It’s
always a pleasure to be a guest at the Amari Johor Baru, especially when I have
Area General Manager, Dean Rossilli, for company in the pre-Lunar New Year preview
of the Prosperity Set Menus to usher in the coming Spring Festival.
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| Amari Prosperity Yee Sang with a side of Norwegian Smoked Salmon [Left] |
In the
Amaya Food Gallery, a section is set up with Chinese banquet tables for our sit-down
meal with the décor designed in Red colours to match the mood for this festive
season.
In the
Lunar New Year tradition, the meal kicks off with the appetizing Amari
Prosperity Yee Sang or raw fish salad topped with Norwegian Smoked Salmon.
For a
change, the raw fish is replaced by Smoked Salmon and I must say that it tastes
rather agreeable.
The Chef’s
Signature Hot & Cold Five Combination is a colourful and eye-catching
platter of five items for the appetizer.
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| Area General Manager, Dean Rossilli [4th from Left] tossing for greater prosperity with guests at the set menu preview |
Individual
portions of Steamed Siew Mai, Crispy Money Bags, Pickled Baby Squid and Young
Papaya Salad with Prawn Mayo in the center, are all sitting in a sea of Blue.
With my
appetite whet by these tasty morsels, I’m ready for the rich taste of the Four-Treasure
Broth, a soup filled with crabmeat and chunks of prawns and shreds of scallops.
The
chicken dish is a Double-boiled Whole Chicken in Lotus Leaf, a comfort food
which is tender and tasty with the aroma of Chinese herbs.
Prawns
are an auspicious food item for the Lunar New Year and the next dish of whole
prawns – without shells – are wok-tossed King Prawns with Macadamia Nuts.
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| Appetizer of the Chef's Signature Hot & Cold Five Combination - all sitting in a sea of Blue! |
I like
the taste of the contrasting textures of crunchy Macadamia Nuts against the
firm flesh of the prawns.
The braised
vegetable dish is made with auspicious ingredients like broccoli florets, whole
Chinese mushrooms and topped with Baby Abalone.
A whole
fish augurs well for the Lunar New Year and this serving comes in the form of
Steamed Whole Seabass with Red Dates and Wolfberries.
The rice
dish is a traditional Chinese recipe for Egg Fried Rice with bits of barbecued
chicken, topped with Dried Scallop Crisps.
This set meal
ends sweetly with a delicious warm dessert of Double-boiled Snow Pear with
White Fungus and Dates.
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| Serving portions of the Four-Treasure Broth |
Cluster Executive
Chef Andy Oh with Chinese cuisine Chef Keh Zun and their culinary team, have
created a range of traditional menus to celebrate the Lunar New Year.
From now
to Feb 19, diners may pick from three menu choices for 10 persons dubbed The Great Prosperity with Wealth menu (7-course
at RM988 nett), The Great Prosperity
with Huge Wealth menu (9-course at RM1288 nett) and The Great Prosperity with Enormous Wealth menu (10-course at RM2388
nett).
Note: These
set menus are NOT available from Feb 2 to 9.
The busy
chefs will need three (3) days advance notice to prepare the dishes for the auspicious set
menus. Set menu reservations with full payment before Jan 20 will enjoy a 20% Early Bird discount.
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| All the goodness in the Four-Treasure Broth |
Meanwhile,
diners who enjoy buffets may dine on the Chinese
New Year Reunion Buffet Dinner from Feb 4 to 6 served at the Amaya Food
Gallery from 6.30pm to 10.30pm.
This
spread features South East Asian favourites and popular International dishes.
To
celebrate this festive season, there are Boston Lobsters prepared Cantonese
style with tasty, rich and creamy flavours in the split lobsters filled with
chunks of lobster and shrimps, fragrant with garlic butter and Parmigiano
Reggiano Cheese.
In line
with the season for auspicious dishes, the spread offers Prosperity Yee Sang
salad, Steamed Fish Fillet in Superior Sauce, Braised Seafood Hotpot with Fatt
Choy, Crispy Chicken Money Bag, Braised Chinese Cabbage with Dried Oysters,
Lotus Leaf Rice with barbecued chicken as well as Cantonese Roast Duck and Roast
Chicken.
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| Braised vegetable dish made with broccoli florets, whole Chinese mushrooms and topped with Baby Abalone |
The
spread includes Thai Steamed Fish Fillet with Garlic & Lime, Thai Beef Red
Curry with Eggplant and Sweet Basil, Phad Thai, Thai-style Barbecued Squid,
Thai Laksa and the all-time favourite, Tom Yum Goong.
Among the
items to enjoy from the International section are Sashimi, a range of fresh
salads, barbecued meats like lamb and beef steaks, chicken and cheese sausages,
Seafood Lasagne, Seafood Paella and Seafood-on-Ice.
For a
taste of local cuisine, there are favourites like Ayam Percik, Malay-style Oxtail
Soup and skewers of freshly grilled Chicken and Beef Satay.
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| A taste of Boston Lobsters prepared Cantonese style |
Rates are
RM148 nett per person and 50% discount for children aged six to 12 and senior
citizens aged 60 and above.
Enjoy an Early Bird deal of 20% discount with
full payment before Jan 20.
On Feb 5
and 6, the Amaya Food Gallery will
serve Chinese New Year High-Tea from
12.30pm to 3.30pm. Rates are RM88 nett per person with 50% discount for
children aged six to 12 and senior citizens aged 60 and above.
The Amaya
Food Gallery is located on Level 6 of Amari Johor Baru, at No. 82-C Jalan Trus,
80000 Johor Baru.
For reservations,
Tel: 607 – 266 8888 or email: amaya.johorbahru@amari.com.
Visit
website: www.amari.com for full details of menus and special promotions at the
hotel and restaurant.
