As the holiday season takes center stage for most hotels, JP Teres at Grand Hyatt Kuala Lumpur has chosen to spotlight something truly special: Peranakan Palate Week. Running from 6 to 14 December, 2024, this event is a fantastic opportunity to dive deep into the heart of Peranakan cuisine, a vibrant fusion of Chinese and Malay flavours. I was fortunate enough to experience it firsthand and can truly recommend it!
Are we in the right place??
From the moment I walked into JP Teres, I was captivated by the lively atmosphere. The restaurant has been transformed into a bustling hawker centre, complete with food stalls, vibrant aromas, and chefs calling out to entice guests. It’s a fun, loud and immersive setting that perfectly captures Malaysia’s street food culture, all while staying comfortable in an air-conditioned environment! The collaboration with celebrity Chef Florence Tan, an expert and champion of Peranakan cuisine, really added to the experience. She was there that night working alongside the hotel’s skilled chefs and explaining some of the dishes and it was fascinating to watch her.
Let’s dig in
Peranakan cuisine is all about balancing complex flavours – spicy, sweet, sour, and savoury – and Chef Tan’s selected creations delivered on all fronts. I started with the most perfectly rolled Nyonya Popiah, easily the best I’ve ever had, filled with savoury vegetables and tucked in a delicate wrapper. Then came the Chicken and Beef Satays, perfectly charred with a rich, creamy peanut sauce, followed by the Indian inspired Pani Puri with refreshing mint and turmeric sauces.
For the main courses, I indulged in a Coconut Pomfret Fish Curry and the standout Chicken Sek, which was tender, flavourful, and comforting. The grilled fish with sambal (Ikan Bakar) and Nasi Ulam – a rice dish bursting with fresh herbs – were equally memorable. I can never resist fried noodles and I was not disappointed – they had the perfect balance of sweet, sour, and savoury notes that left me craving more. There were so many stalls offering all kinds of food that made it really hard to choose – there was even an actual stall serving sweet buttered corn!
But of course one has to try some deserts too. The Apam Balik, filled with creamed corn and crushed peanuts, was crispy on the outside and soft on the inside – simply delicious. I also had to order the traditional Ice Kacang, the colourful, icy dessert that I wouldn’t usually go for, but watching it being made is an experience in itself. There was the usual selection of colourful Nonya Kuehs as well as fruit and cakes but at that point I was too full.
What truly sets this culinary experience at JP Teres apart is the unwavering dedication to authenticity. Every dish, every detail, reflects a deep respect for the rich heritage of Peranakan cuisine as well as other Malaysian food favourites. The partnership between JP Teres, Grand Hyatt Kuala Lumpur and Chef Florence Tan is a wonderful tribute to Malaysia’s diverse culinary traditions so if you love local food and Peranakan delicacies, I highly recommend visiting JP Teres for a delicious, immersive and fun culinary journey.
We also like Poolhouse Fun and Flames BBQ buffet at Grand Hyatt Kuala Lumpur!
We were invited by Grand Hyatt Kuala Lumpur. As always, our opinions are honest and our own.
