When I crave for Singaporean cuisine, I think of chili crab and cereal prawns; rarely am I in the mood for their signature dish, Hainanese chicken rice. It’s not that I dislike chicken rice, it’s just that I prefer my foods a little more rich, flavorful, and exciting. When I finally got to try Wee Nam Kee’s famous chicken rice at the Wee Nam Kee Philippines media launch, I finally understood why Filipinos are crazy about this simple dish. It’s served fast, it’s easy to eat, it reminds me a little of tinola, and you can customize the meat according to your tastes, thanks to a generous assortment of condiments on each table.
Wee Nam Kee Philippines is located at the Ayala Triangle and, from what my mom tells me, is decidedly more upscale-looking than their humble restaurant at Novena Ville.
Today’s event was well-attended by celebrities, members of the media, the father-and-son team that founded the restaurant, and even the Singapore ambassador to the Philippines (left).
It took Linfred Yap and Weizer Co (right) three years to convince Mr. Kee to open a shop in the Philippines, and we are the only country (besides Singapore) that has the original Wee Nam Kee. When asked what the young gentlemen said to convince them to come to Manila, Mr. Kee Jr. replied, “They didn’t say anything. I could see the passion in their eyes.” Mr. Kee and his son have been very careful about preserving the heritage and quality that their restaurant is famous for and had no plans of expanding in Singapore or elsewhere. In fact, the Wee Nam Kee at Novena Ville is the only Wee Nam Kee restaurant in Singapore. Despite the enthusiasm their restaurant is receiving from Filipinos right now, the Kees still remain cautious about expanding their business. Someone in our table asked if they will be opening a second branch in Greenbelt soon, and Mr. Kee Jr shook his head. “We don’t care about quantity,” Mr. Kee Jr told us. “We care about quality. We want to make sure that our first restaurant can continue to serve the same quality Filipinos know and expect.” Looks like you have no choice but to come all the way to the Ayala Triangle for that steaming plate of authentic Hainanese chicken rice. That, or book a plane ticket to Singapore.
Without further ado, a plate of soy, steamed, and roasted chicken was served. According to Linfred Yap, they get their chicken from small farmers, who deliver the meat the morning after the slaughter. This gives their chicken better texture and flavor than frozen chicken ever could. Before eating the chicken, however, you need to mix your own special concoction of soy sauce, ginger, and chili. This is what you’ll use to add flavor to the otherwise unseasoned meat.
Hainanese chicken rice is best enjoyed with a side of vegetables.
I enjoyed the sambal kangkong – kangkong leaves drenched in spicy sambal sauce.
I soon discovered that the best part of Hainanese chicken rice is not the chicken, but the rice. This isn’t just an ordinary cup of steamed rice; every single grain was cooked with the chicken so that it completely absorbs the meat’s flavor. The flavor is very subtle, but you can smell its delicious aroma as soon as the plate is served, and it complements the meat beautifully.
Wee Nam Kee will be closed to the public to cater to the media today, but you can start dining there tomorrow. I have a feeling you’ll have to wait in line to get in – everyone’s just dying to get a taste of Singapore!
Wee Nam Kee Hainanese Chicken Rice
Restaurants at the Ayala Triangle Gardens
Corner Paseo de Roxas and Makati Avenue
Makati Avenue, Makati City, Philippines
Telephone: +632 846-8924
Operating Hours: Everyday 11:00 AM till 10:00 PM
Park at the open parking beside the Makati Stock Exchange or at the basement parking of the stock exchange.————————————
You might also want to read my personal blog at Touched by an Angel and my other blogs like Free Filipino Food Recipes, Shopping Finds, and Techie Gadgets. Hope you can drop by! Thanks for visiting…Noemi Lardizabal-Dado
Wee Nam Kee Philippines is Finally Open is a post from: Pinoy Cuisine
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