Cover Chef Akmal Anuar’s food is a tribute to his parent’s nasi padang stall of the same name
Chef Akmal Anuar’s food is a tribute to his parent’s nasi padang stall of the same name
1 / 1
Akmal Anuar, the Singaporean chef who found success in Dubai, will introduce the cuisine he grew up with to the world with the international expansion of Harummanis
Renowned Singaporean chef Akmal Anuar, the founder of Malay cuisine restaurant Harummanis in Singapore, will open Harummanis in Dubai this December. This marks the ninth restaurant for the Dubai-based Singaporean chef, who has built a restaurant empire in UAE and New York with eight successful concepts that include the one-Michelin-starred 11 Woodfire restaurant in Dubai City.
In a previous interview with Anuar, he tells Tatler that Harummanis is his most personal restaurant concept to date. The Malay restaurant is a personal tribute to his family, and heritage food made with love. His dishes seek to champion its fervently local identity, rejecting the universality of intercontinental fine dining fare. Harummanis, named by Anuar’s mother after the fragrant harumanis mango beloved in Malay culture, was also the name of the family’s 32-year-old nasi padang hawker stall in the residential estate of Teck Whye.
Read more: Love local: A new generation of chefs is redefining modern Singaporean cuisine
Above Bringing Singaporean Malay Cuisine to the global stage
Bringing Singaporean Malay Cuisine to the global stage
1 / 1
The essence of home is not lost, even amongst the bedazzled restaurants of Dubai. Within the capital of skyscrapers, international diners can experience the punch of a uniquely Singaporean spice—sambal. A throughline in Malay food, its recipe was crafted by Anuar’s mother Raja Paridah.
Commence dinner with ketoprak, an Indonesian salad, which is elevated with Japanese sesame sauce and kombu. Offering a modern twist on traditional dishes, the signature beef cheek rendang presents succulent meat slow-cooked in aromatic, creamy coconut stew. For seafood lovers, tuck into a smoky udang galah, featuring Australian jumbo prawns grilled with curry leaves and crisp peppercorns. Also available on the menu is a communal sharing dish, satay with chopped bell peppers and spring onion. For dessert, try the timeless childhood favourite kuih bahulu drenched in sweet syrup and topped with ice cream.
In case you missed it: Tatler Dining Guide 2024: The best modern Malaysian restaurants in Malaysia
Above Harummanis Dubai will open in December
Harummanis Dubai will open in December
1 / 1
Behind every lauded chef is an origin story steeped in passion. After opening contemporary Japanese restaurant 3Fils and fine dining grill restaurant 11 Woodfire in Dubai, Akmal opened Harummanis in Kampong Glam, Singapore’s historic Malay district which has since undergone extensive gentrification. For this gastronomy chapter, Anuar embarked on soul searching, determined to bridge the gap between his Malay roots—an often overlooked part of Singapore’s history—and the upper echelons of haute cuisine.
Make Dubai your next food destination. Located on Al Wasl Road, a buzzing site homing retail boutiques, trendy shops, and streetside cafes, Harummanis Dubai is perfect for a wholesome family dinner. A vibrant, welcoming space that merges rustic charm with contemporary design, don’t miss out on this soulful rendition of home.
Credits
Images: Harummanis
