Ensconced in elegant, tranquil surrounds, Candlenut offers a refined take on Peranakan cuisine with a touch of innovation and friendly, prompt service. The wagyu beef rendang is gorgeous, with tender, flavourful beef chunks served in a wonderfully complex gravy topped with serunding. The blue swimmer crab curry entices with exquisitely fresh crab set off by aromatic turmeric, kaffir lime leaf and galangal. Kueh pie tee, chap chye and buah keluak fried rice are also noteworthy. For dessert, the buah keluak ice-cream with Valrhona chocolate and chilli is delectable: piquant chilli lifts the ice-cream’s earthy flavours, heightened by whimsical popping candy.