this magic in my own kitchen. Sometimes, when the world outside is uncertain, there is a sort of culinary solace in turning back the clock. I wanted to share this old-school flavour with my family, to take a taste-trip down memory lane, and to remember a simpler, happier time. So, there we were, around the dinner table, chopsticks poised and eyes gleaming, as I unveiled my homemade rendition of the sesame ginger chicken.
As I watched my family take their first bites, a warm sense of contentment washed over me. Even though Joo Heng's doors were closed, its essence was very much alive, reincarnated in my little kitchen. We might not be able to revisit the past, but we can certainly taste it. And oh, how delicious nostalgia can be. Cheers to the places that give us cherished memories and to the dishes that keep those memories alive.
