Showing posts with label festive. Show all posts
Showing posts with label festive. Show all posts

Thursday, January 23, 2025

CNY SHOWCASE OF KL’S CHINATOWN BEST HERITAGE FOOD


Speciality dishes and delicacies from 18 of Kuala Lumpur’s Chinatown famed restaurants, bakeries and street food vendors take centrestage at the ‘Jom Celebrate Reunion Dinner, Chinatown KL 2025’ initiative this year.

 
Only four tables of 10 persons will be available from 25 January to 16 February (except 29-31 January), to cater for the customary family reunion meal, and subsequently for Chinese New Year dinner from 7 pm onwards nightly.


Scheduled to be held at the original premise of Seong Ying Chai, a ‘lou chiu pai’– an established bakery since 1935 – behind Jalan Sultan, KL, the *festive dinner commences with Golden Pear Yu Sheng from Westlake restaurant as the auspicious curtain-raiser.
 
Assorted ingredients: fried yam strips, colourful pickles, freshly shredded pear and vegetables, pomelo sacs, candied peel, toasted sesame seeds and ground nuts evoked that cherished nostalgic taste, pulled together by a tart-sweetish plum sauce.

Leonard Lee, manager of Seong Ying Chai, informed us ‘ma chao’ chicken is the poultry of choice for Kam Kee’s Hainanese Steamed Kampung Chicken. Served with house concocted chilli and ginger sauces, the scrumptious offering enticed us to return for additional helpings thanks to its bright yellow skin and splendidly tender texture.


A bowl of downhome Fish Paste and Malabar Spinach Soup from Sai Kee left us gushing over its clear broth brimming with handmade fish balls, Malabar spinach and clumps of ‘egg drop’.




A culinary stalwart in Chinatown, Sze Ngan Chye has drawn legions of customers as long as I can recall. Hence it's only befitting Sze Ngan Chye’s Signature Salted Duck is slotted into the menu. Dipped into savoury bean sauce, the duck’s slight gaminess added to its allure.


Topped with freshly chopped coriander, the on-point doneness of Han Kee’s slippery smooth and soft Steamed Fresh Fish (patin) augmented by house-made with soy sauce and aromatic oil, ticked all the right boxes for us.

Prosperity Pork Trotters with Seamoss (fatt choi) from Hong Ngek drew gasps of delight as we eagerly relished the juicy, fall-of-the-bone tender meat smothered in viscous collagen-rich, seamoss-threaded sauce.

Two vegetarian dishes, Stir-fried Lotus Root with Celery from Voila and Vegetarian Kottu Roti from The Lankan brought a balance spin to the meat-centric menu.

The former comprised lightly sauteed lotus root slices with sweet peas, celery, cashews, red and green capsicums; beguiling for its delicately clear flavours.

True to our Malaysian Muhibbah spirit, aromatically spiced kottu roti – a popular Sri Lankan street food staple of chopped roti, vegetables, and spices – lent an unexpectedly welcome contrast to the proceedings.  

Kiew Yee Baru stepped up to the plate with the perennial Cured Meat Claypot Rice: a huge serving of chunky liver and pork waxed sausages, waxed duck atop rice sprinkled with chopped spring onion. Finished with a drizzle of the house mixture of soya sauce, this speciality will surely leave everyone replete.

Finishing the meal on a pleasantly sweet note will be Seong Ying Chai’s classic Almond Tofu Pudding in the famed Air Mata Kuching from Luo Han Guo Longan Dessert. We love how the combo refreshed our palate after the intense riot of flavours.


Liu Bao Aged Tea from Kean Gun Tea Merchants will keep cups filled throughout dinner whilst Cold Brew Tea from Montea in addition to Cranberry Muffins from Aooo will complete the dining experience.


The ‘Jom Celebrate Reunion Dinner’ initiative by Persatuan Rakan Budaya dan Pelancong Kuala Lumpur & Selangor is co-organised by Seong Ying Chai and supported by YB Tuan Fong Kui Lun, MP for Bukit Bintang.


Guests can also purchase a special 8-Treasure Box (RM188 each) consisting of Seong Ying Chai’s Lion Head Gong Zai Bing (baked pastry with pandas lotus paste), TK Lim’s Sliced Meat Jerky, Sweet Potato Ball’s Fried Peanut Dumpling, Ho Yoke Kee’s Lucky Candy, Washington’s Golden Grill Sponge Cake Rusk, Chai Huat Hin’s Dried Persimmon, Machi Popo’s Black Sesame Puff and Fung Wong’s Mini Walnut Cookies.


Priced at RM1,388 nett per table of 10 persons, table reservation for the ‘Jom Celebrate Reunion Dinner, Chinatown KL 2025’ must be made at least 3 days in advance on first-come-first-serve basis via mobile no: 011 1179 9082 or 016 3810 810. 

*Kindly take note necessary changes to the set menu are anticipated with substitutions offered by the 21 participating vendors.

Friday, January 10, 2025

A STELLAR CNY FEAST AT YUN HOUSE

 

Hong Kong-born Chef Jimmy Wong beguiles with a stellar array of exquisite specialities, merging cherished traditions with Four Seasons flair to welcome the Snake Year at the Michelin-selected Yun House.


At an exclusive preview hosted by the indefatigable Dato’ Rosemarie Wee (left), Chef Jimmy Wong’s epicurean Lunar New Year delights befittingly took front and centre that day.

 

A simple yet tantalising amuse bouche of Marinated Wood Ear Fungus with Onion, Coriander and Chilli Oil proffered a promising hint of other goodies to come.

 

Yee Sang, one of the most anticipated yearly offerings at Yun House, captivated us from the get-go. Once the concerted lou hei session was dispensed with, we relished the Locally Sourced Mantis Prawns with Lily Bulb Yee Sang with gusto.

 

With natural and specially selected ingredients such as deep-fried salmon skin, fresh lily bulbs, candied walnuts, pickled shallots, crispy strands of fried rice vermicelli and house-made plum sauce among others, the overall consensus was the Yee Sang is second to none. You can even luxe it up further with freshly shaved black truffle before the salad tossing.

IMO, there isn’t adequate superlatives to describe the show-stopping Imperial Fish Maw Broth with Royal Orchid and Sun-dried Scallops. Imagine it took 8 hours alone just to prep the base stock.


Soulfully rich and slightly sticky with a gelatinous finish, the precious soup laden with little yellow orchids, top shell, mini cabbage, fish maw, bamboo pith and goji berries knocked our socks off.


Chopped Sichuan chilli, garlic and spring onion atop Steamed Giant Soon Hock then left a trailblazing impression on our palate. We enjoy how the mildly briny and piquant chilli and garlic accentuated the fish’s natural sweetness. Also included was a disc of soft tofu, augmenting this fish’s delicate texture.

 

Crowned with a seared whole Hokkaido scallop, the fluffy Wok-fried Glutinous Rice studded with chopped mushrooms, dried scallops and roasted peanuts also knocked this speciality out of the park.

The finale was no less dazzling with a sumptuous serving of Bird’s Nest with Coral Seaweed Jelly, Pear and Ginseng taking the limelight. It made a sublime pairing with Deep-fried Rice Cake with Yam and Sweet Potato.

These classical delicacies reimagined with luxurious ingredients and bold touches by Chef Wong and his team are featured in five signature menus priced between RM328 and RM1,288 person (min 4 persons per menu), available from 6 January to 12 February.


Reservations are highly recommended at Yun House. Kindly contact Four Seasons Hotel Kuala Lumpur, tel: 03 2382 8602 or email: diningreservations.kualalumpur@fourseasons.com

 

Monday, December 30, 2024

FEAST OF FORTUNE AT HILTON PETALING JAYA




Book your Lunar New Year feast early at Toh Yuen, Hilton Petaling Jaya and enjoy an early bird offer of 25% off for groups of 10 persons and more. The Early Bird dining offer is valid until 15th January 2025 so make your reservations soonest possible.

 

Taking centrestage will be Chef Dexter Lai’s signature Yee Sang variations with Abalone, Hokkaido Scallop, and Akemi Tuna Sashimi with Truffle Oil. With 19 years of experience, the chef’s Yee Sang creation hit the spot; the colourful salad stimulating the tastebuds with palate-pleasing balance of invigorating flavours.


Our platter of Yee Sang had scallop sashimi, cashews, candied peel, crispy fried fish skin and jackfruit strips included in the milieu of freshly shredded vegetables and pickles.


A requisite course in most Lunar New Year menu is the thick and smooth Braised Fish Maw Broth with Crab Meat and Dried Scallops. We relished every spoonful of its light viscosity and rich marine savouriness.

 

The subsequent Steamed Chicken with Cordyceps Mushroom Gravy proved winsome as we lapped up the nice, rich herbal-accented gravy alongside the fall-of-the-bone tender chicken pieces. 

 

Although a tinge salty for us, the Steamed Dragon Tiger Garoupa with Chopped Scallion and Garlic flaunted spot-on doneness. We relished the fleshy fish thoroughly thanks to the accompanying aromatics.


Sichuan peppercorn imbued zingy heat to the soya sauce slicked Wok-Fried Tiger Prawns with Sichuan Style Sauce. Chilli and spice fiends should find the crustaceans good for firing up their tastebuds.


We all hope fervently for happiness and all things prosperous as we feasted on the classic Braised Sea Cucumber with Shitake Mushroom and Seasonal Vegetables. The sauce was rich and tasty with fine strands of seamoss in it. 


Fried Glutinous Rice and Dried Oyster wrapped in Lotus Leaves left us replete. Another classic favourite to indulge in before dessert is served.


The finale of Chilled Honey Dew Puree with Pumpkin Konnyaku and Steamed Rice Cake with Grated Coconut and Red Bean Wagashi formed simple yet delightful offerings to conclude the celebratory menu.

Prices for the Golden Set we tried range from RM1,688 nett for 6 persons to RM2,888 nett for 10 persons. 


During the Chinese New Year celebration, Toh Yuen will also serve à la carte Dim Sum menu for breakfast on Saturdays and Sundays from 8 am to 11 am (11 January - 9 February 2025), and Wednesday to Friday from 8 am to 11 am (29 - 31 January 2025).

For further enquiries or reservations, contact Toh Yuen, Hilton Petaling Jaya at tel: 03 7955 9122, via WhatsApp at +6016 216 0414, or email: PETHI_FB@hilton.com or visit eatdrinkhilton.com.


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