CNY GIFT BOXES WITH A HEART FROM SDB

The popular adage ‘Health is wealth’ becomes increasingly significant with the advent of each Chinese New Year (CNY). 

When I received the two CNY Gift Boxes from Selangor Dredging Berhad (SDB) to welcome the Year of the Tiger, I found the thoughtfully packed contents: packets of Chinese herbs and soup ingredients, and herbal tea bags for the improvement of general wellness, a welcome change from the usual stash of sweet confectionery and festive treats.

This unique CNY Gift Box is derived from SDB’s One-Two-Boost programme created back in 2020 – a collaboration between SDB and Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) physicians, to develop a variety of prescribed herbal drinks and soups for healthier lifestyles.

In sync with the company’s corporate social responsibility (CSR) mission in creating employment opportunities for people with disabilities, CSR participants who comprise young adults – are coached and supervised throughout the packing process of the SDB CNY gift boxes.

Hence when you buy or receive an SDB CNY gift box, every single gift box is a testament of the careful handling, packing skills and coordination put in by this group of special CSR participants. This notable CSR initiative revolves around offering support to those young adults with disabilities while creating opportunities for them to acquire skills, to lead an independent life.

 Each Chinese New Year Gift Box (RM98 per box) features:

·       1 packet Digestion Soup

·       7 Throat Soothing Tea Bags

·       2 packs Goji Berries

·       2 packs Longan

·       2 packs Red Dates

·       2 packs Chrysanthemum

·       6 pieces Tiger Ang Pow packets

Also available are Chinese New Year Herbal Gifts priced at RM30 each; consisting of ingredients to make Emperor Herbal Chicken and Taxillus Sweet Soup, together with Red Dates and Luo Han Guo. Each set includes 6 pieces of Tiger Ang Pow packets.

 Other series of herbal soups and tea bags include:

•       Immune Booster soup series and drink packs for boosting immune system by strengthening the digestion system
•        Nourishing ‘bazhen soup’ series to enhance immunity, increase metabolic rate and improve blood circulation.
•       The Green series with a range of fat loss tea, beauty tea bag, heat relief easy tea bag and heat relief family pack to maintain good liver functionality and detoxification purpose.
•       The Red series to maintain a healthy heart with a selection of calming soup and calming tea bags.
•       The Yellow series comprising ingredients for digestion soup, energy booster soup, and spleen purification soup, together with energy booster tea bags
•        The White series for healthier lung functions with a selection of ingredients for lung nourishing soup and throat soothing teabags.
•       The Black series comprising revitalizing tea bag and ingredients for Taxillus sweet soup, to strengthen the kidney and liver.

To buy the SDB Chinese New Year Gift Boxes, hand-made soap and anti-epidemic brick soaps, call hp: 018-2201865 or email:  csr@sdb.com.my or visit the One Two Boost Store:  https://12boost.com.my

 

A ZINGY TWIST TO MID-AUTUMN FESTIVAL AT FOUR SEASONS HOTEL KUALA LUMPUR

“Szechuan” Ma La Mung Bean mooncake anyone? Or perhaps a summer-inspired Mango with Lotus Seed Paste variant? These inventive conversation stoppers along with baked and snowskin creations form part and parcel of Yun House’s Mid-Autumn Festival cachet this year.

Trust Chef Jimmy Wong to imbue the traditional mooncake with a core of zingy-hot ‘ma la’ filling. When you bite into a wedge of his “Szechuan” Ma La Mung Bean (RM42), your tastebuds will tingle pleasantly when the sensation of burning heat blooms on your tongue before the confection's sweetness gradually creeps in.

Since gifting and sharing mooncakes is a beloved Malaysian tradition, Chef Jimmy has taken great pains to craft a variety of inventive and timeless selection for the Four Seasons Hotel Kuala Lumpur in conjunction with the Mid-Autumn Festival.

“This year, the ritual has taken on added importance, since many of us haven’t been able to meet loved ones and close colleagues for a long time”, said Chef Jimmy Wong. “Sending and gifting mooncakes expresses our good wishes, to remind people we care about them and a gesture to value their presence in our lives.”

His Baked Mooncakes with luxurious fillings include Pu Er Tea Paste with Tangerine Skin (RM42) and the summer-inspired Mango with Lotus Seed Paste (RM42). The former is subtly sweet with the citrus peel lending it a nice ‘bite’ while the latter yields a sublime candy-sweetness, remarkably similar to the fruit itself.

 According to the chef, mooncakes with egg yolk are symbolic of the harvest moon and good luck hence his Pandan Paste with Single Yolk (RM42), and Lotus Seed Paste with Single Yolk (RM42) offerings. For purists, there’s White Lotus Seed Paste (RM42).

 

Overall, the timeless selection are on-point and should please sticklers for tradition.

The mooncakes come packed in the Four Seasons gift box. Clad in theatrical red with a magnetic gilt clasp, the oblong box is embossed with the floral outlines of lotus leaves and butterflies, evoking feelings of joy and harmony with nature.

For more information, contact Four Seasons Hotel Kuala Lumpur: https://www.fourseasons.com/kualalumpur/dining/restaurants/yun-house/

CELESTIAL TREASURES FROM EQ KUALA LUMPUR

As far as I’m concerned, old is still gold when it comes to mooncakes. While the local Mid-Autumn Festival market is fixated on packaging, the sweet-toothed glutton in me reckon the traditional speciality should taste as good, if not better than an impressive-looking box.

Hence, I was pleased as punch when the Pure Lotus Double Yolk mooncake from EQ Kuala Lumpur ticked all the right boxes at first bite. Not only did the lotus paste boast a nice ‘oily’ sheen, but the slightly sweet floral scent of lotus seed paste was discernible. The sweetness was to my personal liking too, offset by the savouriness of salted egg yolks.

It’s one of the four traditional baked mooncakes under EQ’s Celestial Treasures collection priced at RM188 per box of 4 (180g each). Crafted by EQ’s mooncake master, Chef Lai Wee Hong, the Low Sugar White Lotus Single Yolk followed a similar palate-pleasing approach.

The Traditional Cantonese Mixed Nuts is a bound to make people who are partial to nuts go nutty. Amidst the tasty mouthfuls of walnuts, almonds, sesame seeds and melon seeds, I detected hints of kaffir lime leaf, five spice powder and candied citrus peel.

Sweet and savoury came into play again in the EQ Signature Pearl of Harmony mooncake. Cut in half, the baked mooncake with black sesame paste, mung bean paste and salted egg yolk resembled a full moon aglow against a night sky. The black sesame’s delicate nutty sweetness is balanced by the salted egg yolk’s rich savouriness.  

My set of Celestial Treasures came in a specially designed Autumn Box; drawing inspiration from the Mid-Autumn season itself. Boasting natural elements and shades of coral of the autumn season to represent the warmth of a family reunion, the Autumn Box can be repurposed into a keepsake or jewellery box.

Inspired by the Legend of the Jade Rabbit, the Longevity Box features a Jade Rabbit silhouette – a symbol of longevity – in vibrant blue, symbolising optimism, serenity, and health.

EQ also offers Snowskin Skin Mooncakes at RM228 for a set of 6 pcs (80g each).

For more information, please WhatsApp EQ Kuala Lumpur: +60 12 278 9239 or email: dineateqkl@kul.equatorial.com

GIFTS OF MID-AUTUMN BLOOMS AT CONCORDE HOTEL KL

Pretty Mid-Autumn Blooms adorn glass-topped jewellery boxes in baby blue and pastel pink from Concorde Hotel Kuala Lumpur to celebrate this year’s Mid-Autumn Festival.

Adorned with magnolia blooms, butterflies and birds, the beautifully designed gift boxes come with a choice of 4 mooncakes (180g each).

Priced at RM118 nett per set, take your pick from 3 different sets:

A.             Pure Lotus Double Yolk, White Pure Lotus, Lotus Paste Single Yolk & White Lotus Black Sesame

B.             Golden Pandan Pure Lotus Single Yolk, Japanese Red Bean, Assorted Fruit Nuts & Green Tea Lotus Paste

C.             Snowskin with Red Bean Paste, Snowskin with White Lotus, Snowskin with Pandan Lotus Single Yolk & Snowskin with Yam Lotus Paste Single Yolk

Set D priced at RM158 nett consists of 4 pcs of Snowskin Musang King Durian Mooncakes. The delicate filling is handmade with pure musang king durian flesh hence the mooncakes come in a separate cooler bag (while stocks last) to keep them chilled. Also, it’s best to refrigerate the mooncakes to maintain their freshness.

These luscious treats are strictly for durian fans as the rich, sweet filling is simply the next best thing to eating the actual king of fruits. They’re decadent but so irresistible, you’d find it hard to stop after the first mouthful. 

Hailed as the best snowskin durian mooncake in town by The Star newspaper in 2019, it’s a much s0ught-after delight during the Mid-Autumn Festival so be sure to pre-order your share in advance.

Credit cardholders of CIMB, Citibank, Hong Leong Bank, Maybank, OCBC, Public Bank, RHB, SCB and UOB are entitled to 20% discount for mooncakes under Set A-C. Delivery service is available (subject to charges and prevailing terms & conditions).

Pix courtesy of Concorde Hotel Kuala Lumpur

For more information, call Xin Cuisine, tel: 03-2144 8750 or WhatsApp +6 012 399 5021 or email: fbkl@concorde.net Address: Lobby Level, 2, Concorde Hotel Kuala Lumpur, Jalan Sultan Ismail, Kuala Lumpur. 

ADD SHINE TO MID-AUTUMN FESTIVAL WITH LE MEI ’S MOONCAKES

New and classic mooncake variants by Chef Yau Fong Peng and his team at Le Mei Chinese Restaurant, Le Meridien Putrajaya will add shine to this year’s Mid-Autumn Festival.

 

Available now until 21 September, I received a set of four mooncakes attractively packed in a specially designed Mid-Autumn Festival gift box: a sturdy magnetic flap carryall adorned with colourful mosaic and rabbit motifs.

Nestled within were four smaller boxes replicating the same design. The Mini Snow Skin with Cheese and Cashew Nuts piqued our interest thanks to its mildly savoury accent amidst the anticipated sweetness.

Mini Snow Skin with Cheese & Cashew Nuts

Mini Snow Skin with Red Bean Paste & Walnuts

Purists and traditionalists at heart may prefer the Mini Snow Skin Red Bean Paste with Walnuts. There’s no need to reinvent the wheel with such a classic, crowd-pleasing flavour.

Baked Mooncake with White Lotus Paste & Single Egg Yolk

Likewise, the Baked White Lotus Paste with Single Egg Yolk and Pandan Paste with Melon Seeds Mooncake belong to this ‘old is gold’ school of thought. The only concession made is possibly the reduction in the amount of sugar, as the mooncakes’ subtle sweetness was noticeable on the palate.

Baked Mooncake with Pandan Paste & Melon Seeds

We also like the liberal sprinkling of melon seeds embedded within the Pandan Paste Mooncake. It was reminiscent of the mooncakes of yore when fanciful fillings were unheard of then.

Priced at RM18 upwards, Le Mei’s mooncakes can be purchased from the mooncake counter of Le Meridien Putrajaya from 12noon to 8pm daily or from Le Mei restaurant. Enjoy 20% discount for purchases made using credit card from CIMB, Maybank, Hong Leong Bank, Citibank, HSBC, UOB, Standard Chartered and Affin Bank. 

For more information, takeaway or delivery, please call Le Meridien Putrajaya, tel: 03 8689 6888 or email: dining.lmputrajaya@lemeridien.com