JOYFULNESS DINING Eating Through A Dozen Years · A Guest Post By Shirley Tan

Two Pigs, two Rats and a Rabbit sat down to dinner at Joyfulness Dining in KINEX Mall. They decided to each choose a dish from the “Chinese Zodiac Five Elements Lucky Meal” to welcome the Year of the Tiger 🐯  

Restaurant name: Joyfulness Dining by Yuan Cuisine Group

Address: 11 Tanjong Katong Road, #02-38 KINEX Mall, Singapore 437157

Nearest MRT: 10 minutes walk from Paya Lebar station

Tel: 8690 4726

Hours: 10:00am - 10:00pm (opens at 8am on Sat & Sun)

RAT Chicken Soup stewed with Bamboo Fungus and Cordycep Flowers

Uncle Rat 🐀 said, “My choice is ‘Chicken Soup stewed with Bamboo Fungus and Cordycep Flowers’. It’s the perfect way to start off this meal.” Mimi Rat 🐭 squeaked, “From what I understand, soups and watery food are good for Rats as our wuxing 五行 in the Year of the Tiger is ‘water’.”

Ms Piggy 🐷 exclaimed: “The chef has recommended ‘Dry-Fried Tiger Prawns’ for us Pigs as it has the ‘metal’ element. Sounds snout smacking good.” 

RABBIT Flamed-BBQ Chicken

Roger Rabbit 🐰 thumped his lucky tail on the chair and caught everyone’s attention. “The wuxing of the Rabbit is ‘wood’, which can be used to ignite fire. Fire represents vitality and prosperity. While fire can imply foods that are red in colour, it also represents foods which are spicy, barbecued or cooked in a hot pot. Red-coloured foods can also help to reduce fatigue and can help to ward off colds, which enhances self-confidence, willpower and boosts strength. Isn’t it just wonderful that there’s ‘Flamed-BBQ Chicken’ on the Menu? Let’s have this!”

Uncle Rat, Ms Piggy and Roger Rabbit looked at the Mimi Rat and Peppa Pig at the table wondering what they might order. 

DRAGON Chilli Crab

Mimi Rat gave an excited squeak, “I have a sister who’s a Dragon. Her wuxing is ‘earth’, which gives rise to gold. No wonder she is wealthy and leads an enviable life! She loves spicy foods which are slightly sweet, and believe it or not, she loves ‘Chilli Crab’. I’ll order that.” 

Peppa Pig stared and stared at the Menu. “Everything looks so appetising,” he grunted. I just can’t decide…”

Roger Rabbit continued to thump his tail but in a slower tempo, almost like a largo, displaying his growing impatience as he was famished and wanted to eat, which was not possible unless the food order went to the kitchen.  

ROOSTER Stir-Fried Carrot Cake with Beansprouts in XO Sauce

Mimi Rat said to the Peppa Pig. “I’ll decide for you since you can’t. My daughter is a Rooster and I choose the Stir-Fried Carrot Cake with Beansprouts in XO Sauce. I just love radish, potato, taro, sweet potato and ginger, and it so happens that these light-coloured foods are great for the wuxing of the Rooster, which is ‘metal’.”

SNAKE Scallops and Asparagus in XO Sauce

Peppa Pig insisted on ordering a dish himself. “We should order some crunchy asparagus.” He pointed out the “Snake” dish to the patient waiter, who wrote, ‘Scallops and Asparagus in XO Sauce’ on his order form.

“The wuxing of the Snake is ‘fire’ and suitable foods include green vegetables such as asparagus and mung beans. These also contain fibre and vitamins which can help to eliminate toxins from the body,” Peppa Pig boasted knowledgeably. 

HORSE Hong Kong-styled Steamed Fish

One by one, the piping hot dishes were served to symphonic oohs and ahhs. And even before they could finish what they had on the table, Ms Pig remarked that they had not ordered a fish dish. Out came the Menu again, and the “Hong Kong-styled Steamed Fish” was requested for. Ms Pig noted that those born in the Year of the Horse need to join forces with others in order to profit and succeed. Therefore, a combination of ‘water’ and ‘fire’ foods are highly recommended. 

Mimi Rat jumped up from her seat. “It’s the Year of the Tiger that we’re welcoming and celebrating. What’s prowling?”

TIGER Chicken with Chilli Peppers

It turned out that the wuxing of Tiger is ‘wood’ and when wood is ignited to create fire, that is when it represents vitality and life. Red foods which represent fire include peppers, carrots and tomatoes. Red wine can also enhance the spirit of enterprise, enthusiasm and boost fortunes. The “Chicken with Chilli Peppers” turned out perfect.

The round table of Rats, Pigs and Rabbit were guests of the Yuan Cuisine Group, which created the “Chinese Zodiac Five Elements Lucky Meal”. This specially crafted menu is available for lunch and dinner at Joyfulness Dining at KINEX from now till the 15th day of the Lunar New Year, which is 15 February 2022.

Written by Shirley Tan on 25 Jan 2022

Shirley Tan loves to eat. Anything, once. And if it’s worth the calories, she will eat it again. She’s exceptionally careful with wild mushrooms in the forest, though, as she was once told, “You can eat all mushrooms - some, only once.” Shirley dislikes picky eaters as she finds them “no fun”. Introduce her to an adventurous eater and she’s sold - lock, stock and barrel.

Editor's note: Shirley is formerly a journalist with The Straits Times. She was Singapore's first female sports reporter and also covered the crime beat. Shirley played many interesting roles in her exciting career, including acting in the Hong Kong movie Mismatched Couples with Donnie Yen in 1985.