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
 

FESTIVE FEASTS AND TREATS FROM EQ KUALA LUMPUR

 

Christmas cookies, chocolates, baked goods and festive hampers will be available at EQ’s Festive Bake Shop starting 15 November 2023. Customisation service is available too, to make the gift selection more personalised for the year-end celebration.

 

Having tried the Roast Cajun Turkey, we reckon it's perfect for Thanksgiving and the Yuletide holidays. It'd be a splendid attention-grabbing centerpiece. Order it from the Bake Shop from 15 November 2023 onwards.

 

Hassle-free options to consider include the hearty Beef Tenderloin Wellington and Baked Lamb Leg; they’re ideal food gifts or a celebratory main minus the arduous prep work.

Much to our surprise, the King Crab Hot Pot from Kampachi proved to be a non-traditional contender for the celebratory table during our preview. The heartwarming broth was delicately sweet thanks to the chunks of Japanese crab in it.

 

A sumptuous seven-course Christmas Eve dinner beckons at Sabayon, EQ’s celebrated fine dining restaurant. At RM888+ per person, nab the window seats with view of the glittering city skyline or at RM788+ per person for regular seats. The price includes a bottle of 375ml champagne per person.

The signature raclette and its accompaniments will add a touch of luxe on Christmas day; replicating the Chalet’s famed Christmas Day buffet lunch at RM308+ per person, and RM154+ per child under 12. Top up RM288+ per person for a free flow of sparkling, white and red wines, the creative gin trolley, juices, soft drinks and mocktails.

New Year’s Eve can be heralded at Sabayon with an eight-course Countdown degustation (RM2,688+ per couple for window seats and RM2,388+ per couple for regular seats; inclusive of a bottle of 375ml champagne per person). New Year’s Day lunch is priced at RM308+ per person, and RM154+ per child under 12. Add RM288+ per head for free flow of drinks.

Make a beeline to Etoile bistro for delectable dine-in options including Grilled Wagyu Tomahawk and tempting Christmas platters comprising a choice of meat and seafood: Ribeye, Roast Turkey, Lamb Rack, and Boston Lobster.

Delicately crafted sweet and savoury bites take centrestage at Bottega Lounge for the festive holiday Afternoon Tea. Available daily from 1 December 2023, the festive Afternoon Tea is RM99+ per person or RM198+ for two. Each set comes with a choice of premium JING tea or coffee. Bottega’s range of wines will also be available by glass or bottle.

Decorated cold Roasted Chicken, Fish Terrine in Smoked Capsicum, Seafood Cocktail with Berry Compote, and Capellini Crayfish with Spicy Tomato Basil Pesto are some dishes from the lavish Christmas Eve buffet dinner at Nipah.

Priced at RM238+ per person and RM119+ per child inclusive of unlimited chilled juices and soft drinks, succumb to the deliciousness of Roasted Cajun Turkey, Baked Herb-crusted New Zealand Lamb Leg and Baked Dill-salt Crusted Barramundi.

On Christmas Day, Nipah’s lunch buffet (RM218+ per person) will be merry and bright with a seafood selection on ice featuring oysters, mussels and prawns, festive cheese platters and a Christmas Roast selection: whole roasted Cajun turkey and leg of lamb with gravy, mushroom sauce, cranberry sauce, mint sauce, roasted Russet potatoes, Yorkshire pudding, and roasted mixed highland vegetables.

Save room for pasta and EQ’s famed chicken rice alongside a grill serving stingray, prawns, squid, chicken, and scallops accompanied by piquant sambals and tamarind dipping sauce. Finish on a sweet high by indulging on Mini Cakes, Christmas cookies, warm Stollen and Panettone, and Mince Pies.

SKY51 will host its Party In The Sky (RM168+ per person inclusive of one drink) on New Year’s Eve. Revel and ring in the New Year with resident DJs, live music and grazing platters.

Finally, make your way to the front of Bottega Lounge for the New Year’s Eve balloon drop on 31 December 2023.

For full information and details of EQ's festive catalogue and on-property events, please visit: www.eqkualalumpur.equatorial.com