Export-grade live eels from China took centrestage at
Tien restaurant, prepared in four different ways as part of the month-long ‘Flavours
of Suria’ dining
experiences at Suria KLCC mall recently.
In keeping with its "Always Something New” tagline, Suria KLCC invited local media members to hands-on workshops and exclusive tastings at tenant restaurants: Din, Fuel Shack, Cili Kampung, TGI Fridays, Imperial Chakri Palace and Tien.
We
sampled a special seasonal menu of fresh Chinese eels at Tien by Putien, where four
distinctive eel dishes were served. Flown-in from Guangzhou, we learned the eels are also exported to Japan. 
Fed
with codfish powder, the eels are raised in open-air, clean water ponds. Putien uses 70 cm long eels weighing 600-800g each as they are fleshier with better bite. It’s
the second year Tien is promoting these eels and the promotional offerings will
be available until end October.
Our lunch began with Fresh Eel Cooked in Spring Water.
It only took about ten minutes to cook the eel in spring water with spring
onion, goji berries and ginger. Once done, we tasted the eel chunks which were
surprisingly chewy. Its natural clear sweetness was notable when we tasted the
broth and meat.
Rich, savoury soybean sauce produced in the city of
Puning was instrumental in the preparation of Baked Eel with Puning Bean Sauce.
Stir-fried with garlic, ginger and onion, the delicately sweet eel chunks were
superbly flavourful thanks to the beany sauce and aromatics. Not surprising it
was the most popular dish last year with Tien diners.
Although the generous amount of garlic was welcomed, a
lesser amount of Yangjiang soybean sauce for the Steamed Eel in Garlic and Soy
Bean Sauce would have been great. But that’s my own preference as others may like
how the chef prepped it.
Sichuan peppercorns, dried chillies, garlic and ginger
bestowed this year’s new Spicy Pan-fried Eel with some tongue-tingling ‘ma la’
power and spicy heat. This was another crowd favourite as most of us enjoyed
the dish’s robust chilli-hotness.
All the eel dishes are priced at RM138 for a regular
portion and will be available until end October.
For reservations at Tien by Putien, call tel: 03 2181 2839. Address: Lot
434, 4th Floor, Suria KLCC, Kuala Lumpur City Centre. For more information on Suria KLCC mall, visit www.suriaklcc.com.my
or www.facebook.com/SuriaKLCCMall.
