Discover the origins of Tok Panjang, the Peranakan long-table feast. Learn its history, cultural meaning, and authentic recipes from Arthur S K Lim.
Tok Panjang is more than a meal. It is a Peranakan banquet with a long table filled with signature dishes.
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The name comes from two languages — tok (Hokkien for table) and panjang (Malay for long).
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Traditionally, it marks celebrations such as birthdays, weddings, and major festivals.
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Dishes are served in a specific sequence on distinctive crockery.
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Each menu has meaning — certain dishes appear only for certain events.
Arthur S K Lim takes you back to a time before the term Tok Panjang existed.
He traces how the feast started, how it changed, and how families preserved it.
His research draws from his own family traditions and cultural heritage.
Inside the book, you will find:
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Detailed accounts of historic Peranakan dining customs.
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Explanations of why dishes were served together.
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Menus that reflect the occasion and the symbolism behind each recipe.
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His mother’s trusted recipes — cooked and served for decades at family feasts.
You see how food connects generations.
You understand why a Tok Panjang table is set the way it is.
You can imagine the flavors, aromas, and community it brings.
Have you experienced a true Tok Panjang?
What would your long table look like?
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