Who we are
A family legacy
at the table
The Kitchen Tradition
Debra learnt her cooking skills from her grandmother, during visits to Penang and Kedah, and daily lessons in the kitchen from her aunts and father. The flavours of her childhood remain the heart of every dish served at Heliconia & Halia.
Mother Rosaline
Her ever entrepreneurial mother Rosaline left her banking job in 1990 to start Ming's Restaurant and Pub — known for its Peranakan favourites from Penang and Singapore. She has since published three cookbooks, including Grandmothers' Recipes: Authentic Peranakan Cooking Made Easy, and at 85, still conducts cooking classes at home.
The Garden
The home is surrounded by a lush tropical garden filled with heliconia and halia flowers — their namesakes. Various ginger roots, flowers, leaves and herbs are harvested fresh for the kitchen. This living pantry is what makes every meal at Heliconia & Halia truly unique.
Deb & Dave
Together with her supportive husband David — also of Peranakan descent — Debra shares Heliconia & Halia with guests, promising an intimate and personalised experience where family legacy, good food, drink and company all come together in lush tropical surroundings.