Sorry for the lack of updates as I am feeling under the weather recently. With Chinese New Year just around the corner, is everyone prepared? One of the favorite activities for CNY besides adult gaming is feasting! So if you are looking for a place to feast and gather with your loved ones, here is one great place, Gu Ma Jia 姑妈家私房菜.
Located at Tai Thong Crescent near where the former Jackson Centre Kopitiam was, I have heard many of my friends raved about Gu Ma Jia for serving up quality home-cooked food with lesser oil and no MSG added. I guess it can’t be too bad with so many celebrities visiting the restaurant, right?
Upon entering the restaurant, you will be greeted by the cosy and homely deco. We went after lunch hours on a weekend and the crowd has started to dwindle but each table, I have spotted a table of dishes polished clean. I guess that was another sign of good food awaiting.
For CNY, there are 2 Chinese New Year sets – ‘Peace’ ($599) set and ‘Prosperity’ ($768) set. We started with Sea Cucumber, Crab Meat & Bamboo Fungus from the Prosperity set. Gosh, I am such a sucker for soupy stuff and I tell you this is really good. Not only can you taste the natural sweetness of the ingredients used, I like how the sea cucumbers are thinly shredded for an easier consumption. I thought it is very thoughtful especially for those with elderly dining in.
Another of my favourite, Steam Prawns with Gu Ma’s Home Made Sauce! One of the easiest test of the freshness of any seafood is to steam them! The prawns were really fresh that they are good to be savour on its own. However, there are 2 accompanying dipping sauces too. There is one which is a more garlicky sauce with a slight sweetness and the Belachan chilli which is packed with a punch to send the heat to your tummy!
For those who really know me, I am a “cat” and I am particular with my fish! The Steamed Fish Red Grouper with Soya Sauce was sadly, slightly overcooked (very slightly, most of my dining partners didnt realised it. I was too fussy with my fish la). But it was really fresh and has a really well balanced sauce.
Woohoo~~~ another highlight of the meal – ‘Ginseng Fortune Chicken’ – Double Boiled Chicken, Roasted Pork, Scallops, Sea Cucumber and Fish Maw with Ginseng in a Claypot!!! Just like any great mummy chef would have cooked this dish, packed with all the goodness from the chicken, fish maw, bamboo clams, Yu zhu, Pork belly, Hua Shan, dang gui, ginseng and red dates! It was light on the palette yet rich at the same time. All I can say is the chinese herbs used were really generous and gao gao one!
Broccoli with Macadamia Nuts & Fresh Scallop from the ‘Peace’ set was a very safe dish that noone has any complaints about. While I like the ginger slices and macadamia nuts, J was not a huge fan of anything ginger. But well, she has those fresh and plump scallops to keep her happy!
Steam Lotus Leaves Rice from the ‘Peace’ set was a crowd pleaser with countless small cubes of chicken, mushroom and chinese sausage. Served with some sprinkles of fried scallop n deep fried onion to enhance the whole enjoyment. So much so that I can see my fellow dining partners reaching out for second (or maybe third) helpings!
Ending the meal with a sweet note with Yam Paste with Gingko Nuts! I am not kidding you when I said that Gu Ma Jia is generous with their ingredients used! Look at the amount of ginkgo nuts in that mess of pumpkin, sugar syrup and yam.
The 2 Chinese New Year sets – ‘Peace’ ($599) set and ‘Prosperity’ ($768) set will be available from now to 11 Feb 2017. There is a special Ala-Carte menu which is also available for the festive season, for more details, you can hop on to Gu Ma Jia’s website. Gu Ma Jia is generally very popular among many office crowd in the macpherson area, so do book early to avoid disappointment. The session timings for set menu on actual day of Reunion Dinner, 27th Jan 2017 will be as per follow –
1st session 12pm – 2pm
2nd session 2.15pm – 4.15pm
3rd session 6pm – 7.45pm &
Last session 8pm – 9.45pm
Gu Ma Jia
45 Tai Thong Crescent Senett Estate Singapore 347866.
Tel: +65 6285 2023
Email: sales@gumajia.com.sg
Operating hours: Weekdays 11am – 2.30pm, 5.30pm – 10pm
Weekends and PH: 11am to 10pm
Website
Facebook
Instagram
