When I was young, my parents would take the family to the Sanur Indonesian restaurant over at Centrepoint every Sunday evening for our dinner. Ever since the establishment closed down in due to a rumoured internal family feud, I have not been able to find similar standard of quality of Indonesian food anywhere else. Recently, I managed to uncover Indonesian food that is way better than Sanur, and leaps and bounds beyond the ubiquitous average satay, bland Bakso or the disappointing Nasi/Mee Goreng and that you commonly find everywhere in Indonesia.

I met chef Christina Hunter when her company Hunter’s Kitchen collaborated together with the Amara hotel’s Cafe Oriental for their “Local Legends” series by offering an Indonesian semi-buffet dinner that features many classic mouth-watering Indonesian dishes such as Lontong, Kerupuk Crackers, Belado Eggs, Sambal Goreng Beef Petai, Adam Garam Sotong, Bakwan Jagung, Sayar Lodeh Tauco and more. I was utterly blown away by the appetizing piquantness of all the dishes and had the rare food orgasm. Every single component tasted divine and was bursting with flavour. Even the refreshing Es Teler dessert which consisted of coconut water, avocado slices, attar palm seeds, basil seeds, nada de coco, jackfruit, etc was heavenly.

Affectionately known amongst her close community as “Chris”, Mrs Hunter is the culinary artisanal force who single handedly made an indelible mark for herself on Singapore’s food landscape with the rich flavours of her Indonesian-Peranakan fusion cuisine. Her journey from a passionate home cook to the founder of Hunter’s Kitchen is a testament to her life long dedication to preserving, educating, and sharing her cultural heritage through the auspices of her delectable Indonesian food.

Born in Ketapang, West Kalimantan, on the island of Borneo in Indonesia, where her family and ancestry runs a thriving bird’s nest business, Christina grew up watching her Peranakan grandmother, mother and helpers cook up a storm in their kitchens. From a tender age, Christina was already being fully immersed in the rich tapestry of ethnic flavours and Teochew traditions. These memorable childhood experiences and culinary exposures instilled in her a profound appreciation which honed her delicate and discerning palette for crafting the authentic tastes of fine Indonesian cuisine, which she now passionately shares with the Singaporean community of avid foodies.

Before settling in Singapore back in 2010 where she met her British husband Nick Hunter, Christina also lived in metropolitan London and bustling Hong Kong. These international experiences exposed her to diverse culinary traditions and broadened her cooking repertoire. However, it was the rich, aromatic flavours of her native Indonesian roots that compelled her back to cooking her favourite childhood dishes such as Bakmi. In her own words, “I can eat Indonesian food all day, everyday. I never get sick and tired of it as it is comfort food for me.”

Upon relocating back to Singapore, Christina continued to cook primarily for just her family members and close friends who consistently praised her culinary prowess and encouraged her to share her talents and allow her dishes to be savoured and enjoyed by a wider audience. In May 2020, amidst the global pandemic, Chris recognised that there was indeed an untapped market opportunity to fill the missing gap in Singapore’s Indonesian food scene by offering gratifying and healthier Indonesian home-cooked meals. Hunter’s Kitchen which operates out of Christina’s spacious home kitchen quickly gained a cult following among those in the know and who crave for genuine Indonesian flavours. Her dishes, characterised by their authenticity and depth, resonated with both the Indonesian diaspora and locals alike. These days, Hunter’s Kitchen has a two weeks long waiting list and her clientele includes celebrities, socialites, ministers and CEOs of MNCs.

Dining on Christina’s creations is often described as a “feast for the senses”. Her signature sambal belacan is handmade from scratch after years of refinement. One of the most popular offerings from Hunter’s Kitchen is the highly decorated celebratory Tumpeng set. This traditional Javanese birthday dish features turmeric-infused Nasi Kunning yellow rice accompanied by an array of tantalising accompanying side dishes that creates a harmonious blend of spicy flavours and exotic textures. Christina intentionally chooses to omit the use of coconut milk as well as the excessive utilisation of seasoning so as to avoid the overly rich and filling lemak sensation. Relying instead on a medley of spices to inject nuances and layers of flavour, chef Christina chooses to only use premium ingredients such as Angus beef, and French poulet chicken for all of her dishes.

Beyond her success stories and enriching family life with her doting husband and being a devoted mother of her two beloved teenage sons, Christina has built a vibrant community of loyal food enthusiasts around Hunter’s Kitchen. Her Instagram account not only showcases her flair for cooking Indonesian dishes but also offers a behind-the-scenes sneak peek into her work processes. Through her active social media platform, she educates her audience about the cultural significance of the immense preparation and efforts that goes into making high-quality Indonesian dishes that fuses traditional recipes together with modern cooking techniques. As for future expansion plans, Christina intends to publish her first cook book, scale up production of her frozen Bakmi and conduct cooking classes.

To place an order, send Christina Hunter a message on her official Instagram profile @hunterskitchensg.

 

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Images: Luke Elijah and Christina Hunter (portrait)