Back for Chinese New Year Set Menu!
I have been scouting around the city for the coming Chinese New Year menus and this round I landed at the award-winning Lai Po Heen at Mandarin Oriental Kuala Lumpur! No newbie to this restaurant, Lai Po Heen serves up enhanced classic Cantonese cuisine and contemporary dim sum assortments. Chef Ricky Thein and his culinary team have whipped up an array of auspicious festive menus, Yee Sang and dim sum to celebrate the year of the water snake at Lai Po Heen.
This year, toss for prosperity and good fortune with five varieties of sumptuous Yee Sang from the kitchen of Lai Po Heen. Savor lavish Yee Sang with Sliced Abalone and Salmon, Yee Sang with Japanese Style Seafood in Wasabi Sauce, Yee Sang with Soft Shell Crab and Snow Pear, Salmon Yee Sang and Yee Sang with Assorted Vegetables and Shredded Fruits. All Yee Sangs are available during lunch and dinner from RM88++ to RM338++ for half or full portion respectively.
Yee Sang with Sliced Abalone and Salmon
We had the luxury of sampling the Yee Sang with Sliced Abalone and Salmon with additional portion of Fried Soft Shell Crab. It’s a match made in heaven with the trio of abalone, salmon and soft shell crab. The heavenly trio contributed lots of various textures to the refreshing Yee Sang with a gorgeous fruity sauce.
Check out how our foodies toss our Yee Sang! Everything was almost lifted up all at once for extra prosperity…
Each bite was juicy and bursting with aromatic fruity flavors of the sauce and various ingredients of pickled vegetables while a great dash of crushed nuts and sesame was also present. Yum!
Braised Sea Treasure Soup with American Ginseng and Chinese Cabbage
Our selections for the night were selected from all their festive set menus. Instead of the classic rendition of a regular soup, this year’s menu brought a modern twist of Braised Sea Treasure Soup with American Ginseng and Chinese Cabbage. Luxurious ingredients signifying prosperous CNY treasures such as whole abalone, fish maw, sea cucumber, mushroom and Chinese cabbage swam in a rich ginseng laced golden pool of broth. It’s simply a pool of wealth!
Steamed Golden Pomfret Fish with Spicy Brown Bean Sauce
Truth be told, I never had the lush pomfret paired with a spicy sauce. Usually the highly prized fish is steamed and dashed with delicate soya sauce to retain its precious flavor. Going out of the norm, Steamed Golden Pomfret Fish with Spicy Brown Bean Sauce got a few applauses that night. The spicy bean sauce really oomped up the fish. Even without rice, I can polish off a few pieces of this rendition favorably.
Simmered Fortune Duck with Mushrooms and Iceberg Lettuce in Yam Sauce
It may look lackluster at first sight but the Simmered Fortune Duck with Mushrooms and Iceberg Lettuce in Yam Sauce is delectable in flavors! Tender deep rich duck meat is glazed in a powdery and creamy yam sauce topped with Shimeji mushrooms and lettuce. This one replicates a sense of pure elegant comfort food.
Wok-Fried Lobster with Sweet Basil and Spicy Lemongrass Sauce
As much as I want to say I love lobsters anyhow, it was the sauce that coated the giant crustacean that had my attention. My chunk of lobster was beautifully cooked and amped up with a sticky finger-licking good Thai inspired sauce flavored from sweet basil and lemongrass. Believe me when I said it’s gorgeous as no sauce was spared after I was done!
Braised Money Bag Filled with Sea Treasures and Wok Fried Garden Green
Artistically presented with a contrast of colors, the money bag of bean curd pouch held a brunoise of sea treasures, black moss and vegetables topped with a mount of egg floss. Everything was nested in a pool of sunny sweet and savory broth. It is a really nice change from the usual vegetable dish.
Fried Glutinous Rice with Fresh Mushroom and Chicken Floss
With everything portioned for individual, the Fried Glutinous Rice with Fresh Mushroom and Chicken Floss was served nicely molded on a rectangular plate. Lightly sweet, the savory rice had a good bite in texture. I like that the glutinous rice was not overly soft but it matched well with other ingredients in texture. Great idea to add the chicken floss for extra flavors!
Double Boiled Snow Pear with Aloe Vera, Honey Date and Sundried Longan in Osmanthus Syrup
Dessert is warm and soothing after the lavish meal. I welcomed the sweet dessert broth gladly. Not too sweet, the broth had a delicate of sweetness from the snow pear and dates. I adored the cubed soft aloe vera for its texture.
Deep Fried Glutinous Rice Cakes with Red Sweet Potato, Yam and Honey Lemon
Going classic for a finish, the CNY favorite Nian Gao sandwiched with sweet potato and yam is enveloped in thin crispy spring roll skin. High points for using the spring roll wrapper as it doesn’t overpower the Nian Gao but rather providing the great contrasting texture of crispiness it deserves.
Lai Po Heen is filled with lots of modern culinary dishes by Chef Ricky. Expect Chinese classics injected with a modern touch and refine flavors. Coupled with its grand décor and a view of its open kitchen for some kitchen entertainment, Lai Po Heen will send its guests into a spectacular culinary experience of Chinese fine dining at its best!
Chinese New Year Festive Menu
Fortune Set Menu
Salmon Yee Sang with Assorted Vegetables & Shredded Fruits, Double Boiled Whole Abalone with Sea Treasure Soup, Steamed Golden Pomfret with Spicy Brown Bean Sauce, Poached Corn Fed Chicken with Jasmine Tea& Young Ginger Dip, Wok Fried Prawns with ‘Chuan Yue’ Sauce, Braised Money Bag filled with Sea Treasures & Wok Fried Green Garden, Wok Fried Shanghai Rice Cakes with Seafood in X.O. Sauce, Double Boiled Snow Pear with Aloe Vera, Honey Date & Sun-Dried Loagan in Osmanthus Syrup, Yunnan Pu Erh Tea – RM188.00++ per person (Minimum of 4 persons)
Prosperity Set Menu
Yee Sang with Soft Shell Crab and Snow Pear, Doubled Boiled Abalone Soup with Seasonal Dried Deluxe Seafood, Steamed Sea Grouper with Cordyceps Bulb & Red Dates, Crispy Roasted Garlic Corn Fed Chicken with Szechuan Spiced Sauce, Wok-Fried Sea Prawns with Golden Pumpkin Sauce, Braised Eight Treasure Sun-Diced Seafood in Clay Pot, Fried Glutinous Rice with Fresh Mushroom & Chicken Floss, Steamed Chinese Sweetened Glutinous Rice Cakes with Shredded Coconut, Chilled Green Tea Sagon with Dragon Fruit, Ti Kuan Yin Tea - RM238.00++ per person (Minimum of 4 persons)
Wealth Set Menu
Yee Sang with Sliced Abalone & Salmon, Braised Sea Treasures Soup with American Ginseng & Chinese Cabbage, Simmered Fortune Duck with Mushroms, Sea Cucumber & Iceberg Lettuce in Yam Sauce, Steamed Cod Fish with Yellow Fungus, Baby Cabbage & Morel Mushroom, Wok-Fried Lobster with Sweet Basil & Spicy Lemongrass Sauce, Wrapped Glutinous Tice with Japanese Scallop & Sea Moss in Lotus Leaf, Double Boiled Snow Pear with Aloe Vera, Honey Date and Sundried Longan in Osmanthus Syrup, Deep Fried Glutinous Rice Cakes with Red Sweet Potato, Yam and Honey Lemon - RM338.00++ per person (Minimum of 4 persons)
Chinese New Year Longevity Dim Sum Set (Lunch only) – RM98.00++ per person (Minimum of 4 persons)
Chinese New Year Happiness Dim Sum Set (Lunch only) – RM138.00++ per person (Minimum of 4 persons)
For dining reservations and more information, please contact Lai Po Heen at +603 2179 8885 or email at mokul-lpoheen@mohg.com
LAI PO HEEN
1st Floor, Mandarin Oriental, Kuala Lumpur
P.O. Box 10950,
50088 Kuala Lumpur
Tel: +603-2179 8885
Fax: +603-2380 8833
Website: http://www.mandarinoriental.com/
**More pictures at my facebook: ChasingFoodDreams
I can still rmbr how good everything tasted. Yumm!
ReplyDeleteI think your first shot wins the prize for best CNY photo ever - closely followed by the cheeky shot of chef Ricky.
ReplyDeleteI wonder where is the honey lemon for the dessert?
ReplyDeleteArgh craving Yee sang at an ungodly hour!
ReplyDelete