Constance Song Selling Premium Iberico Pork Bak Kwa, Says She Put On 2kg Snacking On It
The actress may serve the Spain-imported Iberico pork bak kwa at her Spanish restaurant Bam! too.2-min read
12 JAN 2022 20:45
UPDATED 12 JAN 2022 20:50
Chen Xiuhuan isn’t the only celebrity who is cashing in on the Chinese New Year season. Actress Constance Song has partnered a friend to start Regalo, an online purveyor of luxury gift products and they recently launched their own brand of gourmet Iberico pork bak kwa.
Selling bak kwa is a no brainer for Constance. Not only is the 46-year-old a huge fan of the snack, she had entertained the idea of starting a bak kwa business in the past. “I heard that it is very profitable and that bak kwa sales during Chinese New Year is enough to cover [a shop’s profits] the entire year, so I thought it would be nice if I could sell bak kwa. But I didn’t pursue the thought until my friend asked me to join this business venture in November last year,” she tells 8days.sg.
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Good fit for her Spanish restaurant
But Constance and her partner didn’t want to offer just regular bak kwa. They considered other premium varieties of pork like Japanese kurobuta before settling on Spain-imported Iberico pork as it is “the richest pork" and a good fit for her Spanish restaurant Bam!.
“We use a lot of Iberico pork and ham at Bam!. We tried plating the bak kwa with cheeses, strawberries and other fruits, and it turned out quite nice,” she says, adding that she might offer the bak kwa as a complimentary starter or part of a cheese platter at the eatery.
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She can eat five slices in one sitting
The recipe is created by a professional culinary team and the bak kwa produced locally by a “reputable food manufacturer”. Regalo uses grass and acorn-fed Iberico pork, which is known for its marbling and tender texture. Pork slices are marinated in a “special blend of Chinese herbs” and “charcoal-grilled to smoky perfection”. Each slice comes individually vacuum-sealed to retain its freshness.
“Though it is slightly oiler than regular bak kwa, I like that it is not overly sweet, and is very succulent and tender. The quality of the meat makes a difference,” shares Constance.
She recommends heating it up in a microwave or regular oven for 30 seconds before enjoying it with some red wine or sake.
“I can eat five slices in one sitting! Even though I am very into weight loss and healthy eating, I cannot resist bak kwa. It’s damn shiok when you pair it with red wine. I put on 2kg after snacking on this for two days,” she laughs. “But I managed to lose the weight after that. I just have to be disciplined and watch my diet.” Constance claims that she puts on weight very easily.
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Available in three atas box sets, from $88
The bak kwa is available in three elegant box sets. The Celebration Bundle, which comes with 500g of bak kwa (around eight to 10 slices) and a 187ml bottle of Sachi Soy Wine costs $88, while the Prosperity Bundle with 1kg bak kwa costs $138. The Abundance Bundle ($168) boasts 1kg worth of bak kwa and a 500ml bottle of soy wine housed in a sleek wooden box wrapped with lovely Japanese-style furoshiki cloth.
The semi-sweet wine is made from soy whey — a nutritious by-product generated from tofu production that is often thrown away — in Singapore, and is believed to be the world’s first tipple made from soy.
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Taste test
Each gold foil-packed bak kwa slice is generously speckled with fat. The premium Spanish pork is a little bit thick, but fairly tender to the bite and moderately juicy with a rich, savoury flavour. It’s also underscored by some sweetness and a faint smokiness. Quite yummy, even if it could afford to be slightly more charred. Still, these are conveniently packed and make for an impressive-looking gift.
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The details
The bak kwa sets are on sale till Jan 25 and only 300 boxes are available.
Other than bak kwa, Constance says Regalo will offer specialty gifts for special occasions and holidays like Valentine’s Day, as well as non-F&B products from other brands.
