Celebrity Chef Wan Returns To Present Authentic Malaysian Palace Cuisine

Taste heritage recipes from the different royal states of Malaysia, namely Ayam Percik Kelantan, Kuzi Kambing Johor, Rendang Udang Galah and Laksa Johor. A flavor of Malaysia truly suitable for royalty is heading to Singapore when Malaysian Celebrity Chef Wan makes a comeback this March.

Chef Wan will be collaborating with Ginger at PARKROYAL on Beach Road to offer the best of Malaysia’s Palace Cuisine, presented in an unique showcase across four dishes, exclusively for Ramadan. Featuring heritage recipes from the various sultanates, Chef Wan will also be paying homage to his grandma with a rendition of her Kerabu Mee Hoon Nyonya.

With Chef Wan’s first return to Singapore after five years, he has brought with him royal dishes that are not widely accessible in Singapore that will be available from 5 March to 23 April 2023 that will guarantee consumers a genuine flavor of Malay aristocracy that is usually served in palaces. On March 12, 2023 from 2.30pm to 4.30pm, there will also be a meet and greet cum live cooking demonstration for his admirers to share original cooking secrets. Tickets ($168 per person) can be purchased at https://eshop-prsin.panpacific.com/products/chefwanvip.

From the Northern state of Kelantan, the Ayam Percik Kelantan brings a punchy chicken dish first simmered in a potent spiced gravy of coconut milk, red chillis, shallot, garlic, ginger tumeric. The unique taste is derived from the combination of the local spices (lemongrass, turmeric, etc. ) plus loads of coconut cream.

After 30 minutes of simmering, the chicken is removed and oven-grilled for a smoky char, kept moist with continuous careful basting. The dish was fragrant and had an added aroma to it. The ayam was tender and flavourful which allowed the savouriness of the dish. It’s a burst of umami flavour at first, and then there was a taste the combined hint of galangal, ginger and lemongrass at the end. 

Traveling down to the southernmost point of Johor’s peninsula, you’ll find the Kuzi Kambing Johor, a dish made by cooking mutton with a blend of over 20 ingredients, including mixed spices, ghee, and tomato purée. To ensure maximum flavor, the paste is first stir-fried in a wok before the mutton and tomato purée are added and cooked on low heat.

As the mixture reduces, yogurt is added to provide a touch of sweetness and sourness, and the resulting dish is then served in hearty bowls, garnished with crispy fried shallots and kaffir lime leaves. This dish was perfectly seasoned with no gamey taste towards the mutton which is a dish that is hard to master for sure.

Laksa Johor, a famous dish from Johor, is made by carefully boiling dried prawns, coconut cream, desiccated coconut, finely minced prawns, galangal, mackerel fillet, asam gelugur, shallots, and garlic. Toppings of julienned cucumber, Vietnamese mint, bean sprouts, onions, long beans, and fresh mint leaves provide a sweet crunch, while a squeeze of kalamansi lime adds a tangy contrast to the richness of the coconut cream and milk.

The laksa has a burst of umami flavour from the prawn paste which gave the dish a savoury flavour along with the creaminess of the soup itself. However one personal drawback for me at least was that the dish isnt spicy therefore it is definitely suitable for those that dont take spice.

The dish called Kerabu Meehoon Nyonya, which is a rice vermicelli salad that Chef Wan learned how to make from his late grandmother is characterized by a tart and spicy flavor, which comes from the use of sambal belacan, fish sauce, fresh prawns, dried shrimp, and fresh tomatoes.

Overall, the dish is a tribute to Chef Wan’s late grandmother and showcases the bold and complex flavours of Nyonya cuisine. The dish was definitely unique as it was cold yet refreshing. It was packed with herbs and fragrance that I would personally recommend everyone to try.

Available at PARKROYAL on Beach Road at Ginger, taste these delightful dishes during the Ramadan Festive Lunch and Dinner Buffet (adult from $55; child from $27.50) that features a myriad of cuisine from diverse ethnicities and food cultures in Singapore. Expect explosive and authentic flavours with a focus on traditional Malay flavours specially for the occasion and check out the full menu here: at-ginger-2023.html