New Thai specialist chef at Amari Johor Bahru

Jakranee Kalapen, also known as Chef Jackie, joins the ONYX Hospitality Group’s Amari Johor Bahru as its new Thai Specialist Chef this month. Chef Jackie, who specialises in authentic Thai street food, prepares her menu with fresh ingredients, highlighting the intense and robust flavours that Thais enjoy.

Thai food lovers can now whet their appetites with her signature dishes including the ‘Massaman Curry’ (a rich, flavourful, and mildly spicy Thai curry), ‘Yam Nue Yang’ (Thai grilled beef salad paired with custom-made spicy chili dressing), ‘Tom Yam Goong’ (Thai seafood broth served with fresh lemongrass prawns) and Thai Lime and Garlic Steamed Fish.

Other must-try dishes are ‘Tom Kha Gai’ (Thai coconut chicken soup), Spicy Beef Soup, Banana Filters with Thai Tea Ice Cream and the ‘Bua Loy Sam Si’ (3-Colour Dumpling in Coconut Milk).

A graduate of Dusit Thani College, Chef Jackie has a passion for Thai cuisine and has worked with the Dusit Thani Hospitality Group, one of the most prestigious five-star hotel groups in Thailand and the United Arab Emirates. She had previously worked at Shangri-la Oman and Four Seasons Qatar before joining Amari Johor Bahru.

“Amari Johor Bahru’s culture that celebrates contemporary Thai-ness, food, local culture, has very much inspire my menu for Amaya Food Gallery. It is my desire to transport our guests to the Land of Smiles through my food by delighting every taste bud” Chef Jakranee Kalapen says of her appointment.

Amaya Food Gallery at Amari Johor Bahru is an energetic market-style all-day restaurant, chefs work in multiple open-kitchens and experience the vibrant flavours of Asian and international cuisine inspired by the rich street food culture of the region. The extensive menu features a variety of well-loved dishes from Thai, Malay, Chinese, Indian and international cuisines. 

Andrew Tan, General Manager of Amari Johor Bahru, the city centre’s sole 5-star hotel says, “With Chef Jackie’s extensive experience working in international upscale hotel restaurants and her proficiency in Thai food and classic Thai cuisine preparation, Amari Johor Bahru will bring an authentic, delightful Thai experience to guests. Through a table of exquisite dishes, we hope to live up to our hotel’s tagline – to Brighten Your World”