Food with flair

Tastes: Chef Ong Kian Tioang is bringing new dishes to the supper menu at Flair at the Ritz-Carlton, Pudong. [Photo provided to Shanghai Star]

I always believe that the simplest cooking techniques show off the chef’s true skills. Did you know that it takes fine attention to detail to cook a perfect hard-boiled egg? It must have a well-set white, a tender golden yellow yoke and most of all it must be brightly colored with no ugly ring black around the yoke.

The snowy white mound of coconut rice is surrounded by a spectrum of colors that shine even in the dim light of the supper club.

Apart from the brilliant white and gold of the egg there are green slices of cucumber a pile of even tinier baby whitebait, crisp fragrant peanuts, a pile of stir-fried French beans and at 12 o’clock prawns smothered in a mellow but spicy chili and onion sauce.

The sambal chili is just what the coconut rice needs, and the other embellishments on the plate add variety but it is the chili and the rice that is the essence of nasi lamak.

It is the perfect dish to assuage homesickness for both Malaysians and Singaporeans but it is comfort food for all when it comes to late night supper.

Flair, at 285 meters above ground has floor to ceiling windows that look out directly at Shanghai’s most famous landmark, the Pearl Tower. It is first and foremost a bar known for its exotic locally themed cocktails and mocktails. While you can get your classic Cosmopolitan and martinis it is the drinks after the Chinese folk heroes you must try.

For the men a natural choice is a plum liquor based concoction named after a famous patriot, warrior and poet Yue Fei. Just like the stories about his character the cocktail harbors some velvet beneath the manly steel.

The ume liquor softens the hardness of the drink but there is still plenty of kick. Another signature cocktail is named after Mu Guiying, arguably the most famous of the Yang Family lady generals. This is softer on the palate but still has enough fire for a winter’s night.

IF YOU GO

Address: FLAIR, Ritz-Carlton, 8 Centrury Avenue, Pudong malaysian