Showing posts with label black sesame seeds. Show all posts
Showing posts with label black sesame seeds. Show all posts

Thursday, September 02, 2021

CELESTIAL TREASURES FROM EQ KUALA LUMPUR

As far as I’m concerned, old is still gold when it comes to mooncakes. While the local Mid-Autumn Festival market is fixated on packaging, the sweet-toothed glutton in me reckon the traditional speciality should taste as good, if not better than an impressive-looking box.


Hence, I was pleased as punch when the Pure Lotus Double Yolk mooncake from EQ Kuala Lumpur ticked all the right boxes at first bite. Not only did the lotus paste boast a nice ‘oily’ sheen, but the slightly sweet floral scent of lotus seed paste was discernible. The sweetness was to my personal liking too, offset by the savouriness of salted egg yolks.


It’s one of the four traditional baked mooncakes under EQ’s Celestial Treasures collection priced at RM188 per box of 4 (180g each). Crafted by EQ’s mooncake master, Chef Lai Wee Hong, the Low Sugar White Lotus Single Yolk followed a similar palate-pleasing approach.

The Traditional Cantonese Mixed Nuts is a bound to make people who are partial to nuts go nutty. Amidst the tasty mouthfuls of walnuts, almonds, sesame seeds and melon seeds, I detected hints of kaffir lime leaf, five spice powder and candied citrus peel.


Sweet and savoury came into play again in the EQ Signature Pearl of Harmony mooncake. Cut in half, the baked mooncake with black sesame paste, mung bean paste and salted egg yolk resembled a full moon aglow against a night sky. The black sesame’s delicate nutty sweetness is balanced by the salted egg yolk’s rich savouriness.  


My set of Celestial Treasures came in a specially designed Autumn Box; drawing inspiration from the Mid-Autumn season itself. Boasting natural elements and shades of coral of the autumn season to represent the warmth of a family reunion, the Autumn Box can be repurposed into a keepsake or jewellery box.


Inspired by the Legend of the Jade Rabbit, the Longevity Box features a Jade Rabbit silhouette – a symbol of longevity – in vibrant blue, symbolising optimism, serenity, and health.

EQ also offers Snowskin Skin Mooncakes at RM228 for a set of 6 pcs (80g each).


For more information, please WhatsApp EQ Kuala Lumpur: +60 12 278 9239 or email: dineateqkl@kul.equatorial.com

Thursday, August 02, 2018

NEW DIM SUM & MOONCAKE GALORE FROM LE MEI



Prawns star at Le Mei's latest dim sum showcase as the chef's mainstay ingredient of choice since Le Mei is a halal eatery. The crustaceans' fresh sweetness and QQ springiness are evident at first bite when we sample new, stellar servings of Deep-fried Golden Almond coated Prawn Balls with Parmesan, Steamed Fresh Shrimp with Spinach Dumplings and Steamed Shrimp Dumplings with Black Pepper-seared Foie Gras.

Tiny baby abalones perch atop Steamed Scallop & Prawn Dumplings evoke a touch of luxe whilst chopped asparagus lend some crunch to the Sunday Dim Sum Buffet. These words are music to the ears, mouths and stomachs of every food-crazy Malaysians, record-breaking obesity figures be damned.
At Le Mei Chinese restaurant at Le Meridien Putrajaya, sensible diners are susceptible to gluttony on Sundays at the Dim Sum Buffet from 11 am to 2.30 pm. At RM138 nett per adult and RM69 nett per kid, Dim Sum Chef Yau Fong Peng and his team will roll out their arsenal of dainty morsels for diners to have their fill.

Inspired by the saying ‘once you go black, you’d never go back’, the unique Squid Ink Dumplings with Sea Urchin has distinct allure thanks to its uncommon jet-black, mildly chewy dumpling skin and the inclusion of sea urchin — an ingredient rarely used in dim sum-making but is beginning to wend its way into Chinese cuisine.
As with any Dim Sum Chef worth his salt, Chef Yau ensures his dim sum du jour teases and tickles the tastebuds with myriad textural combinations: ranging from the crisp and crunchy to unctuous-gelatinous alongside a varying palette of light, clear flavours contrasting with heavier deep-fried and baked variants.
 
Renditions of the abovementioned traits are found in Green Pea Phoenix Shrimp with Ebiko, Crispy Dried Cod with Fresh Prawns, and Black Sesame tipped ‘Cigar’ Rolls with Prawn & Fish Paste. Happily, we find the offerings on-point and tasty eaten on their own or dipped into the ubiquitous sweet bean paste or chilli sauce.
 
Giving diners more bang for their bucks, the supporting cast of delectable offerings includes Braised Fish Maw with Crab Meat Soup, Sautéed Asparagus with Prawns in XO Sauce and Stir-fried Noodles with Shredded Chicken in Supreme Soya Sauce.
Sweet ending comes in the form of Chilled Mango Purée with Vanilla Ice Cream, Pomelo and Sago.
Le Mei’s Dim Sum Buffer is available on Sundays from 11am to 2.30pm, while regular dim sum à la carte is served on weekdays from 12.30pm to 2.30pm.

EIGHT VARIETIES LEND SHINE TO MID-AUTUMN FEST

 

Dim Sum Chef Yau Fong Peng and his team will also have their hands full, preparing for an onslaught of mooncake orders for the upcoming Mid-Autumn Festival in September.

Handcrafted for sale from July 28 to September 24, this year will see the signature debut of Coffee and Raisin Mini Snowskin, made fresh daily. The coffee accent is subtle enough to make its presence felt, punctuated by the fruity sweetness of raisins.
 
Last year’s runaway best-seller, Premium Durian Mini Snowskin, makes a comeback whilst other fruity mooncake flavours include Jackfruit and Mango Mini Snowskin.
 
High protein flour, peanut oil, golden syrup, soda bicarbonate and alkaline water form the key ingredients for the baked mooncake skin. We had a first-hand look at how the confection was made and came away with greater appreciation for the efforts involved.
 
Green Tea with Cheese and Cashewnuts is the most inventive variant we sampled. Purists will like classic versions such as Assorted Fruits and Nuts or White Lotus Paste with Single Yolk and Melon Seeds.
 
 
New twists to old staples result in Pandan Lotus Paste with Hazelnut Mooncakes, White Lotus Paste with Walnuts and Black Sesame. In line with today’s healthier consumer demands, the mooncakes are less cloyingly sweet without sacrificing its lush rich taste.
 
Priced from RM18 upwards, the mooncakes can be purchased in an auspicious red gift box of four. Le Mei offers 20% discount to credit card holders of Maybank, Citibank, CIMB, Hong Leong Bank, HSBC and UOB.

For reservations at Le Mei, call tel: 03-8689 6888. Address: Lobby Level, Le Meridien Putrajaya. Website: www.lemeridien.com

Sunday, September 17, 2017

ONCE IN A BLUE MOONCAKE FROM DORSETT



 
Once in a blue moon, something emerges to catch our attention for major festivals like the Mid-Autumn Festival. This year, bunga telang or blue pea flower extract is the star ingredient chosen by Chef Alex Chan of The Emperor Chinese Restaurant, Dorsett Grand Subang for his handcrafted mooncakes.

 
The natural floral extract gives the Crystal Skin Pandan Lotus Paste with Single Yolk mooncake that distinctive Dorsett blue. Available until 4 October, you can buy the halal mooncakes in boxes of 2 or 4 pieces. 

In line with current health conscious times, the lotus paste is not overly sweet and just a small wedge or two of a well-made mooncake should be amply satisfying. Dorsett Grand Subang also has 3 new baked mooncakes to offer: Six Coarse Grains Paste, Coconut Pandan Paste with Single Yolk and Green Tea Paste with Single Yolk for those who want something inventive yet familiar in taste.


Walnuts, melon and pumpkin seeds, rolled oats, black sesame seeds and sunflower kernels packed healthy crunch into the Six Coarse Grains Paste mooncake. Again, the confection is less sweet on the palate and rich in Omega 3 from all those nuts and seeds.

Fragrant pandan leaves and the inherent sweetness of coconut combined to create the unique Coconut Pandan Paste mooncake. Locals will find great appeal from the enticing pandan aroma and lush coconut creaminess when they bit the festive treat.

Green tea paste is rather common in modern mooncakes but nobody would complain since green tea is a much vaunted antioxidant and high in Vitamin C. We loved the mild astringent tea aftertaste of this mooncake paste.

More trad versions such as salted egg yolks embedded in low sugar white lotus paste are also available alongside red bean paste and pandan lotus paste. 

The mooncakes come in a pretty Dorsett blue and matt gold box adorned with whimsical motifs. Prices start from RM27 per piece onwards depending on your choice of mooncake flavours. 

For information, call tel: 03 5031 6060 x 1954. Besides Dorsett Grand Subang, you can buy them from Dorsett Kuala Lumpur, Dorsett Putrajaya, Silka Maytower KL and Silka Cheras KL.

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