PROSPERITY BLOSSOMS AT XIN CUISINE

Tradition rules the three Prosperity Set Menus at Xin Cuisine this Chinese New Year with cherished festive specialities topping the list. Priced at RM1,388 nett, RM1,688 nett and RM2,188 nett per table of 10 persons, the CNY celebratory set menus will be available until 2 March 2018.

Six varieties of the colourful raw fish salad will be available including Norwegian Salmon, Soft Shell Crab, Jellyfish, Baby Octopus and Snow Pear. Priced from RM80 upwards for a regular portion, the large portion costs up to RM198. We made merry with the perennial fave of Norwegian Salmon Yee Sang with an additional serving of Snow Pear (top up at RM10). As expected, the freshly shredded ingredients with assorted pickles, crisps and shredded snow pear - once stirred and tossed thoroughly - made for a great starter.

A whole conpoy (dried scallop) was the gem we uncovered from our bowl of nutritious

Double-boiled Chicken Soup with Dried Scallop, Wolfberries and Chinese Herbs. The clear broth was mildly herbal on the palate, tinged with faint bittersweet notes. A salubrious soup to relish, to boost one's stamina for the anticipated festivities this CNY.

Roasts are one of Xin Cuisine's signature delicacies hence the inclusion of Crispy Roast Duck with Chinese Herbs into this year's celebratory menus. From our first-hand sampling, the meaty offering ticked all the right boxes -- from the aromatic crispy skin with a whiff of herbal woodiness to the juicy, delicately gamey meat -- the dish was on-point.

Layers of varying texture piqued our interest when we waded in to savour the Steamed Dragon Tiger Garoupa with Fresh Black Fungus & Beancurd Sheets. Known as loong fu parn, this fleshy hybrid fish proved notable for its inherent sweetness; a nice, rich canvas offset by the slight crunchiness of fresh black fungus and slippery skeins of beancurd sheet. Delicious!

Unpolished brown rice lent a healthier twist to the tasty pot of lap mei farn - Stewed Chinese Sausage with Two Varieties of Rice. We couldn't get enough of the subtly boozy nuance in the waxed sausages which were imported from Hong Kong. Diners can order the Waxed Meat Rice in Claypot separately too along with different preparations using the waxed specialities.

Should you prefer a simpler meal, the indulgent Bountiful Fortune Pot (RM388 regular, RM688 large) may fit the bill. Laden with premium goodies, ranging from abalone and dried oysters to roast pork and mushrooms, the substantial pot is an 'all in one' feast.

Although we half wished dessert could be more exciting, the Chilled Peach Resin with White Fungus & Red Dates came up to mark. Ideal for soothing parched throats and light enough to leave you walking away from the dinner table guilt-free.

A hit among Xin regulars, the Nian Gao Specials (RM13 per serving) have always been much anticipated every time CNY comes around. This year, the creations comprise Fresh Shredded Coconut Nian Gao, Sesame Rice Ball Nian Gao and Peanut Nian Gao. Our preference slanted towards the fail-safe shredded coconut coated sticky glutinous rice cake but the sesame seed-coated balls of mochi meets nian gao weren't shabby either.

Instead of the same old CNY hampers, Xin Cuisine has launched a new series of their winsome CNY New Year Gift Boxes at RM138 nett each. Backlit with soft LED lights, the four distinctive designs feature a sprig of cherry blossoms, a trio of gold fish, a pearl on a lotus leaf and a Chinese pipa/lute. Beautifully embellished with crystals, the elegant boxes come with USB port and cable can be filled with a choice of glutinous rice cake or a quartet of pineapple tart, salted egg pastry, yam pastry and red bean pastry.

 

They make fabulous gifts in conjunction with the CNY when you visit relatives and friends. Currently, the promotional price is RM118 nett per box and is sold at the CNY kiosk of Concorde Hotel Kuala Lumpur daily from 10am to 9pm.

For more information, call the CNY Gift Kiosk, tel: 012-399 5436 (direct line) or 03-2149 2799 (office hours). Reservations for CNY dining at Xin Cuisine can be made by calling tel: 03 2144 8750. Address: Lobby Level, Concorde Hotel KL, Jalan Sultan Ismail, KL.

 

TEN SHIOK-ING CNY DISHES AT XIN

Toss Up Stirring Prosperity 

Try the Smoked Salmon Yee Sang for your customary lou sang if you’re squeamish about eating raw fish and the risk associated with it. This version has everything going for it in terms of colour, texture and flavour: some fresh ingredients alongside pickles, crisps, ground nuts, sesame seeds, etc.

Xin Cuisine offers six variants: Sliced Abalone, Norwegian Salmon, Bud Mushroom & Scallop, Jellyfish, Shredded Duck & Jackfruit Thai Style or Vegetarian with Snow Pear (from RM79 onwards for regular to RM265 large) to tempt you.

A Serving of Triple Liveliness 

The Chinese maxim sang sang mang mang comes to mind when I saw the platter of Abundant Three Hot Combination. I have always love this dish even from those old school wedding dinners which invariably featured this or the quartet of hot & cold combo.

Kinda like French amuse bouche but more substantial. Choice of items would depend on the chef’s whims so you’d never know what to expect. The triple treats of deep-fried yam with prawns (equated with happy laughter), kataifi-wrapped scallops (big monetary prospects) and stir-fried lotus root, asparagus, macadamia and bunashimeji mushroom packed varied textural and taste contrasts that were palate-pleasing enough.

Be ‘Souper’ Prosperous

Dried scallops, bamboo pith, sliced black mushroom, crabmeat and other goodies form a viscous milieu in the Prosperity Thick Soup with Dried Seafood. This slurpilicious broth can be a harbinger of brimming riches for the coming CNY.

Go for The Whole Hog 

The Chinese loves the piggy as this domesticated animal symbolises bounty to them. Likewise, they enjoy eating Crispy Suckling Pig Hong Kong Style – a revered main banquet course for its sublime crisp, crackling skin – as a fervent wish for bountiful life, be it for wealth, offspring or work prospects. Needless to say, this dish was wiped clean in a twinkling at our review.

Fish for Abundance

Surplus, excess and abundance is associated with fish so no CNY feast is complete without it. Mindful of children and senior folks in multi-generational gatherings, Xin chefs are proffering Steamed Cod with Garlic Oil for easier eating. Superior soya sauce, aromatic garlic oil and fresh coriander with spring onion proved less is more for the sumptuous cod fillets we sampled.

Laugh with Happiness

Just the sight of the dark, luscious sheen of Baked Fresh Waterprawns with King Superior Soya Sauce would be enough to make you LOL with gleeful happiness. Nobody groused about getting their hands dirty as the big-headed crustaceans tasted really shiok; the shells slicked with that deep-seated savoury sauce.

Fly High with the Phoenix

Downhome accents reign in the six Waxed Meat specialities found in Xin’s festive menu. Should you crave for nostalgic retro-style eats, rustic offerings such as Braised Chicken with Three Varieties of Chinese Sausages should leave you crowing with delight. As another auspicious mainstay for CNY as the chook symbolises the celestial phoenix, we delved into the serving with hearty gusto whilst resisting the urge to ask for plain rice to go with it.

Wax Lyrical for Good Fortune

Lap mei farn is a popular staple for most Cantonese folks and this speciality of Waxed Meat Rice in Claypot has gained wide appeal over the years in most Chinese restaurants. Waxed meat and sausages are cherished by the Chinese as the fatty stuffing denotes good fortune and wealth. Come CNY, few patrons at Xin would pass up on the chance to relish this festive dish so we felt fortunate such ‘riches’ came our way already.

Sweeten The Year Ahead

Who can resist such a cool treat which looks like a golden pool? Subtly sweet, the refreshing Mango Puree with Pomelo & Sago drew praises all round. Juicy pomela sacs and tiny sago pearls added to the dessert broth’s mouthfeel. Simple but sweet to ensure a great Year of the Monkey ahead.

 

Uplifting Progress & Prospects

Increase your work and life prospects by eating Nian Gao or steamed glutinous cake. Again, Xin is renowned for its Chinese New Year Sweet Treats (RM12.80 per portion)  such as nian gao coated in sweet potato with macadamia nut, waxed meat nian gao with chicken floss and peanut nian gao with pistachio. Each tasty variant signals upward increases in your annual income, career or business prospects and high marks for upcoming exams as well as personal growth. Now huat more do you want?

Prosperity menus start from RM1,618 onwards per table of 10. Reservations are advisable. Call Xin Cuisine, tel: 03-2144 8750.

HOI NEEN WITH CONCORDE KL

True to tradition, Concorde Hotel KL ‘opens’ the Year of the Monkey with great aplomb. Join in the fun on the 2^nd day of Chinese New Year (9 Feb) at the Hotel Lobby from 11am onwards.  Festive highlights include:

Image courtesy of Concorde Hotel KL

·         an awesome acrobatic lion dance by award-winning Kun Seng Keng

·         live Monkey King performance

·         Yee sang toss with the Hotel team

·         Entertaining Chinese acrobatic stunts

·         Photo session with JK & Shaki – two well-dressed monkeys