See & Do

Things to do & Places to see in Singapore

Coriander Leaf

Fancy a cooking lesson at one of the top restaurants in the country? Whether you are looking for a good meal, or picking up skills to whip up a sumptuous feast, a visit to the Coriander Leaf is sure to satisfy your needs.

From being named as “Best Cooking School” in Tatler’s Best of Singapore Awards 2010, acknowledgement in the renowned Miele Guide as one of Asia’s finest Restaurants in 08/09, to consecutively garnering recognitions from 2002 to 2009 as Singapore’s finest restaurants by Wine and Dine—the restaurant’s accolades just keep coming. Steeped in Middle Eastern, Mediterranean and pan-Asian cuisines, the restaurant and cooking school of Coriander Leaf is a showcase of multi-talented owner, chef and food entrepreneur, Samia Ahad’s culinary genius. For those who prefer hands-on action, there’s a wide range of cooking classes to choose from. Watch as Chef Ahad demonstrates how these dishes are made from scratch, right down to table presentation styles. Plus, you get to savour the fruits of her labour at the end. Class sizes are capped at 10, so you will never feel overwhelmed. In fact, the cooking studio is actually in the restaurant, which appears to be a private dining room from the outside.

Adding to this success, Chef Ahad launched the Screening Room—a five-story venture that marries her love of food and film, whilst catering to the young hip crowd.

To date, Chef Ahad has published many international articles, released two TV shows, one of which is currently being aired on the Asian Food Channel and written her own cookbook titled “Simply Samia” that’s loaded with recipes for you to try at home. In 2010, she was inducted into the Institute of Culinary Education’s Hall of Fame.