When in Melaka, dine as the Melakans do this Chinese New Year. That is Chef Lam
Yee Voon of Jia Restaurant, Kings Green Hotel has ensured his CNY set menus feature traditional Chinese dishes alongside Nyonya fare to suit the home crowd.
According to the veteran chef, Jia Restaurant will be opened daily
throughout the CNY period. "We anticipate more families and visitors to Melaka will dine out throughout
the festival. Based on past years' experiences, diners would seek Chinese and Nyonya specialities so we plan to serve both CNY and Nyonya style offerings to cater to them."
Jia, meaning home or family in
Chinese, boasts mainly white and earth tones but in view of the festivities, the interior has been livened
up by red lanterns and complementary décor to suit the auspicious celebrations. Three private dining rooms are available onsite and can be partitioned to form a larger space if
necessary.
Chef Lam said the Prosperity & Wealth set menu is priced at RM688 nett
per table of 7-10 persons and RM488 nett per table of 4-6 whilst the Happiness &
Fortune set is priced at RM488 nett per table of 7-10 and RM288 nett per table of
4-6. For our
sampling session, he tickled our tastebuds with various dishes from
the set menus as well as the a la carte selection.
One of the key
dishes from Jia’s CNY menus is the delicious Braised Crabmeat Soup with Fish Maw. We like the subtly unctuous broth teeming with spongy
strands of fish maw and crabstick, and chunks of crabmeat in it. Noteworthy as a PC soup to welcome the Year of the Dog.
Hints of
Worcestershire sauce came through on the palate when we sampled the Deep-fried Boneless Chicken with
Oriental BBQ Sauce. The tender and juicy chicken, sheathed in light and crisp batter, was utterly delectable with the thick brown sauce as were the equally crisp battered onion rings on top.
The
chef’s two-decade long experience ensured the Hong Kong Style Steamed
Orange Roughy hit the mark. Soused in superior soy sauce with shredded young
ginger, scallions, coriander and fried minced garlic, the fish’s inherent
sweetness and smooth flesh reeled us in for a mini feeding frenzy.
Ramping up the good vibes further was bouncy Deep-fried Prawn Balls with Dragonfruit
Salad. Shelled and lightly coated in a creamy fruity sauce, the prawn balls
scored highly with us, forming a winning combo with the salad of diced apple and
dragonfruit.
Typical homespun flavours were aptly captured in the simple serving of Chap Chye (RM18) – a classic braised
vegetable dish comprising 'golden needles' (dried lily buds), glass noodles,
black mushroom and carrot.
Fluffy Cincalok Omelette (RM12) threaded with
onion, cincalok (local condiment of brined krill), red chilli and spring onion - another perennial fave - also hit the spot for us. The savoury umami after taste ensured you won't forget this dish in a hurry.
We also
ordered a supplementary dish of Deep-fried Squid with Salt & Pepper.
Lightly battered, each piece of squid was succulent to the bite. Such Chinese-Nyonya dishes are found in the regular a la carte menu. Enjoy greater value from the resto's Daily Set Menus for 2 to 10 persons, priced at RM109-RM360 with complimentary soup, white rice and Chinese
tea included.
For reservations at JIA (pork-free) restaurant, please call tel: 06 288 1091 ext. 7. Business hours: Tues-Sun from 12pm-3pm and 6pm-10pm. JIA is located at Kings Green Hotel in Melaka - read the review below for details.
STAY & CELEBRATE AT KINGS GREEN
JIA
Chinese restaurant is located at Kings Green Hotel, a 4-star property in the
historical state of Melaka. Major tourist spots like Porta de Santiago and
Jonker Street are about 1.6km away and the River Cruise Melaka, a 5-minute
drive away.
There’s
ample parking space and the whole hotel is non-smoking with practical
facilities such as a fitness centre, outdoor pool and meeting venues available
onsite. Once we stepped into the boutique hotel, we found ourselves inside the bright, white-washed lobby with soaring high ceiling and modern light fixtures.
Hibiscus inspired motif in white serves as the focal point in all the 3 category of rooms; distinguished by a feature wall painted in a different colour to denote the room category. Our Deluxe room was spacious enough to accommodate up to 3 persons, fitting in a Queen
& a Super Single bed in it. Since I had to get some work done, the compact executive desk with reading light was sufficient for the task.
Besides the usual mod-cons: WiFi, air-cond, coffee/tea making facilities and flatscreen telly, there was a small balcony with a decent view, a reading
chair with glass side table, wardrobe and a roomy bathroom complete with separate shower and long bath. The shower jet is strong and I like the handmade natural soaps provided.
The
outdoor pool is of a good size too, with a kiddy paddling pool beside it. I found the
fitness centre has enough exercise equipment to ensure health-conscious guests
need not forgo their workout routine.
Breakfast
is served at the Hibiscus Café; the buffet spread runs the usual gamut of local and Western brekkie fare. Come sundown, light
snacks and drinks can be had at Green Acres Lounge & Bar every Mon-Sat, from
5pm to 1am. A live band belting out chart-toppers and evergreen standards entertains from 9pm onwards.
Interestingly,
Kings Green is as Melaka’s first Green Building Index certified hotel. Its ‘green’
initiatives include:
· smoke-free premises throughout the hotel
·
harvesting of rain water for flushing and garden use
·
LED lighting to save electricity
·
no plastic bags for its daily in-room newspaper
·
recycling of kitchen waste into compost
·
planting of a herb garden as air refreshner
So this Chinese New Year, Kings Green Hotel may worth your consideration if you prefer to stay slightly away from the clogged up touristy areas.
For reservations at KINGS GREEN HOTEL, call tel: 06-288 1091. The hotel is located at 28 Jalan Tun Perak, Melaka.