When Singapore’s celebrated chef Violet Oon meets the most famous medicine woman in television history, Dr Quinn, something’s gotta get cookin’.
A cure for all ills? A sight for sore eyes is closer to the truth.
The actress Jane Seymour, in Singapore to headline the Noel Coward play The Vortex, was taken to lunch at Violet Oon National Kitchen.
She was in raptures, “I grew up in Indonesia (Dutch roots) and I do miss the food,” as she spooned into the VONK menu of the most delicious satay and rendang and goreng and sambal.
The gracious and generous Violet offered the Bond girl a quick cook n eat session.
And so Jane and her sisters Sally and Annie were invited to Violet Oon Singapore in Bukit Timah where they marvelled at how easy and simple it is, to produce a chicken curry, a fried fish with the most stupendous sauced garnish, a vegetarian okra, and a roti jala to end all pancakes.
We were also plied with kueh pie ti, ngor hiang, tahu goring, two signature cakes – sugee and gula melaka, and freshly made kalamansi juice.
“Oh this is the most beautiful drink,” said the beautiful actress.
She was careful with the sambal, “The voice, tonight’s performance.”
One sister suggested she could make it at home from her garden limes.
Jane lives in Los Angeles and has a home in England. Her sisters are from London, and “Oh, it’s just lovely to have them here together with me.”
Eating and shopping – she’d bought a red lace kebaya for the occasion – and generally doing girly things.
Eating, shopping, love and laughter, the best medicine after all.
Sylvia Toh Paik Choo is author, broadcaster, columnist, debater (like to argue), elegant, fashionable, gourmet, hilarious, and we're out of alphabets (well there is i for idiot...)