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