When I’m
invited to a preview of the auspicious Prosperity HHI-Tea Buffet and Fortune
Feast Dinner Buffet at the Makan Kitchen in DoubleTree by Hilton Johor Baru, I’m
there ahead of time.
 |
| Makan Kitchen on lobby level of DoubleTree by Hilton JB |
I’m early
so that I may get a behind-the-scenes glimpse of how the hotel is gearing up
for a season of family reunions and feasting this Chinese New Year.
As I take
a slow walk around the Makan Kitchen, I meet with Executive Sous Chef Ong Eng
Kok, who appears rather unruffled in spite of the pressure building up for his
kitchen team to present a traditional menu with auspicious names and meanings.
Maybe he
was reluctant to let the proverbial cat out of the bag and hesitated a moment when
I asked him about the specialties in the lunar new year themed spreads that are
presented at the Makan Kitchen during
the festive weekend from January 27 to
29.
 |
| Sous Chef Leong Soon Tiam [Right] and Junior Sous Chef Joseph Thien [Left], in action at the "open kitchen" |
Or maybe
he did not know where to begin to tell me about the many exciting food highlights
lined up for this festive season.
Pointing
to the giant ceramic jar which is a double-boil cauldron, Chef Ong hinted that
the Chinese kitchen is serving the goodness of double-boiled soup in the proud
tradition of the Cantonese penchant for good soups. I can relate to that sentiment because I was
brought up with the taste of seriously good soups from my grandmother’s kitchen!
I wander over
to the “open kitchen” and catch Sous Chef Leong Soon Tiam and Junior Sous Chef
Joseph Thien in action, but my eyes are riveted to the glistening whole roasted
duck which Chef Joseph is coating the bird evenly with boiling oil.
 |
| A serving of Ocean Trout Yee Sang with side condiments |
This
certainly is a glimpse of what diners can expect to savour – freshly made items
from team of dedicated chefs who are privileged to show off their culinary
skills this festive season!
For a
change from the usual sit-down banquet, diners at the Fortune Feast in Makan
Kitchen can help themselves to a range of lunar new year dishes from the Chinese kitchen in a buffet spread that
includes all the popular items in the Malay
and Indian kitchens, as well as International cuisine in fresh salads
and delectable desserts.
Since
local businessmen started the tradition of tossing Yee Sang to usher in more
prosperity at the start of the lunar new year, this raw fish salad is a
must-have delicacy during the festive season and a not-to-be-missed item at the
Makan Kitchen.
 |
| Braised Broccoli topped with Black Mushrooms and Pacific Clams |
Groups of
eight and above will be served their own platter to toss to their prosperity
while other diners may help themselves to the Ocean Trout Yee Sang in the
buffet.
The
delicious blend of chopped peanuts, toasted sesame seeds and Chinese shrimp
crackers with five-spice powder, a drizzle of plum sauce, rice vinegar, kumquat
paste and sesame oil, tossed with julienne of fresh vegetables and raw slivers
of Ocean Trout among more than 20 ingredients in the Yee Sang platter, will
certainly bring out the festive spirit and whet your appetite for the numerous
items in the buffet spread.
If you
are a fan of double-boiled soups, don’t miss out on one or more portions of the
delicious double-boiled soup: a rich broth of chicken, dried scallops and white
radish.
 |
| Almond Beancurd jelly shaped in koi fish with Mango Pudding, drizzled in tangy Passionfruit sauce |
If you
are a rice person, then indulge in a choice of Lotus Leaf Rice and Green Tea
Seafood Fried Rice.
Bear in
mind the joys of dining from a buffet – you can shamelessly return for
countless helpings – and nobody’s counting!
The
Chinese kitchen is sparing no effort to dish out some traditional lunar new
year dishes like Braised Broccoli topped with Black Mushrooms and Pacific clams,
Stir-fried Tiger Prawns with Cereal Oats, Hong Kong style steamed Garoupa fish,
in addition to the Roasted Duck and Pipa
Chicken with prawn crackers.
One of my
childhood memories of Chinese New Year must be the taste of Almond Beancurd jelly
and this nostalgic specialty brought back a flood of fond memories about how I
first tasted it at the home of our late grandaunt in Singapore.
 |
| Meet the chefs [L to R] Junior Sous Chef Joseph Thien, Sous Chef Leong Soon Tiam and Executive Sous Chef Ong Eng Kok |
For this
festive season, the chefs in Makan Kitchen decided to shape their Almond
Beancurd jelly into pretty koi fish served with a side of Mango Pudding and
drizzled in tangy Passionfruit sauce.
Mmm…yummy!
So get
your family together for a Fortune Feast and make your group reservations early
because family and feasting is certainly part of this auspicious festive season.
Prosperity HHI-Tea Buffet from
12.30pm to 4pm is RM98 nett/adult while the Fortune Feast Dinner Buffet from 6.30pm to 10.30pm is RM138
nett/adult.
The Makan
Kitchen is on the lobby level of DoubleTree by Hilton JB, at 12 Jalan Ngee
Heng, 80000 Johor Baru, Johor. For enquiries
and reservations: Tel: 607 – 268 6868 or email: JohorBaru.Info@hilton.com. Website: JohorBahru.DoubleTree.com
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