[dropcap size=big]T[/dropcap]he residents of the uber-luxe Ritz-Carlton Residences on Cairnhill have Ong Chih Ching to thank for their thoughtfully designed kitchens, outfitted with Sub-Zero fridge, Poggenpohl shelving system and Miele kitchen appliances. The co-founder and chairman of the KOP Group and KOP Properties, which developed the property, pretty much directed the design of the estate – after all, it is also where she calls home.
(RELATED: Property developer, social-media influencer and art lover. Ong Chih Ching is all of these things.)
Being a passionate cook, it was only natural for her to make the kitchen exceptional. Apart from the top-end fittings, the space even boasts a one-way glass sliding door that separates it from the dining room – so that guests at the table can enjoy a meal without being distracted by the kitchen action.
“What makes a very good chef is not technique, but good taste. Technique can be learnt but good taste is a gift.”
Ong Chih Ching, Co-Founder / Chairman
KOP Group
But do not mistake Ong for a high-maintenance cook who relies heavily on her expensive toys. Even as a law student in London, she was making crisp-skinned Chinese-style roast duck from scratch, with very limited resources. “It is still one of my favourite dishes to prepare, because it’s complicated and very challenging. Mess up one step, you have to start over,” she says with a glint in her eye. Ong – who has been fascinated by how ingredients get transformed into delicious dishes since she was a child – then reveals that she could debone a whole chicken, intact, by about 12 years of age.
Yet, time is a luxury for the high-powered property entrepreneur these days. “I don’t cook for myself, so I spend time in the kitchen only when I’m entertaining. And, because of my busy schedule, I entertain only friends, perhaps, once a quarter.”
Given her time constraints, technically challenging dishes have given way to clever creations that are zippy to prepare, yet impressive on the palate.
“I would describe my cooking style as innovative. I often find inspiration from books I read and recipes I discover from my cookbooks – but I always tend to add something different or twist the instructions ever so slightly. I prefer invention, rather than be fi xated on something classic.”
An example would be the “maki roll” of torched toro on a bed of thinly spread Japanese sushi rice, served with spicy Korean seaweed. There is more to it than meets the eye: Take a bite and you will be surprised by the delicate crunch of crushed potato crisps within the soft, tender fish. “I would normally use dou si (fermented beans) fried to a crisp, but when there isn’t time, potato chips will do,” says Ong, revealing her practical side.
Another snappy dish of hers: baked portobello mushroom with mayonnaise. “It takes less than five minutes to prepare but, so far, the hit rate has been 100 per cent!” says Ong with a laugh. “Just fill a portobello with garlic and Japanese mayonnaise – specifically Kewpie brand, with the red cap – and allow the mayonnaise to burn on top and melt into the mushroom like butter. The same can also be done on a half-lobster dish.”
With time being of the essence, it is also no wonder that Ong’s kitchen is designed for maximum efficiency. “The kitchen sink, stove and prep area of the kitchen should be in a triangular layout rather than being positioned horizontally, side-byside. The triangular layout puts the cook right in the centre and with easy access to everything – this is especially important when doing stir-fries, when heat and timing is everything,” she explains.
“This kitchen does incorporate an island counter, but that’s for a different kind of cooking. Sometimes, when I am preparing a teppanyaki-style dinner, my guests sit at the counter and I can serve them the food directly.”
TOOLS OF THE TRADE
 |  |
| DOUBLE TEAM “Why do I have two ovens? My dinners always begin with a starter that can be prepared ahead, such as the maki roll, a soup, followed by a hot appetiser which can be put in one oven. In the other oven – here, the 90cm rotisserie oven – would be the main dish. It could be a whole fish, a leg of lamb… the size gives you such possibilities.” | KNIFE POINT “A good set of knives is important because different knives serve different functions. I would like Japanese knives but they are difficult to sharpen, so I use (Zwilling) Henckels’, which are reliable.” |
For more tips on home entertaining, head on over to Tan Su-Lyn’s feature; the CEO of Ate shares her tips.
