A TASTE OF MACAO AT YUN HOUSE

When Michelin-starred guest chef Anthony Ho of Zi Yat Heen, Four Seasons Macao joins forces with Chef Jimmy Wong of Yun House in Kuala Lumpur, the result is more than a collaborative menu—it’s a culinary dialogue, rich in technique, memory, and homage.

 
Held from 3 to 6 July to mark Yun House’s seventh anniversary, the four-hands menu (RM668 per person) is a study in refinement. A medley of traditional flavours refracted through a modern lens, each dish is carefully composed to honour the past with whispers of the future.

Chef Ho, a son of Hong Kong steeped in two decades of experience, begins with a poetic overture: Fresh Crab Meat with Japanese Pine Needles and Caviar. 

It’s a dish of startling clarity: the delicate sweetness of crab imbued by ephemeral herbaceousness of pine needles juxtaposed against the saline pop of caviar. An ode to the purity of good produce in the confident and deft hands of Ho.

Another masterful composition is his Teochew-style Marinated Mackerel and Chilled Razor Clams, a distillation of the restrained elegance of Teochew banquets. The mackerel, cured just so, sings with refined subtlety, accented by a tiny dollop of fermented bean sauce.

 
Partnering it are slivers of delicious razor clams, served chilled with scallion oil and a glimmer of ice plant. The succulent coolness a seductive textural contrast that delights.

Veteran chef Jimmy Wong, known for his contemporary finesse, responds with an enticingly comforting dish: Braised Fish Maw in Millet Broth with Black Truffle. Simmered for six hours, the broth is deeply nourishing—savoury, complexly flavourful and edged with the aroma of truffle. Each spoonful is a revelation; the gelatinous fish maw and tiny orbs of millet speak of the chef’s time-honoured and masterful techniques.

Ho’s unforgettable Wok-fried Lobster with Dried Shallots and Macanese Black Olives is a conversation-stopper. Here, the brininess of the olives—brought in specially from Macao—mingles with the sweetness of shellfish in a lush umami crescendo.

The Stuffed Chicken Wing with Foie Gras, Abalone and Glutinous Rice is at once nostalgic and daring. Channelling the spirit of classic banquet dishes, the stuffing of foie gras melded with sticky rice adds richness, depth and a touch of indulgence. The luxurious chew of abalone elevates the mosaic of texture.

 
Dessert arrives in two thoughtful creations. First, a Chilled Pumpkin Soup with Nostoc Pearls—a soothing, lightly sweet elixir, its texture lifted by the surprising presence of nostoc, a rare cyanobacteria prized in traditional Chinese medicine. Rich in protein and Vitamin C, this anti-oxidant and anti-inflammatory element casts the dessert broth in new light.

 

The final flourish: a golden and delicate Baked Egg Tart with Bird’s Nest and Saffron highlights saffron-scented custard with a topping of bird’s nest. It’s a befitting dessert exuding a sense of luxury without excess, a final flourish paying homage to a splendid set menu composed with world-class skills and a wealth of experience.

For reservations, please call Yun House, Four Seasons Hotel KL, tel: 03 2382 8602 or email: diningreservations.kualalumpur@fourseasons.com

ATLANTIS DIVES INTO FEASTS FOR GENERATIONS

Designed to serve a familial clan of up to 20 persons, the Generation of Jubilation set menu (RM4,388++) by Atlantis Seafood Restaurant & Bar is more than a lavish banquet — it’s a celebration of legacy, family bonds and specialities that balances between tradition and indulgence.

 

The opening salvo of Forever Grateful Platter featuring a quartet of starters: Deep Fried Lychee Shrimp Balls, Salt & Pepper Abalone, Crispy Scallops with Wasabi and Mayonnaise, and Braised Fish Roe Prosperity Bag, is richly infused with symbolism.  

Coated in puffed rice crisps, the lychee-shaped shrimp balls deliver a satisfying crunch with subtle sweetness, playing on contrasts of texture and flavour. Ebikko and wasabi mayo lend the Crispy Scallop a lightly creamy touch with the fresh punchy spiciness of wasabi.

Translucent, eggy sauce enhances the Braised Fish Roe Prosperity Bag – a beancurd skin pouch stuffed with fish roe-accented fish paste shines the light on subtler tastes and delicate textures. Sheathed in deep-fried batter, the Salt and Pepper Abalone teases the tastebuds with its toothsome texture and mildly briny nuance.

A soulful clear broth packed with meaty chicken, chicken feet, cep mushroom and the ethically controversial shark’s fin in the Double Boiled Chicken Soup with Shark’s Fin underscores the menu’s adherence to classic banquet fare. A dish to evoke nostalgia and the weight of old-school tradition.

Choi poh or preserved radish adds comfortingly earthy depth to Steamed Soon Hock with Preserved Radish. 

Steamed to just right doneness, the dish is a masterclass in Cantonese technique. Dried shrimp and chopped bird’s eye chillies dial up the flavour dimension further.

Rich and decadent, the Baked Canadian Oyster with Black Truffle and Cheese should appeal to the young and young-at-heart.

The Double-Delight Crispy Chicken lives up to its name with chicken prepared two ways: deep-fried bite-size chicken coated with mayo, and well-rendered chicken skin stuffed with prawn-fish paste and almond flakes.

 

Whilst the former is underwhelming for me, the latter – a mainstay from yesteryear banquet – wins the day. Special mention must be made of the accompanying pickled cherry; the tangy-salty-sweetness is marvellous for alleviating any cloying richness.

More Cantonese influences appear in the Stir-Fried Australian Scallops with Truffle and Mixed Vegetables, highlighting a refreshing balance of clear, distinct accents to the overall meal.

 

For a hearty finale, the Longevity Egg Noodles with Three Shredded Meats offer is a perennial trans-generational favourite. Loaded with beansprouts, shredded chicken and mushroom, the saucy noodles will leave everyone replete.

 

Dessert to sweeten the occasion consists of cool, gelatinous, and subtly sweet Double-Boiled Hasma with Peach Gum and Red Dates, paired with fluffy soft Longevity Peach Buns—a nod to good health and long life. Perfect for rounding off the meal with such splendid treats.

Overall, the Generation of Jubilation is a well-crafted menu that is cohesive and celebratory—perfect for marking milestones with loved ones.

Guests who pre-book the two set menus: Generation of Jubilation (RM4,388++ for 20 persons) and Generation of Joy (RM1,788++ for 10 persons; RM1,248++ for 6 persons) will receive a complimentary family portrait to commemorate the occasion.

Exclusive for Jom Makan Life readers: Quote MD02 to enjoy 5% off the Parents' Day menus with your reservations at Atlantis.

For reservations at Atlantis Seafood Restaurant & Bar, please contact: 011-2888 1544. Address: Ground Floor, Life Centre, Jalan Sultan Ismail, Kuala Lumpur.

A TIMELESS CULINARY JOURNEY AT SHANG PALACE

In tribute to Shang Palace’s four decades as a pillar of Cantonese fine dining in Kuala Lumpur, Executive Chinese Chef Keith Yeap has unveiled a special à la carte anniversary menu — paying homage to tradition, heritage, and the artistry of time-honoured flavours.

 
Since opening its doors on April 20, 1985, Shang Palace has been a bastion of refined Chinese gastronomy. With its intricately carved wooden doors, opulent carpets underfoot, and plush interiors evoking the grandeur of an imperial court, the restaurant continues to draw the city’s elite — from captains of industry to elegant society ladies.

 
Showcasing classic Cantonese dishes through Yeap’s techniques and know-how, the “Timeless Journey” menu brings diners on a nostalgic culinary trip, harking back to the 1980s interspersed with the chef’s contemporary touches.

 
The opening salvo of Shunde-style Shredded Fish Broth, a nod to the culinary prowess of Guangdong’s Shunde region, proffers silky hand-shredded fish in a creamy-white fish bone broth.

Accented with earthy black fungus, enoki mushrooms, luffa gourd, and the whisper of dried tangerine peel, the inherently sweet broth is a soulful curtain-raiser.

A showstopper brimming with delicate sweetness is Qilin-style Steamed Live Grouper. Doused in aromatic soy sauce and fried shallot oil, the tender grouper is uplifted by the punchy accents of ginger, spring onion, and coriander. Black mushrooms and carved carrot slices lend textural depth and finesse to the dish.

 
Crisp on the outside and springy to the bite within, the Golden Almond-Crusted Stuffed Crab Claws make for delightful mouthfuls. With toasted almond flakes adding nutty crunchiness, this dish proves to be a unanimous crowd-pleaser.

 
A sumptuous blend of shrimp, chicken, and salted duck egg yolk formed into oversized meatballs make the Braised Lion’s Head Meatballs with Crab Roe in Yellow Sauce an indulgent yet comforting speciality. We love how the golden crab roe sauce seduces our palate with its umami lushness.

The Ocean Harvest Hotpot, simmered with clams, crab, and chicken, delivers soul-nourishing depth. Ginger and scallion infuse the seafood and poultry with fragrant warmth — that tasty savoury broth begs to be relished with white rice.

Perfumed with the signature earthy aroma of lotus leaves, each Lotus-Wrapped Steamed Beef Cake whets the appetite at first bite. Imagine savouring tender minced beef punctuated by crunchy sweet water chestnuts and aromatic dried tangerine peel – it’s a flavoursome party in your mouth.

Chef’s vast experience is underscored by his creation of Stir-fried Canadian Wild Black Rice and White Rice. Every grain comes imbued with superb wok hei and further nuanced with a medley of nutty, chewy, and crisp textures from the inclusion of shrimps, edamame, and corn kernels.

No Cantonese meal is complete without dessert, and the chef’s choice of Ma Lai Go (steamed brown sugar sponge cake) and Peony Blossom Pastry are just the treats to conclude the culinary journey.

Spongy soft with a mildly caramelised sweetness, the Chinese cake is ethereally light. Meanwhile, the Peony Blossom Pastry is a visual and culinary delight: delicate layers of flaky pastry shaped into a vibrant pink and yellow blossom, cradling a rich lotus seed paste at its core.

 
Shang Palace’s 40th anniversary menu is more than just a celebration — it’s a reverent journey through the legacy of Cantonese cuisine, lovingly preserved and artfully reimagined.

 

For dining reservations and inquiries, please contact Shang Palace, Shangri-La KL, tel: +603 2786 2378 or email: 
dining.kl@shangri-la.com