ROAR-SOME CELEBRATION AT DORSETT GRAND SUBANG

Patrons of The Emperor can look forward to a roar-some Chinese New Year (CNY) celebration at Dorsett Grand Subang thanks to the award-winning culinary prowess of Senior Sous Chef Liew Yin Wah (right) and Dim Sum Chef Chan Chee Loong (left).

With a plethora of Prosperity Yee Sang, CNY a la carte specialities, and 3 celebratory set menus to choose from, hotel guests will be spoiled for choice to welcome the Year of the Tiger from 1 – 15 February.

Chef Liew, whose accolades include 3rd placing in Battle of the Chefs at the 13th Penang International Sales Gastronomique in 2011, and part of the winning Malaysian team at the 2019 Salon International De L’alimentation (SIAL) Competition in Shanghai, proved adept at serving up treasured festive classics for the 8-course Wealthy Set Menu (RM899 nett for a table of 5-6 diners) we sampled.

Fervent wishes of good health, return to normalcy and reunion with our near and dear ones were uppermost in our minds as we tossed and enjoyed the customary platter of delicious Salmon and Shredded Young Mango Yee Sang. The mixture of shredded vegetables, pickles, and crisps hit the spot with a tantalising plum sauce that wasn’t too thick nor cloying.

Wholesome and nutritious yet light on the palate, the Double Boiled Sea Whelk, Bamboo Pith and Farm Village Chicken Soup proved on-point. A dish that’s likely to gain the approval of the fussiest matriarchs.

Reminiscent of grand banquets past, the timeless Roast Crispy Chicken with Prawn Crackers made it a show-stopper in this menu. Roasted to perfection, the paper-thin crispy skin and juicy meat would have tasted even better had it come accompanied with the classic ‘jiu yim’ (salt with ground Sichuan pepper and perhaps a smidgen of five spice powder) dip.

The chef’s winning streak continued with Wok Fried Tiger Prawns with Superior Soya Sauce. Rarely has any caramelised sauce coating sauteed crustaceans’ came on par with the finger-licking level but this one did. Coupled with the sweetness of stir-fried onions, we abandoned decorum to savour every morsel of the sweet, fresh crustaceans.

Hong Kong Style Steamed Red Snapper is featured in the actual festive menu. However, the chef’s recommended dish of Braised Housemade Beancurd with Fish Fillet (RM68 – small, RM118 – medium, RM168 – large) proved such a hearty hit, we made short work of it in no time.

It would be remiss if Braised Black Mushrooms with Dried Oysters and Sea Moss wasn’t included in a festive meal. Eating plump succulent black mushrooms, smoky dried oysters and fine threads of black seamoss during CNY is akin to internalising everything fortuitous, good luck, prosperity, etc for the rest of the year. Now, who is going to argue with that?

Chef Liew also gave the traditional waxed meat rice a healthier spin by serving Steamed Organic Brown Rice with Glutinous Rice and Smoked Duck. We are glad to report the recipe worked well as the inclusion of brown rice lent the dish a nutty slant whilst lightening the denseness of glutinous rice.

Refreshing dessert broth of Chilled Sea Coconut with Lemon Slices and Dim Sum Chef Chan’s handiwork: Deep-fried Nian Gao with Sweet Potato and Yam, and Crystal Skin Mango Puree with Pandan Lotus Paste wrapped up our lunch on a high note.

You can also order CNY Steamed Radish Cake (RM38 nett) for takeaway. Packed in a convenient gift box, the radish cake is ready-to-eat with toppings of fried shallot, spring onion and chilli. In Hong Kong, it's a festive treat enjoyed among family and friends throughout the Chinese New Year celebration.

For reservations at The Emperor, call tel: 03-5031 6060 or email: bookfnb.subang@dorsetthotels.com.

  

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

 

HUNG CHUN POPO X RED CUISINE CHINESE REUNION DINNER

To reinforce the popular adage, ‘the proof of the pudding is always in the eating’, Hung Chun collaborated with Pullman KLCC Hotel to introduce Hung Chun’s three new products: Popo Black Vinegar, Popo Garlic Chilli Sauce and Popo Oyster Sauce recently.

After a welcome address by Hung Chun Sdn Bhd Director Peter Yee (bottom pix) followed by the customary curtain-raiser of Yee Sang, the versatility of Hung Chun Popo sauces appeared in the Hot & Cold Combination. 

Chef Fong explained he used Popo Soya Sauce, Chilli Sauce, Vinegar, Oyster Sauce, and Dark Soya Sauce to prepare the Crispy Chicken and Prawns Money Bag, Squid with Chilli and Garlic Crisps, and Stir-Fried Pacific Clams with Dried Chillies.

For the tantalising serving of Marinated Jelly Fish with Fungus and Aged Vinegar, Hung Chun Popo Soya and Chilli Sauces along with Vinegar played key roles in the dish. Chef Fong said, “Popo Black Vinegar is layered in its complexity yet its taste is gentle on palate; allowing you to drink it neat without having to dilute it.” 

Based on a traditional formula passed down from older generations, Popo Black Vinegar uses premium grade key ingredients such as “dang gui” and natural rice vinegar, to bring out its best flavour – great for mums in confinement. 

We then sampled Double Boiled Chicken Broth with South American Fish Maw, ‘Hong Kong’ Ginseng, Boneless Chicken, Prickly Sea Cucumber and Chinese Tea Mushroom.

Founded in 1946, Hung Chun started as a humble cottage industry but its dynamic efforts saw it conquering the export market in Singapore, Thailand and Brunei.

As the first local sauce manufacturer to adopt modern German technology pasteurization process in sauce-making, quality remains Hung Chun’s main priority. The company’s careful selection of raw materials, well-trained staff and the usage of advance machinery combine to ensure the products are not only of the highest quality, but also the most hygienic, safe for consumption and best-tasting.

The show-stopping dish of Braised Goose Web with Dried Oyster, Mushroom and Green Vegetables incorporated Hung Chun Popo Oyster Sauce and Popo Soy Sauce. Granted, the smooth fall-off-the-bone tender goose web was not for the faint-hearted but it hit the spot for those who enjoyed its wondrous texture and the richness of Popo Oyster Sauce.

To showcase Hung Chun’s newly launched Popo Black Vinegar,  executive Chinese chef, Fong Teik Fei imbued his creation of Baked Five Spice Chicken Roulade with Szechuan Cucumber, Green Vegetables and Shimeji Mushroom with Hung Chun Popo Black Vinegar and Soya Sauce.

A saucy concoction of Hung Chun Popo Soy Sauce and King Soy Sauce with Chicken Essence and ‘Hong Kong’ Ginseng Superior King Sauce enhanced the ‘Hong Kong’ Style Poached Grouper. The fish’s delicate sweetness was discernible despite it being overdone.

Ditto with the Steamed Stuffed Jumbo Fresh King Prawn. A splash of Hung Chun Popo Soya Sauce amplified the sea-freshness of the crustacean which was stuffed with pickled vegetables and ‘Bentong’ ginger atop steamed truffle paste egg white.

Toppings of chicken floss and scallion lent textural and flavour accents to the Claypot Waxed Duck Meat Rice. Naturally, Hung Chun Popo Oyster Sauce, Soya Sauce, and Dark Soya Sauce are the essential sauces in the preparation of this festive delicacy.

Doubled-boiled Fuji Apple Aloe Vera Broth with Glutinous Balls rounded up our celebratory meal on a sweet note.

For diners who are keen to sample the Hung Chun Popo X Red Cuisine CNY Reunion Menu, it’s priced at RM280++ per person.

Popo Black Vinegar, Popo Garlic Chilli Sauce, Popo Oyster Sauce and other Hung Chun’s products such as Popo Soy Sauce can be found at various supermarkets, hypermarkets and Shopee.