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
 

STRIDES OF ABUNDANCE AT HILTON KUALA LUMPUR

Thoughtfully curated set menus at Chynna, Hilton Kuala Lumpur are galloping out of the gate for the upcoming Year of the Horse, setting a frisky pace for the auspicious celebrations ahead.

Ensuring the Chinese New Year gets off to a spirited gallop, Hilton Kuala Lumpur’s Executive Chinese Chef Lam Hock Hin trots out a line-up of festive specialities skilfully blending time-honoured Chinese flavours with subtle Western flourishes.

 
Front and centre is a show-stealing, noble horse-shaped Prosperity Yee Sang, created to rein in abundance and good fortune. Intricately assembled with freshly shredded vegetables, pickles, seeds and nuts, it is crowned with standout options such as Grilled Salmon Sauce (RM168 half portion, RM318 whole). The inventive inclusion of grilled salmon, salmon oil, and white and purple cabbage gives this auspicious toss finesse and flair; proof Chef Lam is no one-trick pony.

 
Bringing more horsepower to the experience is a stable of winsome choices, ranging from Salted Egg Fish Skin with Soft Shell Crab (RM178 half, RM328 whole), Abalone (RM308) or Tasmanian Ocean Trout (RM158 half, RM308 whole) to the more unique Spicy Sea Bird’s Nest with Crispy Rice and Aged Vinegar Dressing (RM158 half, RM308 whole).

 
We sampled the Fortune Set (RM1,888 nett per table of five) which opened at a confident canter with Traditional Tasmanian Ocean Trout Yee Sang. A vibrant, refreshing curtain-raiser to stir up promising prospects ahead.

 
Breaking from the usual Chinese banquet soup repertoire, Chef Lam enticed us with Western-inspired Cauliflower Soup with Seafood, Crushed Peppers and Vegetarian Fins. Its creamy, delicate nuances heralded a welcome change of pace.

 
The Shunde-Style Steamed Tiger Grouper was an undisputed show-stopper. Smooth, naturally sweet and cooked to on-point doneness, the fish was matched sublimely with tau foo yue (Redbelly Yellowtail Fusilier) puffs. Those spongy-soft morsels were excellent at soaking up every last drop of the fish jus.

Adding crunch and contrast, the Fragrantly Spiced Crispy Chicken with Golden Crunchy Rice Crumbs boasted extra furlong with its clever use of puffed rice, giving the spice-rubbed chicken extra textural interest.

The Mixed Salad with Coconut Dressing, Salted Egg Fish Skin and Crispy Soft Shell Prawns also held its ground. Hats off to the chef for emphasising more fresh greens as vegetables often play second fiddle in Chinese New Year menus.

Keeping health and balance firmly in the saddle is Braised Wild Abalone Cubes, Fish Maw, Monkey Head Mushroom and Garden Greens. A subtly refined and notably lighter on the palate dish.

 
By this point, the meal had gathered enough momentum that the Yam Rice with Salted Egg, Dried Shrimp and Mushrooms found itself competing for tummy space, Still, it’s a testament to the generous and satisfying progression of dishes.

No festive feast is complete without a sweet finish. Bowls of Sea Coconut, Malva Nut and Longan Sweet Soup, paired with Traditional Nian Gao stuffed with Yam Custard and coated in Ground Nuts and Sesame Seeds, brought the celebration home, leaving diners highly satisfied at the finish line.

 
Other set menus at Chynna include the Prosperity Set (RM1,588 nett per table of five), Wealth Set (RM2,588 nett per table of five), and the Grand Fortune Set (RM799 nett per person, minimum three persons per table).

 
Adding to the festive atmosphere are a series of cultural highlights worth trotting out for: God of Prosperity appearances (3–18 February), a live Guzheng performance (16 February), Chinese calligraphy sessions (18 February), Tea Master welcome pouring demonstrations (16–18 February), as well as acrobatics and traditional lion dance performances.

Auspicious rewards await guests between 15 January and 3 March 2026. For every RM200 spent in a single receipt, get a chance to draw a red envelope. Each is filled with exclusive prizes, from RM100 dining vouchers and complimentary Yee Sang to staycation packages at Hilton Kuala Lumpur and a 3D2N getaway at KROMO Bangkok, Curio Collection by Hilton.

 
For reservations or inquiries, contact Hilton Kuala Lumpur, tel:03-2264 2264, email: HiltonKualaLumpur_FB@hilton.com, or book via SevenRooms.

KAZUMA PROFFERS CHRISTMAS BENTO AND A TOAST TO SHABU SHABU

Pristine Japanese flavours play a central role at Kazuma restaurant this festive season. On 24 and 25 December, celebrate Christmas Eve and Christmas Day with an exquisitely composed Christmas Bento (RM115 nett) for lunch or dinner.

 
Set within a multi-compartmentalised lacquer box, diners will be besotted by delicate morsels in vibrant colours; rendering well-balanced, palate-pleasing flavours.

 
Fresh, melt-in-your-mouth succulence of the Sashimi Trio of Hamachi, Salmon, and Maguro serves as the opening volley. Take your time to appreciate the precise cut of each slice before savouring the different fish’s refined nuances.

 
Punching above its weight is Kuruma Ebi Fry – a plump, sweet tiger prawn sheathed in golden and airy-light batter. Biting into that feather-weight panko coating then segueing to the crustacean’s inherent sweetness is an unforgettable sensorial experience. TBH, the speciality is delicious on its own but the accompanying sauce takes it to another tantalising dimension.
 

We love how the chef boldly infuses a whisper of bird’s eye chilli heat into his Spicy Unagi Tempura Roll. That unexpected jolt of fiery accent emanating from the lightly battered roll of smoky grilled eel cements it as a definitive trail-blazer.

 
The Grilled Snapper adheres to true-blue Japanese simplicity, giving you a choice of having the mild and flaky fish glossed over with teriyaki sauce or uplifted with the savouriness of shioyaki (salt), allowing the fish’s natural sweetness to shine.

 
Comforting and moreish, the chunks of Tori Nanban – juicy fried chicken topped with creamy Japanese tartar rounds off the curated selection for Kazuma Christmas Bento nicely.

Special Shabu Shabu Set for New Year’s Eve & 

New Year Day

 

As the year winds down and new beginnings approach, warm your spirits with a hearty, soul-comforting Japanese Shabu Shabu (RM150 nett per person) for lunch or dinner on 31 December 2025 and 1 January 2026.

 
Start with Zensai, a delicate pairing of fresh oyster and unagi sumono. The dual appetiser teases the tastebuds with their ethereally light and bright, appetising flavours.

 
By contrast, the Tuna Melon Sashimi proves to be quite the show-stealer thanks to the delightful match of slightly seared tuna and juicy melon. We couldn’t get enough of the savoury-sweet flavour pairing.

 
Warm and soothing Ikura Chawanmushi offers comfort in a cup. Who could resist spooning up silky steamed egg custard elevated with glistening pearls of salmon roe bursting with briny richness?

 
The crisp outer coating of batter yielding to tender, juicy prawn ensures the classic Ebi Tempura scores on the appeal scale. It’s the perfect precursor to the main star of Shabu-Shabu Nabe.

 
Swirl the slices of premium Australian sirloin in a flavourful kombu-based broth brimming with assorted fresh vegetables: leek, Napa cabbage, onion, carrot, celery, mizuna and enoki in a rustic claypot. Hearty and celebratory, it’s the perfect dish for bidding farewell to the existing year whilst welcoming the upcoming new year.

 
Whether you’re gathering with family or catching up with friends, Kazuma Christmas Bento and Celebratory Shabu Shabu will undoubtedly evoke warm happiness and abundant joy through the timeless charm of Japanese culinary traditions.

For more information and reservations, call Kazuma restaurant, tel: 03 -2149 2666 or WhatsApp: 012 399 4792.