Zing by Xi Yan & The Social Kitchen creates employment for those in the disadvantaged communities and serves wholesome nutritious food prepared with sustainable produce. The new restaurant in Paya Lebar Quarter (PLQ) is one for those who are health-conscious, socially aware and environmentally responsible.
Zing @ PLQ Parkside
Located in PLQ Parkside, Zing by Xi Yan & The Social Kitchen sits in the middle of a row of eateries which has Jimmy Monkey Cafe on one end and Chef Damian D’Silva’s latest restaurant, Renpapa, on the other. The sheltered al fresco dining area looks out to a small park and children’s play-space.
The casual dining restaurant has a chic interior design. The vibrant wallpapers have Chinese motifs given modern theatrical interpretations. Different sections of the walls each look like a piece of contemporary artwork.
Zing is a collaboration project involving The Social Kitchen, a social enterprise that helps to equip disadvantaged individuals with skills and and provide them with meaningful work opportunities.
Menu of Zing
The menu of Zing tries to cover as many different bases as possible. There are nutrient-packed salads and grain bowls as well as indulgent desserts. You can have ribeye steak or plant-based chicken. Very European dishes like Baked Mozzarella Aubergine, fusion cuisine like Tteokbokki Prawn Gratin or traditional Hakka Abacus are among the items on Zing’s menu. It even has a bar that serves liquor as well as ice cream.
Physical menus are available. Diners can also scan a QR code to access the online menu. A few screenshots of the the online menu are below.
Interesting Meal @ Zing by Xi Yan
We had an interesting meal at the new Zing by Xi Yan & The Social Kitchen.
The drinks we ordered, Kamquat Honey ($3.5) and Unsweetened Lemongrass Drink ($3.50), were served promptly. They were nice and very refreshing.
Next came the Pregnant Woman Fried Rice ($15). We did not order the dish as a way to announce that someone was pregnant. It was just that the dish looked quite good in the image on the menu.
Pregnant Woman Fried Rice was fried rice with olives, ginger and dried shrimp. The ginger bits provided a nice spicy crunchiness. Otherwise, the dish was nothing to get excited about. Perhaps that was why it would be suitable for pregnant women.
We tried one of the fusion dishes – Braised Tender Sichuan Beef Liguini Fini ($20). The beef was melt-in-your-mouth tender. The sauce was truly MaLa – “numbing” and “spicy”. The dish should be a hit for the mala fans.
Our next 2 dishes were the traditional Hakka Abacus ($18) and Hakka Niang Do Fu ($12).
The Hakka yam abacus seeds were fried with minced pork, mushroom, black fungus and dried shrimp. The abacus seeds had a nice chewy texture. There was some wok-hey. It was an enjoyable comforting dish.
The best dish of the meal was the Hakka Niang Do Fu (Dry Version). The pieces of beancurd and vegetables stuffed with fish paste and minced pork were served with a thick gravy. It was a delicious dish.
The Tang Yuan Mixed ($4) provided a sweet ending to our meal. We were especially delighted by the delectable filling of crushed peanut and candied winter melon in the white glutinous rice balls.
Ethical Dining
Overall, it was an interesting meal which we did enjoy. We liked the traditional Hakka dishes and the desserts of Zing by Xi Yan & The Social Kitchen. The service was friendly and rather efficient.
In the new culture of ethical consumerism, it seems it is not enough for restaurants to just offer good food with good service. They have to show that they are environmentally friendly, support ethical farming or promote social change. As illustrated by its menu, Zing tries to cover as many different bases as possible. So whether you are passionate about supporting the disadvantaged communities, sustainable produce or whole food, Zing by Xi Yan & The Social Kitchen wants you to enjoy a meal at the new restaurant knowing that you are doing your bit in advancing the cause.
Ratings:
Food: 3
Service: 3
Value: 3
Atmosphere: 3
Overall Rating: 3 TOPs 
Zing by Xi Yan @ PLQ
2 Paya Lebar Road, #01-06/07/08, PLQ Parkside
Singapore 409053
Tel: +65 6530 3548
Opening Hours: 11.30 pm to 10 pm
The Ordinary Patrons | Real Dining Experience of Ordinary People
an independent Singapore food blog
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