Special thanks to The Chambers & Burmah 108 for extending this food review invitation.
Update: This business has ceased its operations.
The Chambers is a hotel-cum-restaurant at the Chinese Chamber Of Commerce, a heritage building at the corner of Light Street (Lebuh Light) and Penang Street (Lebuh Penang). The restaurant is located on Level 2, above Constant Gardener Coffee.
On 27 and 28 May 2016, The Chambers is holding special dinner services in partnership with Burmah 108, a Penang-based events company. In conjunction with the Czech Castles exhibition at The Star Pitt Street, the restaurant is hosting Chef Jan Michálek from Prague. Taking helm as the Executive Chef of Pec pod Sněžkou ski resort and with 30 years of culinary experience, Chef Michálek will be working with The Chamber’s resident Chef Joseph Ooi to serve authentic Czech cuisine.
Located at the cultural crossroads of Eastern Europe, Czech cuisine shares many characteristics with those of neighboring regions like Austrian, Hungarian and Bavarian. Wheat and potatoes are staple crops in the Czech Republic, while pork enjoys widespread popularity. Chicken and beef are common too, but seafood is relatively rare as Czech Republic is a landlocked country. The nation faces cool summers and harsh winters. As a result, serving sizes tend to be large in order to keep the body warm.
On both days, dinner is served in semi-buffet setting. Diners may choose from one of the four main courses. Meanwhile, the buffet line provides free flow of Czech appetizers and desserts.
Starters (buffet):
– Bramborová Polévka (Potato Soup)
– Šunkový Kornoutek S Křenovým Krémem (Ham Roll With Horseradish Cream)
– Salát Z Červené Řepy A Modrého Sýra (Salad Of Beetroot & Blue Cheese)
– Drůbeží Játra Na Červeném Víně (Chicken Liver With Red Wine)
– Filet Z Uzeného Lososa S Jemnou Koprovou Majonézou A Sušenými Meruňkami (Fillet Of Smoked Salmon Trout With Delicate Dill Mayonnaise & Dried Apricots)
Choice of main course (cooked to order):
– Svíčková Na Smetaně A Šunkou Knedlíky (Roasted Sirloin With Vegetable Cream Sauce & Ham Dumplings)
– Kuře Pečené Po Česku (Czech-Style Roasted Chicken)
– Jehněčí Ragů (Lamb Ragout)
– Pečený Mořský Kanic Na Smetanovém Krupotu S Mladým Chřestem, Špenátem A Majoránkovou Mléčnou Pěnou (Baked Grouper On Creamy Goat With Young Asparagus, Spinach & Marjoram Milk Spume)
Dessert (buffet):
– Jahodové Gazpacho (Strawberry Gazpacho)
– Skořicový Krém S Jablky (Cinnamon Cream With Apples)
– Mramorová Bábovka S Vanilkovým Krémem A Vlašskými Ořechy (Marble Cake With Vanilla Cream & Walnuts)
Despite having an unassuming name, Bramborová Polévka (Potato Soup) is a unique delicacy in its own right. Made from potatoes and carrots, the soup is well-flavored with a special blend of herbs such as cumin, dill, parsley and marjoram.
Also included are mushrooms which Chef Michálek personally brought from his home country. Overall, the soup is very satisfying and not surfeiting as one might expect from potato’s starchiness.
Šunkový Kornoutek S Křenovým Krémem (Ham Roll With Horseradish Cream) is another appetizer on the buffet spread. Rolls of delectable pork ham are filled with creamy horseradish emulsion. With cooling mint-like freshness, horseradish tantalizes the taste buds and works harmoniously with meaty flavor of ham.
Svíčková Na Smetaně A Šunkou Knedlíky (Roasted Sirloin With Vegetable Cream Sauce & Ham Dumplings) is one of the most popular dishes in Czech cuisine. Top grade sirloin is prepared with carrots and black pepper, seared lightly, and then boiled with cream.
Meanwhile, the very same meat juice is used to prepare the vegetable cream sauce. Made from carrots, parsley, celery and cream, the gravy is infused with flavorful spices such as cumin, leek, garlic and mustard. The result is similar in appearance to Hollandaise sauce, but this creamy sauce is immensely savory due to the presence of meat stock.
This (colloquial) national dish is typically served with houskové knedlíky (bread dumplings). The steamed dumplings are made from special flour with consistency between wheat and semolina. While today’s dumplings are made from bread, the actual dinners will feature šunkou knedlíky that are in closer resemblance to meat loaves. On the side of this dish are whipped cream, cranberry compote and a slice of lemon.
The 2-day dinner event is priced at RM138.00++ per person. Served from 6:30pm to 10:00pm, each semi-buffet session includes coffee and tea. While The Chambers has a reasonable selection of house wines, guests are allowed to bring their own wines, subjected to corkage of RM30.00++ per bottle. Deposit of 50% is required to secure a seat for this event.
Name: The Chambers
Address: 2, Lebuh Light, 10200 George Town, Pulau Pinang
Contact: 04-262-5568
Business hours: 11:00am-3:00pm, 6:00pm-10:30pm
Website: http://www.thechambers.com.my
Coordinates: 5.42003 N, 100.34178 E
Directions: From Jubilee Clock Tower, travel along Light Street (Lebuh Light) with the Penang State Assembly Building (Bangunan Dewan Undangan Negeri) on the left and Fort Cornwallis (Kota Cornwallis) on the right. After Hong Leong Bank on the left, the next block is Penang Chinese Chamber Of Commerce Building. The Chambers is located at Level 2 of this block. Street parking is available along Penang Street (Lebuh Penang) and King Street (Lebuh King).
