Picture this: a dinner that looks as good as an ink painting, and the chef himself coming to your table to create that painting. That's what my wife and I experienced recently, at Kishin-Tei, the Japanese restaurant at the Grand Paragon Hotel, Johor Bahru.
This table-for-two edible painting has as its ingredients various seafood including scallops, squid, prawns, crabs, mussels and for a limited time in September 2016 only, abalone! This table-for-two is priced at RM138 nett, and includes Japanese green tea, one cup of chawanmushi each, a choice of white or garlic rice, and a dessert thereafter.
One of the most fascinating aspects of Rock & Shell on Table is watching Chef Chua prepare it for us. Firstly, our table was laid with two sheets, the bottom layer being plastic while the top paper. Chef Chua arrived at our table with his assistant. He brought with him a stainless steel bucket which he proceeded to empty before us. Out came all sorts of seafood cooked in a sort of Japanese curry, and along with the seafood, various vegetables such as broccoli, leek and corn on the cob. The crab stood out among the items in its bright vermillion shell. The curry itself splashes over the paper, forming what looked a lot like the map of Singapore. Arrayed in the middle of that "map" is all sorts of seafood.
By default, no fork, spoon or plate are provided - unless you request for them - as you are expected to demolish the map with your hands. But they don't have to be bare hands, for disposable gloves are provided.
Chef Chua preparing to pour out the contents of the stainless steel bucket. (14 September, 2016)
Food painting in progress. (14 September, 2016)
It's a beautiful - and tasty - picture! (14 September, 2016)
Grand Paragon Hotel, Johor Bahru's Director of Sales Chai Lun and Marketing Communications Manager Elaina with our Rock & Shell on Table dinner! (14 September, 2016)
Rock & Shell on Table must certainly rank as one of the most unusual and unforgettable dining experiences I have encountered in Johor Bahru. I convey my thanks to Grand Paragon Hotel, Johor Bahru's Director of Sales Chai Lun and Marketing Communications Manager Elaina Tan for giving me the opportunity to experience it.
Reservations
Rock & Shell on Table is priced at RM138 nett for two. To make a table reservation, contact Kishin-Tei Japanese Restaurant at +607 268 5251. The dinner is available daily from 5:00pm to 11:00pm.
And here I am with the entire restaurant team at Kishin-Tei Japanese Restaurant (14 September, 2016)
Hello and thanks for reading this page. My name is Timothy and my hobby is in describing places so that I can share the information with the general public. My website has become the go to site for a lot of people including students, teachers, journalists, etc. whenever they seek information on places, particularly those in Malaysia and Singapore. I have been doing this since 5 January 2003, for over twenty years already. You can read about me at Discover Timothy. By now I have compiled information on thousands of places, mostly in Peninsular Malaysia and Singapore, and I continue to add more almost every day. My goal is to describe every street in every town in Malaysia and Singapore.