Chatterbox (restaurant)
Chatterbox | |
---|---|
Restaurant information | |
Established | 1971 |
Head chef | Liew Tian Heong[1] |
Food type | Asian/Singaporean cuisine |
Dress code | Smart casual[2] |
Street address | 333 Orchard Rd, #05-03 |
Postal/ZIP Code | S238867 |
Country | Singapore |
Coordinates | 1°18′07″N 103°50′09″E / 1.3019°N 103.8359°E |
Seating capacity | 126 (main dining area) 15 (bar) |
Reservations | Yes |
Website | Chatterbox |
Chatterbox is a restaurant located in Hilton Singapore Orchard. The restaurant opened on 1 August 1971 at The Mandarin Singapore and has since undergone several relocations and renovations. It is known for its Hainanese chicken rice, which was introduced to Chatterbox's first menu by German executive chef Peter Gehrmann.
Description
Chatterbox is located on the fifth floor of Hilton Singapore Orchard. Its main dining area can seat 126 diners, whereas its bar can seat another 15.[1]
The restaurant primarily serves Asian cuisine. It is known for its Hainanese chicken rice, the recipe for which is reportedly only known by six chefs.[1] The chicken, which is delivered fresh from a Malaysian farm,[3] is steamed in a food steamer and served with aged jasmine rice cooked with ginger, garlic, and pandan leaves. The chicken rice is complemented by soy sauce, chilli padi sauce, and ginger paste.[1] Other dishes served at Chatterbox include coconut ice cream,[4] lobster laksa, ngo hiang, rojak, and salted egg chicken wings.[3]
History
The restaurant opened on 1 August 1971 at The Mandarin Singapore. Its menu was developed by German executive chef Peter Gehrmann and initially offered three local dishes, including char kway teow, laksa, and Hainanese chicken rice.[3] The year of its opening, local politician Tony Tan and his wife celebrated their wedding anniversary with a chicken rice dinner at Chatterbox.[3]
In January 1980, the restaurant moved to the hotel's ground floor and doubled its seating capacity;
In August 2006,
Reception and legacy
Writing for local newspaper
Tatler Asia reviewer Dudi Aureus visited the restaurant after its reopening in March 2022 and praised it for being "a stalwart for elevated local fare in the local F&B scene all these years".[13] Priyanka Elhence of Epicure Asia highlighted the decor and its "calming and elegant spa-like look",[14] whereas Yeoh Wee Teck of The New Paper found the renovations "stunning".[15]
Chatterbox was one of the earliest hotel restaurants in Singapore to serve local cuisine.[16] The restaurant is believed to have popularised the eating of chicken rice as an individual dish, rather than one shared among several people, as had been the norm prior to August 1971.[17] The chicken rice at Chatterbox has been widely regarded as the most famous in Singapore.[3][18][19][20]
References
- ^ 8 Days. Archivedfrom the original on 30 March 2022. Retrieved 30 March 2022.
- ^ "Chatterbox". Tatler. Archived from the original on 30 March 2022. Retrieved 30 March 2022.
- ^ 8 Days. Archivedfrom the original on 30 March 2022. Retrieved 30 March 2022.
- ^ Tan, Jocelyn (14 March 2022). "Singapore's most expensive chicken rice at Chatterbox is back — here's what to expect". Lifestyle Asia. Archived from the original on 30 March 2022. Retrieved 30 March 2022.
- ^ "More space to chat". New Nation. 25 January 1980. p. 18.
- ^ "Food galore at the Chatterbox Coffeeshop". The Straits Times. 1 August 1980. p. 6.
- ^ "Chatterbox reopens". Timeszone Central. 21 December 1989. p. 5.
- ^ "'Cheeky' chicken rice". Weekend East. 30 July 1999. p. 19.
- Today. p. 24.
- ^ Chiu, Anne (15 October 2019). "Chatterbox Café". Time Out. Archived from the original on 9 April 2022. Retrieved 30 March 2022.
- ^ Phadoemchit, T. (18 July 1982). "Food 24 hours a day". The Straits Times. p. 11.
- Business Times. p. 3.
- ^ Aureus, Dudi (25 March 2022). "Chatterbox Is Back: What We Think of Its SG$25 Chicken Rice". Tatler. Archived from the original on 9 April 2022. Retrieved 30 March 2022.
- ^ Elhence, Priyanka (28 March 2022). "The iconic Chatterbox reopens its doors at Hilton Orchard Singapore". Epicure Asia. Archived from the original on 28 March 2022. Retrieved 30 March 2022.
- ^ Yeoh, Wee Teck (10 March 2022). "Chatterbox's chicken rice makes a comeback". The New Paper. Archived from the original on 29 March 2022. Retrieved 30 March 2022.
- Business Times. 30 October 2020. Archivedfrom the original on 2 February 2022. Retrieved 30 March 2022.
- ISBN 9780857857361.
- ISBN 9789715694148.
- Channel News Asia. Archivedfrom the original on 13 March 2022. Retrieved 30 March 2022.
- ^ "12 best places for chicken rice, picked by ST food writers". The Straits Times. 31 January 2017. Archived from the original on 14 April 2021. Retrieved 30 March 2022.