The
Chinese Kitchen within the Makan Kitchen in DoubleTree by Hilton Johor Baru,
comes into focus this Chinese New Year season with a range of Blooming
Abundance menus that feature auspicious festive dishes among popular favourites
here.
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| The Chinese Kitchen within Makan Kitchen in the DoubleTree Hilton Johor Baru |
Regulars
at the Makan Kitchen (like me!) are familiar with the various sections that
serve Chinese, Malay, Indian and International cuisine, to enjoy a full menu
from soups, appetizers, main course items to drinks and desserts.
To
welcome the coming Year of the Boar, Chef Phung Theam Kee and his culinary team
in the Chinese kitchen have prepared a menu of auspicious dishes that augurs
well for this festive season.
I
know the Chinese kitchen has earned a proud reputation for serving the goodness
of delicious double-boiled soup in the Cantonese tradition of rich and
fortifying soups.
 |
| Steaming hot double-boiled soups! |
And for
this festive season, diners can look forward to a choice of Fish Head Clear
Soup and their ever popular Emperor Chicken Soup brewed with Dried Scallops and
Black Mushrooms. I also spot Crab Meat and Roe Soup in the buffet spread.
In
the Dim Sum section, there is a selection of steamed and deep-fried dim sum dumplings to choose from.
For
a peek of what’s steaming, I ask the culinary team member here to help lift the
heavy cover from the traditional bamboo steamer.
When
the cloud of steam clears, I can identify a few choices like Har Gow (shrimp dumpling), Siew Mai (seafood dumpling) and Loh Mai Kai (Glutinous Rice with
Chicken) among others like Shanghai dumpling, Chive dumpling, Jade dumpling,
Cheese Prawn dumpling and Crab claw dumpling.
The
Roast and Barbecue section is presented like a typical chicken-rice stall where
diners pick their choice of freshly Roasted Duck and/or Barbecue Roasted Sesame
Chicken and it will be served with fragrant steamed rice, clear soup and sides
of slices of tomato and cucumber.
 |
| Chef Phung Kheam Tee presents Wok-fried Lamb in Coffee Sauce |
This
serving will not be complete without a drizzle of soya sauce, chilli sauce,
hoisin sauce, plum sauce and ginger sauce for an authentic taste!
In
the buffet, the traditional festive dishes to look forward to include Steamed
Garoupa in Superior Sauce, Chilli Flower Crabs, Stir-fried Butter Prawns, Braised
Mushrooms, Broccoli and Pacific Clams, Salt-Baked free-range Herbal Chicken.
Chef
Phung then reminds me not to miss the dish of Wok-fried Lamb in Coffee Sauce.
I’m
a bit concerned that the coffee may keep me awake but the chef assures me that
unless I’m overly sensitive, then this dish should be enjoyed with steamed
rice.
However,
Chef Phung has prepared fragrant fried rice in the buffet and it’s Seafood
Treasure Fried Rice, filled with bits of seafood and sliced asparagus.
To
kick-off the meal, Chef Phung prepares the Prosperity Smoked Salmon Yee Sang
for our prosperity toss.
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| Chef Phung utters in Cantonese, traditional auspicious phrases as he adds ingredients to the Yee Sang platter |
He tops
the Yee Sang platter of julienne of fresh vegetables with five-spice powder, a
drizzle of plum sauce, rice vinegar, kumquat paste and sesame oil, chopped
peanuts, toasted sesame seeds and Chinese flour crisps and finally, slices of
Smoked Salmon.
To
complete the Yee Sang tradition, he utters the traditional auspicious phrases and good
wishes in Cantonese, as he adds each ingredient to the platter.
Then armed
with chopsticks, everyone steps forward to toss the Yee Sang in the traditional
lo hei (Cantonese) with wishes for a
Year of Blooming Abundance.
From
February 3 to 7, the Makan Kitchen offers a Chinese New Year Fortune Feast Buffet Dinner from 6.30pm to
10.30pm, at RM168 nett per adult and RM84 nett per child.
From
February 5 to 6, the Makan Kitchen hosts a Prosperity
High Tea Buffet from 12.30pm to 4pm, at RM108 nett per adult and RM54 per
child.
The Makan
Kitchen is on the lobby level of DoubleTree by Hilton JB, at 12 Jalan Ngee
Heng, 80000 Johor Baru, Johor.
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