Peranakan Food and Feasting.

Our group are doing on the topic peranakan food and feasting.

A little background on Peranakan culture;
Peranakans are descendants of early Chinese migrants who settled in Penang, Malacca and Singapore, inter-marrying with local Malays. The old Malay word nonya (also spelled nyonya), a term of respect and affection for women of prominent social standing (part “madame” and part “auntie”), has come to refer to the cuisine of the Peranakans.

About Peranakan food;
Peranakan or Nonya cuisine combines Chinese, Malay and other influences into a unique blend. There are also symbolisms to some of their food. 3 important principles of specific Chinese symbolism, namely colour symbolism, symbolism by linguistic association, and symbolism by physical association.

Different kinds of dishes and nonya kuehs;



Our progress:

Visited the Peranakan Museum, Gallery 9, Food & Feasting & waited for an hour for the multimedia exhibition.

Thoughts on the exhibit:
It does not involve any audience participation. The sound was a tad too soft, and they just keep narrating, explaining about the stuffs in the kitchen.

+ Knowledge and research on the significance of the different food served in the feast.
+ Developing ideas of a setup on a dining table (for feasting).
+ Doing more research on our ideas, asking us the why how what where when question.
+ Currently researching more on nonya kueh and food.
+ On some of the significance of some dishes, serve in a special occasion.
+ Arrangement of the dining seats, some little background of the peranakan that not many know.