‘FORTUNE FAVOURS THE BOLD’ FEASTS AT HILTON PETALING JAYA

Like the bold and brave Tiger leaping into the coming Lunar New Year, the Hilton culinary team decides ‘fortune favours the bold’; the team showing their inventive streak via this year’s selection of Yee Sang creations and 3 set menus to welcome the Year of the Tiger.

During the media preview, we sampled dishes from the 3 different set menus priced between RM168nett – RM218 nett per person (minimum per table of 5 diners). Overall, the quality was on-point with the Eight Orchards Treasure Yee Sang (RM178 for 10 persons) garnering the most effusive praises.

The colourful combination of fresh fruits was refreshing was visually pleasing and whetted our appetite for repeat helpings. Imagine it was our second salad of the evening yet it got the thumbs up so that spoke volumes of its appeal.

While the Tiger Prawn, Salmon and Rose Apple Yee Sang (RM268 for 10 persons) was nice and distinctive, the jumble of crisps and pickles left it begging for more fresh vegetables and fruits to balance the equation.

When it comes to soul-satisfying soup, one of the key choices included Double Boiled Soup with Dried Scallop, Chicken, Black Mushroom & Herb. A surefire crowd-pleaser, this timeless broth is likely to go down well with both the young and young-at-heart.

Chicken is popularly eaten during the Lunar New Year – symbolically referred to as ‘the phoenix’ – is prepared in different ways for the 3 set menus. The Succulent Roasted Chicken with Mongolian Sauce should pique the tastebuds especially since the dark ginger-garlicky sauce enhanced the juicy and tender meat.

Fish is quintessential for Lunar New Year – to reflect abundance and excess – also takes centrestage in the festive menus. The Steamed Cod with Superior Soy Sauce and topped with Crispy Garlic was delicious although slightly overdone.

 

The Fried Golden Tiger Prawns with Butter, Salted Egg & Chicken Floss proved on-point; the rich savoury sauce a nice complement to the crustaceans’ natural sweetness. In Cantonese, the word ‘har’ (prawn) - a homonym for laughter - means eating prawns is believed to evoke happy laughter.

Hearty and comforting, the little parcels of Steamed Glutinous Rice with Salted Egg wrapped in Lotus Leaf will ensure no diners leave the table dissatisfied.

As expected, sweet dessert broth such as Warm Lily Bulb in Longan Syrup & Lotus Seeds rounded up the celebratory meal. One of the set menus also showcased dainty morsels of Nian Gao & Snow Skin Pumpkin.

For reservations at Toh Yuen restaurant, call tel: 03-7955 9122, WhatsApp +6016 216 0414 or visit: eatdrinkhilton.com                 Address: Hilton Petaling Jaya, Jalan Barat, Petaling Jaya, Selangor.

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