Kum Tong
The Parents went home today (awwwww!). Each time they visit, it goes smoother and smoother. I’ve stopped reverting into a sullen teenager (can’t say the same of my Bro though… ahem…) and they give me less lectures… err advice. We must all be mellowing with age! In fact, I don’t think I was snappy at them at all this time, and I only received one lecture. Maybe two if you count the advice on eating more fish – they bought us two humongous jars of omega-3 supplements because they were concerned about our fish intake! Rather random, but sweet.
When mum and dad were still here, we went out to dinner on Mother’s Day. It’s not normally a day we celebrate, being a meaningless commercial invention and all that, but my parents booked it, so off we went.
Mum and dad had seen an ad in a Chinese newspaper for a set menu with crab at Kum Tong. There were different set menus – one for four people, one for six people, and one for ten people. There were five of us, so we paid extra for an additional person and choose the four person menu. Unfortunately we didn’t seem to receive extra food, apart from oysters and rice. Mum and dad complained but didn’t get anywhere.
We started with a thick clear soup, with scallops, shitake mushrooms and bamboo shoots.
Next were steamed oysters. Everyone received two – one topped with black bean, and the other with a kind of spicy oil. I thought the black bean overpowered the oysters, and found the spicy one more enjoyable. I do prefer my oysters plain though.
After that – CRAB! It was stir fried with spring onions and XO sauce, and sitting on a bed of noodles. The crab was difficult to get out of the shell – I think it needed a bit more cooking time. We made a terrible mess of the table pulling the crab apart.
After the crab came a plate of Chinese vegetables – I think gai lan / Chinese broccoli. I like this vegetable, it has slightly bitter leaves and a sweeter stem. The stem is my favourite part.
A plate of poached white cut chicken came out at the same time. The chicken was really good – very tender and smooth.
Steamed fish is not that hard – and it was good.
A bowl of tong shui (sweet soup). This was red bean and sago (although you can’t see the red beans, they were hidden at the bottom). It was sweeter than I would make, but I enjoyed it. Ignore the messy table.
And we finished with some fruit – some rather sour oranges and better grapes.
Kum Tong didn’t receive the parental seal of approval (the bar is very high) so probably wasn’t worth the trip across town. At least it was a place of their choosing!
Kum Tong
19-21 Andersons Creek Road,
Doncaster East
Phone: 03 9841 8688
May 25, 2009 @ 11:33 am
holy moly! look at that crab. It look’s huge and extremely tasty too. I see what you mean by making a mess of the table, especially in the photo of the sago soup!
May 25, 2009 @ 8:11 pm
goodness me – that looks like such an amazing meal ag! nom nom nom!
May 27, 2009 @ 9:41 am
Maria – oh gosh, you should’ve seen the whole table. We couldn’t have made more of a mess if we had tried!
Hi Jaye! Thanks chickie, it wasn’t too bad, even though it didn’t get parental approval. 😉
June 1, 2009 @ 5:21 pm
Ha, sounds like one of my family dinner get togethers.
Hmm, almost down with the orders to a match.
June 4, 2009 @ 2:56 pm
Do you mind me asking how much the set menu with the crab is? The Chinese restaurant banquets normally represent value for money!
I heard that there was a place in Box Hill offering good quality crab for only $14 a pound, but unfortunately the offer finished before I could try it myself!
June 4, 2009 @ 10:41 pm
Jess – gotta love Chinese families!
Rilsta – I wish I could tell you, but mum and dad paid so I have no idea… (What terrible kids we are!)
May 8, 2010 @ 9:09 pm
Hi all i went to kum tong's tonight for an early mothers day meal. my verdict? stay away! they were unfriendly, rude (waitresses walking away mid sentences), they basically looked like they couldnt be bothered. the complimentary soup and dessert didn't come and the response from the was 'it wasn't ready'. but looking around the restaurant everyone one else was having it.
on their website it mentions that the hostess is 'charming'. that is a load of crock! she didn't even lookup from the cash register to greet us. there was eight of us on our table and we all felt the same after leaving the place.
if the food was even remotely ok, i would put up bad service but that too didn't pass the test. if you are happy to have an evening ruined by rude service and bad food, go to kum tong in doncaster.