A diner that also runs fine dining pop-ups, Pun's Ice Cream represents a younger generation of chefs who take food seriously, but don’t kowtow to lists or awards
It is a truism in life, especially in the dog-eat-dog world of F&B, that it always pays to be pleasant to the people you meet—you're going to need friends should you find yourself sliding down the greasy pole. Going by this logic, Tan San Eu and Beh E Laine will always have a safety net.
Affectionately known as "Euwie" and "Elaine" respectively to their friends and fans, the chef/restaurateurs operate a passion project called Pun's Ice Cream in Damansara Jaya. As its name implies, the couple adore double entendres and wordplay. But you won't be sniggering when you taste the Berry Naise, a glorious tumble of fermented berries and cream, or the Prawn Hub, a pescatarian burger featuring a panko-coated prawn patty.
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To sample Pun's Ice Cream's entire menu isn't possible, not when the chefs remove and introduce new dishes on a whim. When you come close to it, however, turn on your Instagram notifications for Pun's Studio to be the first to learn of any pop-ups. A reflection of Euwie's training in revered kitchens in the USA (In Situ), Copenhagen (Amass Restaurant), France (Le Cinq and Pierre Herme), and Japan (Narisawa), the studio is a chance for the twentysomething to flex his fine dining skills. Only select few are aware that Pun’s Studio is a reincarnation of The Gathering.
Euwie fills us in: "The Gathering started as an inside joke when I was working at Amass. After Matt Orlando explained that Amass meant ‘a gathering’, I said I would use the literal English translation for my own eatery. He said no one would come and he wasn’t entirely wrong," says the self-effacing chef. "We stopped the catering company when it started to feel like we were pandering to people’s wants instead of doing what we wanted to do."
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