GET SET IN MARCH AT ELEGANT INN

Life’s a continuous feast at Elegant Inn Hong Kong Cuisine. March looks set to be marvellous with the debut of two special set menus: Bountiful Harvest and Golden Harvest at this city’s arbiter of fine Cantonese cuisine.

Highlighting a judicious selection of familiar favourites and newer creations, we were accorded a taste of the Golden Harvest menu recently.

Things got off to a happy start with us savouring Crispy Soft Shell Crabs in Light Spicy Sauce, Hokkaido Scallop Bacon Rolls and E.I. Crispy Vegetable Rice Rolls for openers.

Plump Hokkaido scallop wrapped in crisp, tasty bacon stirred our gastronomic juices with the scallop’s oh-so-delicate sweetness amplified by the bacon’s savoury richness.

Nice contrasting textures came into play from the Hong Kong-inspired jar leong. Instead of yutiao (fried fritters), the smooth flat rice rolls were filled with crispy taro strips. Drizzled with a little soy sauce, this delicious morsel made for a sublime mouthful.

I’m not a fan of deep-fried soft shell crabs so this appetiser was par for the course for me. Dressed in a tantalisingly spicy sauce, there were also crispy onion rings amidst the crab chunks.

Known for its salubrious soups, Elegant Inn reinforces its stellar reputation with a superbly Braised Twin Fish Maw with Sakura Ebi in Flaky Fish Winter Melon Broth. 

We lapped up every drop of that viscously silky broth whilst relishing the slippery suppleness of the fish maw strips. Lending it subtle crispiness and umami accent was some sakura ebi for that perfect finish.

Deserving a gold medal IMO was the serving of Golden Fried Sea Crystal Prawns in Salted Egg Yolk paired with Golden Prosperous Chicken Meat Balls. Springy to the bite, the big prawns had us hooked at first bite thanks to the attendant richly flavourful salted egg yolk crust.

Equally raveworthy were yummy chicken meat balls, reminiscent of classic hai jou (deep-fried crab and pork mince balls). The hearty bites brought back such nostalgic feels.

Heralding a sense of celebration in its wake was the show-stealing Braised Five Treasure Pork Belly with Whole 9-head South African Abalones, Black Garlic, Lotus Seeds and Chestnuts.

It was a stellar showcase of varied textures juxtaposed against a supremely lustrous, full-bodied sauce. We thoroughly relished soaking it all up with deep-fried mantou.

After all those heavy hitters, we readily welcomed the subtler nuances exuded by the Braised Vegetarian Assortment with Cordycep Flower and Housemade Tofu. Spongy and custardy-soft melding with gelatinous and tender textures ruled here.

Claypot Rice with Sea Star Garoupa Fillet, Hong Kong Dried Prawns and Tung Choi instantly garnered effusive praises once we dug into the scrumptious rice. Possibly the next best thing to Elegant Inn’s famed lap mei farn (waxed meat rice), this fish-laden version dialled up the appeal factor with a generous topping naturally umami-sweet HK dried prawns and preserved vegetable.

Lunch finished on a splendid high with exquisitely dainty Bird’s Nest Egg Tartlets and irresistible Nutty Sesame Balls. The latter deserved special mention as each chewy ball was stuffed with coarsely crushed peanuts and sugar, to deliver better mouthfeel. A treat worth going nuts over!

We chased those dessert treats with refreshing bowls of Double Boiled Fresh Pineapple with Lily Flower and Snow Fungus. An on-point, cooling broth to counter the current hot and hazy weather.

The Golden Harvest is priced RM1,188++ for 4 persons, RM1,688++ for 6 persons and RM2,788++ for 10 persons and will be available until end March.

For reservations, call Elegant Inn Hong Kong Cuisine, at tel: 03-20709399 or 03-67379399 or WhatsApp 012-7223518.

MERENTASI TRADISI@PENTAS CITARASA MARRIOTT PUTRAJAYA

Local, global and fusion fare will take centerstage throughout the Ramadan month at Zest Lifestyle Restaurant’s Merentasi Tradisi di Pentas Citarasa, from 2 – 30 March.

Welcoming and festive vibes abound as you step into the spacious, warmly lit interior. crafting memorable meals while embracing the spirit of the holy month. Executive Chef Zulkifli Asyul wants to ensure guests enjoy the best possible iftar meals hence his team will pull out the stops in serving up an expansive feast come buka puasa time.

BoomGrow, an innovative AgriTech startup dedicated to sustainable food production, has also partnered with Putrajaya Marriott Hotel; bringing a health-conscious twist to the dining experience. Give BoomGrow’s healthy shot — an energizing blend of electrolytes, Vitamin C, and protein, enhanced with sustainably sourced wheatgrass a go. The specially crafted shot is designed to support hydration, ideal for Iftar.

 

A tantalising array of Malay and Thai Kerabu (think Som Tam, Pomelo Salad) beckon invitingly alongside Continental salads and appetisers such as Smoked Salmon, Chicken and Duck, Cold Roast Beef, Beef Pastrami, and Poached Salmon.

More exotic offerings spanning Middle Eastern Mezze and Breads, Japanese Kushiyaki and Tempura, Thai Steamed Fish with Coconut Cream and Fried Fish Cake, to Italian Pizza and Pasta options add international allure to the line-up.

 

Definite crowd-pullers featuring deliciously rich, well-spiced dishes in large woks billed as Nostalgia 7 Kawah should be worth savouring. You’d find chunks of chicken, duck, beef ribs, and oxtail painstakingly cooked until tender and flavourful; superb with rice and vegetables.

 

Equally compelling will be familiar dishes of Ikan Bakar, Seafood with Spicy Sauce, Ayam Panggang, Kambing Masak Hitam, Pucuk Ubi Masak Lemak Ikan Masin, Siput Sedut Lemak Cili Api, Kambing Semur Kicap, Ayam Masak Merah, Mee Rebus with Mutton Shin Bones, Ayam Penyet, Fish Asam Pedas and Nasi Biryani.

 

True to Malaysia’s multi-racial spirit, a multitude of Indian curries, and snacks as well as Chinese wok specialities: Fried Dim Sum and Radish Cake have been included.

The sweet parade is unrivalled too: take your pick from freshly opened durians (look out for the stall by the open patio area) to stalls dispensing freshly made Apam Balik and Ais Kacang should leave sweet-toothed guests on a sublime sugary high.

 

If fruits and cakes are your preference, make a beeline for the jaw-dropping dessert section laden with sweet Bubur Kacang, Serawa Durian, Date Flan, Red Velvet Cake, Fruity Puddings, French Pastries and Fresh Tropical Fruits among lots of other luscious creations. A sweet ending is inevitable.

 

Early bird booking between now and 28 February will enjoy a special rate of RM168 nett per adult and RM84 nett per child. The normal price will be RM218 nett per adult and RM109 nett per child respectively.

For reservations at Putrajaya Marriott Hotel, call tel: 03-8949 8888 x 1888 or WhatsApp: +6011 5685 5608 or email
dining.putrajaya@marriotthotels.com