GOLDEN PHOENIX RISES FOR THE HORSE YEAR AT EQ

 

Saddle up with EQ Executive Chinese Chef David Yee’s festive set menus this Chinese New Year, marking the return of Golden Phoenix pop-up for the Year of the Horse.

 
Riding on a classical approach emphasizing familiarity and rich symbolisms, the chef seasons his stable of celebratory recipes with subtle Szechuan accents. Cantonese banquet hits such as Poon Choy, roast duck, premium braised seafood and rice cake desserts ensure broad appeal whilst some specialities provoke the tastebuds with judicious use of spices.

 
From the modest Peaceful Seasons and Rich Fortune lunches to the more indulgent Happy Reunion, Bright Auspicious, Wealth Treasures, Great Prosperity and a dedicated Vegetarian Feast, the set menus offer ample flexibility. At the media preview, the Bright Auspicious set made a persuasive case for the culinary team’s strengths.

Our opener of Ten Head Abalone Yee Sang was suitably grand, with QQ abalone lending luxe gravitas to the rainbow hued salad. The milieu of textures and flavours was agreeable enough, just managing to refrain from the cloying sweetness threshold.

A wholesome Double-boiled Chicken Soup with Sea Coconut and Fish Maw followed; its restorative, salubrious goodness hitting the spot nicely.

 
Leaning into the New Year’s symbolism of abundance, the Steamed Tiger Grouper with Cordycep Flowers, Black Fungus and White Fungus won instant approval. The fish flesh softly yielding whilst the worthy accompaniments amped up textural contrasts.

In a nod to old-school tradition, Stewed Whole Chicken with Chinese Herbs and Yu Tiao was the poultry offering of choice. This should find favour with those young-at-heart although my personal preference veers towards roasted fare.

 
Assertive fragrant, punchy accents from the Wok-fried Tiger Prawns with Kam Heong Paste and Cashew Nuts elicited convivial response, making this dish a crowd-pleaser.

 
We reckon the slippery succulence, custard softness and gelatinous resistance of the Braised Fish Maw with Conch Slices, Pipa Tofu, Mushrooms and Sea Moss is a palate-pleaser to bridge the familial generation gap.

You won’t leave the table unsatisfied after loading up on the hearty portions of Steamed Glutinous Rice with Dried Oysters wrapped in lotus leaves.

Adhering to tradition, chewy Golden Phoenix Rice Cakes with Snow Skin Mandarin Orange to sweeten the year ahead. Paired with Chilled Peach Dessert Broth with White Fungus and Red Dates, these dessert treats closed proceedings on an appropriately soothing note.

 
EQ Golden Phoenix’s set menus are priced from RM178+ to RM698+ per person (minimum four diners per table). Yee Sang ranges from RM138+ to RM688+ per serving, depending on ingredients and portion size. Premium Poon Choy is RM688+ (enough for six persons) and a whole roast duck at RM288+.

 
From 27 January to 3 March 2026, head over to EQ’s lobby pop-up booth to shop for festive hampers filled with premium abalone, Chinese teas and house-crafted treats; ideal gifts to get the Year of the Horse off to a galloping start.

 
For Golden Phoenix dining reservations and retail purchases, please contact EQ, tel: 03-2789 7839 or email: dineateqkl@kul.equatorial.com
 

MID-AUTUMN HARMONY FROM CONCORDE HOTEL KL

 

Two exclusive lacquer gift sets, The Elegant Four and Four Seasons Bloom from Concorde Hotel Kuala Lumpur adds lustre to the upcoming Mid-Autumn Festival.

Handcrafted in multiple layers of vibrant high-gloss lacquer finish, Concorde’s Mid-Autumn Harmony gift set features a set of four boxes adorned with delicate floral motifs and refined detailing reflecting the essence of Chinese art and culture.   

                                   
Better still, the boxes are designed to be repurposed post-celebration; renewing their usefulness as elegant jewellery, accessories or keepsake boxes, teabag or tid-bit holders, or even as wall-mounted art pieces.
 
Guests can choose from two themed designs comprising:
The Elegant Four featuring plum blossom, orchid, bamboo and chrysanthemum; symbolically paying tribute to noble virtues of wisdom, grace, integrity and tranquillity respectively.
 
Four Seasons Bloom highlights the seasonal beauty of spring orchid, summer lotus, autumn chrysanthemum and winter plum blossom.

 

Fill those elegant boxes with Concorde’s Halal-certified mooncakes ranging from Baked Lotus Paste with Single Yolk and Red Bean to inventive Snowskin variants such as Musang King Durian and Longan Wolfberry – the ideal celebratory Mid-Autumn Festival gifts for family, friends and business partners.

Based on our sampling, the Assorted Fruit & Nut Mooncake beguiles with invigorating hints of kaffir lime leaves while one cannot go wrong with the smooth Baked Japanese Red Bean Paste variant.

Also winsome are the Black Sesame Lotus Paste and classic Lotus Seed Paste, be it with or without single/double yolk(s).

We daresay the Snowskin Musang King Durian version is the next best thing to eat the actual King of Fruits thanks to the rich and luscious filling. Coming in a close second is the Snowskin with Yam Paste and Single Yolk.

The Lacquer Gift Sets (RM160 nett per set of four 180g mooncakes) are available in these options:
Set A – Baked Skin                                    
Pure Lotus Double Yolk                           
Golden Pandan Pure Lotus                            
Pure Lotus                                            
Japanese Red Bean  

                             
Set B – Baked Skin
Pure Lotus Single Yolk
Assorted Fruit Nuts
Black Sesame Lotus
Japanese Red Bean

Set C - Snowskin                 
Snowskin with Lotus Paste Single Yolk             
Snowskin with Yam Paste Single Yolk
Snowskin with Longan Wolfberry
Snowskin with Japanese Red Bean   

*Set D (RM188 nett per set inclusive of cooler bag)
Snowskin with Musang King Durian

 
Enjoy 20% Discount for CIMB, HLB, MBB, PB, RHB, SCB, UOB cardholders. For bulk orders of 50 boxes and above, it’s RM123 nett per set. Discounts NOT applicable for Snowskin with Musang King Durian Mooncake. 

Visit the following locations to purchase:

●      Concorde Hotel Kuala Lumpur (Lobby)       
11 August – 6 October, 10 am – 8 pm
 
●      Mid Valley Megamall (North Court, Ground Floor)
18 September – 6 October, 10 am – 10 pm

Doorstep delivery with applicable charges available. For more information, call/WhatsApp: 012 399 5021 or email to fbkl@concorde.net
 
 

MID-AUTUMN MOONCAKES FROM FOUR SEASONS HOTEL KL

The Snow Skin Mooncake with Butterfly Pea Flower Custard Paste with Saffron, Mullet Roe, Salted Egg Yolk and Pistachios – a new snowskin mooncake crafted by Chef Ng Meng Loong of Four Seasons Hotel KL turns out to be the bee’s knees this year.

 
Clad in swirly white and blue snow skin threaded with saffron, the subtly sweet custard paste incorporating mullet roe and pistachios, and a salted egg yolk core bewitched us instantly at first bite.

 
Levelling up on the nut mooncake variant, Yun House’s dim sum and dessert maestro also proffers his Eight-Nut Treasure Baked Mooncake for fans who enjoy utterly nutty mooncake filling. The favoured pistachios - now all the rage among kunafa choc fans - makes its presence felt.

This year’s mooncake gift box comes stylishly beribboned with a specially commissioned scarf designed by acclaimed Malaysian artist C.N. Liew. Bearing contemporary patterns juxtaposed against an auspicious red background, the gift box exudes modern glamour and understated sophistication. Best of all, the designer scarf can be used as a pocket square, handkerchief or twilly.

Back to the artisanal Mid-Autumn Festival creations, the winsome baked variants include Classic Lotus Seed Paste with Single Yolk and Melon Seeds (RM45++ each), Pandan Lotus Seed Paste with Single Yolk and Melon Seeds (RM45++ each), Pure Lotus Seed Paste with Single Yolk and Melon Seeds (RM45++ each), Red Bean Paste with Almond Flakes (RM45++ each) and Eight Nut Treasure (RM48++ each).

Snow skin mooncake fans will swoon over the luscious Musang King Durian (RM88++ each) and revel in the luxe appeal of Black Sesame Lotus Seed Paste with Bird’s Nest and Almonds (RM68++ each). The distinctly inventive Pure White Lotus Seed Paste with Palm Sugar, Macadamia and Seaweed (RM58++ each) tastes equally sublime.

"The Mid-Autumn celebration is all about joy and togetherness, with the main event being a feast with family and friends under the full moon," says Chef Loong. "Designed to appeal to all generations and palates, our mooncakes welcome everyone to join in the festivities."

 
Orders can be made and collected now and 6 October by calling tel: 03 2382 8602 or email:
yunhouse.kualalumpur@fourseasons.com