Research: The Kitchen

RUMAH BABA
Life in a Peranakan House RSING 305.89510595 LEE

The Straits Chinese House
Domestic Life and Traditions RSING 305.89510595 LEE

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• The “Stomach of the House”, the importance of a kitchen in a
  Peranakan house cannot be underestimated as to the Babas.
  



• Stomach of the house is called “Perut Rumah” which is the centre
  of gravity of a household’s life and activity.
  



• In the days when young ladies had no access to the formal education,
  culinary skills were among the chief accomplishments necessary for
  a well brought-up Nyonya.
  



• Cooking has became a very intricate and complicated art in the
  Peranakan Culture that requires hours of preparation and the use of a
  wide variety of kitchen utensils/ Nyonya Wares to display their food at
  the dinning table.
  



• Peranakan Ladies were assessed by matchmakers with their culinary
  talents of the potential bride by listen for the right sound of pestle
  striking mortar as they’re preparing the meal.
  



• Taboos were observed in the preparation of food by the matchmakers.
  



• Kitchen not only the place for making of food, it’s also a main area
  where the woman of the household gathers.
  



• The art of cooking was an expression of cultural exuberance
  and eclecticism.
  



• Peranakan Cuisine were originally Hokkien, many indigenous
  ingredients and recipes made their way into the
  Peranakan culinary repertoire
  



• Peranakan kitchen was a storehouse of spices, herbs, sauces
  and other condiments.