Explained by Chef Violet’s son herself, he told us that his mother’s inspiration in creating this dish dates back to the olden days whereby there were not many fanciful ingredients in the market and due to a lack of monetary resources, this particular dessert touched the hearts of many. Despite its simple outlook, the Pineapple Upside Down Cake ($12) is a true gem of Peranakan folklore. The dessert is made using a light butter sponge (French butter is used), topped with a canned pineapple ring that has been baked, candied cherry and served with a butterscotch sauce.

Nowadays, many places are confusing diners with the abundance and type of ingredients used in preparing a food item. Most of the time, the simplest things are the ones that are the most difficult to master. If you can get the basics right, your food will be able to shine on its own and you do not need to sugar-coat if further by adding inappropriate ingredients. Kudos to this dessert and the story behind it.

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