/ Reviews / Interview
Betty Ng Proprietor of Ginger and Dao Jiang Hu
by
on Friday, July 30, 2010 12:00 AM
Where did the restaurant's unusual name come from?
From a conversation with my friends. We were discussing how to name this Japanese restaurant and a friend, who is Shanghainese, said: "Don't dao jiang hu with me" [similar to the English idiom "don't give me the runaround"]. I was inspired and decided to use the phrase. People who are passing by notice our unique restaurant name and sometimes they take photos with the sign.
How does Dao Jiang Hu differ from other Japanese restaurants?
Dao Jiang Hu serves Japanese pub food which is similar to the izakaya establishments in Japan. I actually lived in Japan for 10 years, and wrote recipes and articles on table styling for magazines. In Japan, people gather together at the izakaya, and order some drinks and tapas-like fare in the casual and relaxed environment. The dishes on the menu of Dao Jiang Hu were created by the chef and me. We added the homemade aspect to the menu and decorated the dishes in an Asian style.
When you started your first restaurant, Ginger, why did you choose to focus on such a broad range of cuisines?
I graduated from Le Cordon Bleu and really like cooking different dishes. You can order specialties from Italy, France, Spain, Japan, Vietnam and China at Ginger, and travel around the world by trying our cuisine experience.
What is your favorite dish to make with ginger?
It's definitely Sabu Pork with gingered scallion sauce - it's on the menu! I like the delicacy and freshness of the tastes.
I've only got time do one thing while I'm in Singapore. Where would a native like yourself tell me to go?
The places I recommend are also related to food! I think the best place is the temples in Singapore which serve multi-racial food. You can eat Chinese, Indian, Malaysian, and Peranakan food there. There are also food courts in the shopping malls with air conditioning, and in the streets without air conditioning. Both of them are like food republics and worth trying.
What do you do to Enjoy Shanghai?
I go out with friends, have a meal or drink cocktails at venues with light music.
