{"id":25635,"date":"2026-01-04T13:12:14","date_gmt":"2026-01-04T05:12:14","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/sgbuzz.com\/?p=25635"},"modified":"2026-01-04T13:12:14","modified_gmt":"2026-01-04T05:12:14","slug":"welcome-home-i-try-local-comfort-food-from-new-collab-by-chef-joel-ong-director-jack-neo-lifestyle-news","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/sgbuzz.com\/?p=25635","title":{"rendered":"Welcome home: I try local comfort food from new collab by chef Joel Ong, director Jack Neo, Lifestyle News"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><br \/>\n<\/p>\n<div>\n<p>What would you cook for someone you love?\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>That was the question on chef Joel Ong&#8217;s mind as he worked on his newest dining concept \u2014 Home by Enjoy \u2014 in partnership with local film director Jack Neo.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>Now open at Bukit Merah Enterprise Centre, the restaurant serves a variety of local comfort dishes meant to nourish and care.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>Developed together with Come Here Traditional Chinese Medicine Clinic, the menu focuses on balance, warmth and long-term well-being.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>As part of the collaboration, the menu also features dishes made with <a href=\"https:\/\/www.asiaone.com\/lifestyle\/jack-neos-daughter-launches-frozen-laksa-soup-just-time-cny-2021-steamboat-sessions\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Chu Collagen Soup, a soup brand founded by Jack Neo&#8217;s daughter<\/a>.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>&#8220;This is not about putting a name on a menu,&#8221; said chef Joel. &#8220;It&#8217;s about shared beliefs, about family, about responsibility, and about doing things with intention.&#8221;\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>As someone with a soft spot for a good home-cooked meal, I visited the restaurant on its opening day (Dec 29) to see if the food truly delivers on its promise.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" data-entity-uuid=\"389f4de5-a3db-4815-82b1-6128bd0bf235\" data-entity-type=\"file\" height=\"500\" width=\"1100\" src=\"The restaurant felt homely and was decked out in nostalgic decor. PHOTO: AsiaOne\/Carol Ong\"\/><\/p>\n<p>Stepping into the restaurant, I was greeted by a homely space decked out with antique marble tables and round stools. The walls were plastered with vintage posters, and there was even an old-school, kampung-style kitchen corner for taking photographs.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>The tables were also set with retro Chinese tableware \u2014 something you might see at a grandparent&#8217;s house.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>Overall, it was a nice and spacious place to dine, with ample nostalgic details without seeming too cluttered.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" data-entity-uuid=\"0238f1f0-ee57-4e15-9531-7a22f14d8b3a\" data-entity-type=\"file\" height=\"600\" width=\"1000\" src=\"Retro tableware at Home by Enjoy. PHOTO: AsiaOne\/Carol Ong\"\/><\/p>\n<h2>Comforting local feast<\/h2>\n<p>Among the restaurant\u2019s offerings is the Yang Sheng (nourishing) dishes prepared with Chinese medicinal herbs. I gravitated towards the Grandpa\u2019s Braised Pork Trotter ($16) \u2014 a dish that felt familiar, and one I wanted to try because it is something my grandmother often cooks at home.<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" data-entity-uuid=\"c29fe097-98d0-488d-9d36-48a1ead73f00\" data-entity-type=\"file\" height=\"900\" width=\"1000\" src=\"The Grandpa's Braised Pork Trotter is a comforting dish familiar to many. PHOTO: AsiaOne\/Carol Ong\"\/><\/p>\n<p>Cooked with ingredients such as astragalus root, Chinese rice wine and Solomon\u2019s seal root, the dish is said to promote blood circulation, relieve fatigue and reduce throat dryness.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>The pork trotter struck\u00a0a good balance between lean and fatty meat. The lean parts retained\u00a0a satisfying bite while the skin\u00a0remained\u00a0soft, melty and full of flavour.<\/p>\n<p>I could easily imagine having this dish with rice as a comforting, no-frills meal.<\/p>\n<p>Other Yang Sheng items on the menu include Claypot Liver and Kidney ($17), 5-Ginseng Baked Kampung Chicken (from $21) and Tau Cheo Steamed Local Barramundi (from $29).\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>From the Cold section of the menu, the Classic Yusheng ($18) is described as a modern reinterpretation of the traditional Cantonese dish.<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" data-entity-uuid=\"80eac1fc-a390-46a0-af9a-63d74f1199ce\" data-entity-type=\"file\" height=\"900\" width=\"1000\" src=\"Home by Enjoy's Classic Yusheng is a good introduction to the traditional Cantonese dish. PHOTO: AsiaOne\/Carol Ong\"\/><\/p>\n<p>Served chilled, it was crisp and refreshing, with a tangy hit of lime that elevated the dish&#8217;s flavour<strong> <\/strong>without overpowering the ingredients. The sashimi also tasted fresh and not too fishy.<\/p>\n<p>As someone who has not tried traditional yusheng, it came across as<strong> <\/strong>a well-balanced sashimi salad \u2014 light and easy to enjoy.<\/p>\n<p>I kept going back to the yusheng throughout the meal as it was a nice palate cleanser from the richer flavours of the other dishes.<\/p>\n<p>If you&#8217;re not a fan of raw fish, the Cold section of the menu also consists of other dishes such as the Winged Bean Salad with Dried Cuttlefish ($9) and Black Dog Quail Egg ($8).\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>Next up was the Sliced Chicken with Bentong Ginger and Salted Fish ($12) from the Steam section of the menu, which<strong> <\/strong>includes a variety of dishes such as the Minced Pork with Mushrooms and Water Chestnut ($10) and Live Lala with Garlic and Ginger ($22).<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" data-entity-uuid=\"cf15aa9a-4d5f-4114-8e9c-449ae6fbb119\" data-entity-type=\"file\" height=\"900\" width=\"900\" src=\"The Sliced Chicken with Bentong Ginger is served in a soy sauce-based marinade with shredded ginger and garnish. PHOTO: AsiaOne\/Carol Ong\"\/><\/p>\n<p>I found the chicken to be on the saltier side and it felt quite one-dimensional, but pairing it with the ginger helped lift the overall flavour.<\/p>\n<p>The dish<em> <\/em>would be better enjoyed with rice, which could help balance the seasoning.<\/p>\n<p>Out of the eight menu items I\u2019ve tried at the restaurant, I&#8217;d say that this was the least memorable.<\/p>\n<p>I also tried the Enjoy x Chu Collagen Mini Hotpot ($38.80), one of the menu\u2019s highlights.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>The hotpot is available in three soup bases \u2014 Rich Collagen, Umami Prawn and Lemak Laksa \u2014 and can be paired with a choice of Kurobuta pork, wagyu beef or a seafood set.<\/p>\n<p>I opted for the Rich Collagen soup base and wagyu beef. I\u2019m usually not a fan of collagen soups as I find them too thick and cloying.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" data-entity-uuid=\"6af1b054-254f-47ba-81a6-bd1f7f7a3cd3\" data-entity-type=\"file\" height=\"500\" width=\"900\" src=\"The Enjoy x Chu Collagen Mini Hotpot with wagyu beef. PHOTO: AsiaOne\/Carol Ong\"\/><\/p>\n<p>This version, however, was flavourful yet relatively light, making it easy to drink. The wagyu beef also absorbed the broth well, and was good enough to eat on its own \u2014 I didn&#8217;t even have to use the dipping sauces provided.<\/p>\n<p>According to Jack Neo, the soup was prepared without MSG or preservatives, which was a pleasant surprise because it was quite a savoury broth.<\/p>\n<p>The standout dish of the meal was Chef Joel\u2019s signature Home Crab Beehoon ($98).\u00a0<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" data-entity-uuid=\"189358fd-dce2-4a5c-a420-21940cd45880\" data-entity-type=\"file\" height=\"1100\" width=\"1000\" src=\"The Home Crab Beehoon is one of chef Joel's signature dishes. PHOTO: AsiaOne\/Carol Ong\"\/><\/p>\n<p>While it&#8217;s pricier than the other dishes, the portion was also much bigger and the crab was of a substantial size.<\/p>\n<p>As a seafood lover, this dish was the star of the show. The crab meat was fresh and sweet, but what really anchored the dish was the broth. It was deeply umami after absorbing the essence of the crab, and the white beehoon soaked up the flavours really well.<\/p>\n<p>That said, the broth did get a little cloying by the second bowl due to its richness, so it&#8217;s definitely better as a dish shared with others.<\/p>\n<p>For side dishes, the Enjoy Oyster Omelette ($20) is said to be a modern reinterpretation of the familiar hawker dish.<\/p>\n<p>Unlike the hawker version, it was neatly cut and portioned, with each slice of omelette paired with a plump oyster.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" data-entity-uuid=\"2a879fb4-4476-4196-b0c9-0ad9e8433933\" data-entity-type=\"file\" height=\"1000\" width=\"900\" src=\"Each slice of omelette was accompanied by a plump oyster. PHOTO: AsiaOne\/Carol Ong\"\/><\/p>\n<p>The omelette was crisp on the outside and fluffy within, without being too greasy. However, it did lean slightly on the salty side for my liking.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>The oysters, on the other hand, were juicy and full of flavour, and I found myself wishing the omelette<strong> <\/strong>had been a little lighter to better complement them.<\/p>\n<p>If this isn&#8217;t your cup of tea, there are also other side dishes such as the Har Jeong Squid ($16), Smoked Cod Otah ($22) and Filial Pie Tee ($16).\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>I also had high hopes for the Black Chicken Soup ($13) from the menu&#8217;s Roots and Remedies section, something that has always been close to my heart.<\/p>\n<p>Growing up, my grandmother would rotate different soups for dinner each day, and black chicken soup was my favourite out of the lot.<\/p>\n<p>According to the restaurant, the soup is meant to nourish blood, improve circulation, complexion and eye health.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" data-entity-uuid=\"22401121-c724-493a-a499-c5ff40fb49a4\" data-entity-type=\"file\" height=\"900\" width=\"900\" src=\"The restaurant's Black Chicken Soup is meant to nourish blood, improve circulation, complexion and eye health. PHOTO: AsiaOne\/Carol Ong\"\/><\/p>\n<p>However, it fell a little flat for me. While the broth was light and adequately seasoned, it tasted quite one-dimensional, with the herbal notes coming through less distinctly than I had expected.<\/p>\n<p>The chicken itself was tender and fall-off-the-bone, but overall, it was less memorable compared to the other offerings on the table.<\/p>\n<p>I ended the meal with dessert \u2014 the MSW Durian Pengat ($12.80).\u00a0<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" data-entity-uuid=\"c2b4d49a-5b5e-401c-97ad-dd362b7b45fa\" data-entity-type=\"file\" height=\"900\" width=\"900\" src=\"Home by Enjoy's Durian Pengat is rich and creamy without being too sweet. PHOTO: AsiaOne\/Carol Ong\"\/><\/p>\n<p>Even as a durian lover, I often find it difficult to finish such desserts as the flavours can often be overwhelming.<\/p>\n<p>This version, however, struck a good balance. Thick and creamy with a pronounced durian flavour, it wasn\u2019t overly sweet, making it very palatable.<\/p>\n<p>Despite already being full by this point, I polished off the bowl.<\/p>\n<p>It also didn&#8217;t leave a strong aftertaste in my mouth, so you won&#8217;t have to worry about durian breath.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>Lighter dessert options include the Chendol Panna Cotta ($9), Ginger Milk Curd with Osmanthus Honey ($8) and Teochew Orh Ni ($6.80).<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" data-entity-uuid=\"f5a5cd95-3160-4a06-bfa1-57de16767474\" data-entity-type=\"file\" height=\"900\" width=\"900\" src=\"Home by Enjoy's Fragrant Yam Rice is served with mushrooms and dried shrimp. PHOTO: AsiaOne\/Carol Ong\"\/><\/p>\n<p>While it&#8217;s meant to accompany the main dishes, a special mention also goes to the Fragrant Yam Rice ($3), cooked with mushrooms and dried shrimp.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>It was flavourful and held a fragrance true to its name.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>In fact, I think it might be better enjoyed on its own rather than paired with the other dishes, as most of them leaned heavily into bold flavours.\u00a0<\/p>\n<h2>The verdict\u00a0<\/h2>\n<p>By the end of the meal, it was clear that Home by Enjoy doesn\u2019t shy away from bold flavours. Almost every dish I tried leaned towards the richer end, which made it satisfying, though it could feel a little overwhelming for some.<\/p>\n<p>While I didn&#8217;t try any vegetables, the menu also seems to be skewed hearty rather than light, with items such as the Heavenly King Grilled Eggplant ($16) served with sambal petai and Sayur Lodeh ($15) with coconut curry.<\/p>\n<p>But honestly, this felt aligned with the restaurant&#8217;s home-style approach. In a sense, dining here felt familiar, much like eating at home where grandparents or parents aren&#8217;t always shy with seasoning and dishes are meant to be shared.<\/p>\n<p>For diners who gravitate towards robust flavours and communal meals rooted in comfort and familiarity, I would say Home by Enjoy largely delivers on its promise.<\/p>\n<p>As my family loves indulgent, local fare, I&#8217;d definitely consider bringing them here for family gatherings on special occasions like Mother&#8217;s Day.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p><em>Address: 10 Jalan Kilang, #02-01, Singapore 159410<\/em><br \/><em>Opening hours: 11.30am to 10pm daily<\/em><\/p>\n<p>[[nid:725734]]<\/p>\n<p>carol.ong@asiaone.com<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p><br \/>\n<br \/><a href=\"https:\/\/www.asiaone.com\/lifestyle\/comfort-food-chef-joel-ong-jack-neo-home-enjoy\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Read Full Article At Source <\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>What would you cook for someone you love?\u00a0 That was the question on chef Joel Ong&#8217;s mind as he worked on his newest dining concept&#8230;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":25636,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"fifu_image_url":"","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[2611],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-25635","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-buzz-headlines","wpcat-2611-id"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/sgbuzz.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/25635","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/sgbuzz.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/sgbuzz.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sgbuzz.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sgbuzz.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=25635"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/sgbuzz.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/25635\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sgbuzz.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/25636"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/sgbuzz.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=25635"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sgbuzz.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=25635"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sgbuzz.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=25635"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}