First of the CNY Feasts At Celestial Court, Sheraton Imperial KL

In the blink of an eye, a new decade dawns upon us, barely had the jingle of the Christmas songs faded before it is replaced by the melodious familiar cacophony of Chinese New Year kongsi songs.  Now, the main difference I reckon is the very money and prosperity skewed lyrics.  (compared to a baby born in the manger etc)

And since we're on the note of prosperity, Celestial Court, the pork free Chinese Restaurant of Sheraton Imperial KL, has three AUSPICIOUS CHINESE NEW YEAR REUNION 9 COURSE SET MENUS.

CNY Wealth Set at RM1688 nett per table
CNY Prosperity Set at RM1988 nett per table
CNY Happiness Set at RM2388.
Who says that money can't buy happiness.

And the mandatory Yee Sang, touted as the UNITY LOU SANG, is priced as below:

Abalone Sliced With Fresh Scallop Yee Sang (RM188 nett/ RM376 nett for large)
Crispy Soft Shell Crab Yee Sang (RM108nett/ RM216 nett for large)
Norwegian Salmon Yee Sang (RM108 nett/ RM216 nett for large)
Jelly Fish Yee Sang (RM88 nett/ RM176 nett large)

It was nice to partake in the "ritual", as it was referred to..... Words ushering prosperity, good health, good business, etc etc represented by the various condiments.  I think yee sang is a brilliant invention, and probably can attribute its origin to Malaysia. 

The crispy roasted Garlic Corn Fed Chicken, Sichuan Spiced Mushroom Sauce.  I enjoyed the moist thighs meat and the sauce had a nice sweet sour tangy zing to it.

Stewed Dried Oyster With Sea Cucumber and Black Moss ("Hair vegetable")
Traditionally, the Chinese word for oyster, Ho See, also sounds like good fortune, and the hair vegetable, FATT CHOY, well, forms part of the KUNG HEY FATT CHOY, so you get the drift.  Our table didn't get to sample this, as there were two sea cucumber dishes, and each table tried one variety.

Our table's version was the Braised Sea Cucumber With Chinese Mushrooms and Yam in Claypot.  A good combination, with the creamy yam, which melts in the mouth. 

Wok-fried prawns with Angled Loufa Gourd, Shimeji Mushrooms and Cashew Nuts
Prawns, like no 5 in Thai, is HA....which of course denoted mirth and joy.

Poached White Pomfret With Shredded Chicken and Mushrooms in Spicy Supreme Stock.  Pomfret is one of my favourite fish, so I was glad our table got the pomfret and the other table got the grouper.

To finish off, pan fried nian gao, which I have to say, was very good.  Not too sweet, well fried with a crispy exterior and soft insides.

Maybank, HSBC or CIMB cards get 20% discount (t&c apply)
Club Marriott members 30%, and Marriott Bonvoy from 10 - 20 % depending on tier. (t&c apply)

For dining and reservations, call 03-2717 9977 or email dining.specialist@sheraton.com

Ushering the Rooster at Dynasty Restaurant, Renaissance Hotel Kuala Lumpur

I always enjoy eating at the Dynasty Chinese Restaurant in Renaissance KL, because, WELL, the food is consistently good.  It was with eager anticipation that I came for their CNY review.  By eager anticipation, I mean with empty stomach, and arriving on time, so as not "miss out".  Chef Kok Chee Kin's menus are always something to look forward to anyway.

From the myriad sets that are available for the choosing, we were given the Fortune Set, priced at RM2088 nett per table of 10.  Over and above that, we were lucky enough to have a special "guest star appearance" by a dish that truly is one of the piece de resistance of the night.

Despite "lou sang" being done to death during the CNY Period, I have to say that there is a certain amount of bon viveur in celebrating and communing over this dish.  For starters, I can't think of any dish that requires communal participation, in chinese cuisine.  Steamboats don't really count, cos that's more like everyone for himself kinda thing.

The tossing of Yee Sang is an action packed routine, starting with the various condiments being strewn over the dish, much like an elaborate salad dressing.  Whilst this is done, utterance of prosperity, good health and all things good are said, usually by the server, and this is again regurgitated during the communal toss.

Whoever devised this dish is pure genius.  Almost every conceivable flavour and texture is present. Sweet, sour, bitter, crunchy, soft, mushy, slimy.....

And there we have it, lift off.....At my age, the most important auspicious utterance is probably SUN TAI KEEN HONG....good health.  Of course the Sang Yi Heng Loong (business prospers) is a close second.

The Fortune Combination Platter, a generous potpourri of plump scallops, delicious moneybags, and the usual deep fried fritters with salted egg yolk, and an elaborate vegetable sculpture ...this particular one of the longevity old man I think.

Ying Yang Scallop Soup With Dried Seafood...The flavour of the bamboo pith was a bit overpowering, which some of us didn't care much for.  I do know of some who do like that pungent flavour.  But I think it would be wise to tone it down a notch as I felt it overpowered the goodness and sweetness of the seafood broth.

Steamed Live Tiger Dragon Grouper  with Scallions and Ginger.  Lest it be miscontrued, I think what they mean is it was swimming live before it met it's fate on the plate, not that it was steamed alive.

It's always a challenge to get a good shot of steamed fish, because let's face it, a dead fish is hardly the most photogenic thing.  Gone are the colorful hues that one sees underwater.

And the bonus dish for the night, POON CHOI, the prosperity pot of goodness.  Scallops, abalone, big prawns, siu yoke, and that's just the top layer.  Beneath that opulent layer was duck, chicken, mushrooms, cabbage, ...the "lesser items" of the food kingdom, I suppose.  Mirroring life in general, I suppose.

Wok fried glutinous rice with waxed meats.... A good ratio of meats to rice... and very tasty, but so very filling it's impossible to have more than a few spoonsful, especially with a decadent menu such as tonight's.

One of my favourite dishes here, the Braised Pork Knuckle with Sea Cucumber.  That stewy goodness of pork skin, fat, cartilage, and meat which melt in the mouth.  Hog heaven.

Golden Prawns with Spicy Minced Garlic.  It was interesting to see how most of the women on the table were too lazy to peel prawns, so this was by far the least popular dish based on that alone, until the gallant and chivalrous respective partners were forced into the task.

Double boiled bamboo cane, aloe vera and fungus with Tong Yuen. It's always a welcome end to the meal to have that piping hot sweet soup, often gingery, with a couple of balls filled usually with nuts or seeds, to wash down the heavy dinner.

Dynasty's fortune pastries.  I have to say, the nian gao was outstanding...Perfect texture, and not too sweet.

 The dashing Executive Sous Chef Kok Chee Kin....hosting a question and answer session.

Sets start from as low as RM288 nett  for 2 persons, RM1088 nett for 6 persons, and RM1688 for 10 persons, while the Treasure pots start from RM428 nett for 5 persons.  ,

For Reservations, please call
Tel: 03-2716 9388

Renaissance Kuala Lumpur, Corner of Jln Sultan Ismail and Jln Ampang
Tel : 03-2162 2233

First Lou Sang of 2016 - Imperial Garden, Tai Thong Group

Gasp, January is almost over, and I have not written a single thing since 2016.  A sure sign that this blogger is at the sunset of his blogging career!!!

My first event of the year from the ever exuberant Eddy aka Chyuan Tiffin, of the TT Group, for their Chinese New Year press event.  Their events are always very carnivalesque, previously with all kinds of interesting stalls, and photobooths, and calligraphy booths, etc.  Well, perhaps the economy has come to a screeching halt, but there was markedly less festivities this year.

This was basically the spread which we expecting, as this was all laid out nicely at the foyer for photography...

Entrance of the god of Prosperity and the Monkey god.  No offence to these Chinese deities, but I don't think I'd fancy an encounter with either of them in a dark alley way late at night.  In a rather rare appearance, Eddy himself gave the welcome address...

Their Golden Fortune Yu Sang is basically a fruit salad, rather than the usual traditional Yu Sang with the gloriously artificially colored unidentifiable objects....which makes this rather refreshing, but there's no Yu, nor was there any jelly fish, which frankly, at RM108.80++....hmmmm.....No doubt it was tasty.  Those who prefer the traditional Yu Sang might find this a tad too healthy.

But good news, they do have the traditional Yu Sang as well, the Fortune Yee Sang with Salmon and Snow Pear (also RM108.80++) or the Double Happiness Yee Sang with Japanese Fish Roe and Prawns, at RM128.80++.

Steamed Fatt Choy Dumpling with Prawns...we were sampling both the dinner and lunch menus.  RM8.80++ per basket.

I have to say, this baked dried oyster tart was stunning..... Buttery (or maybe lardy) flaky shortcrust pastry, melt in the mouth with a delicious oyster filling.  This was one of my favourite dishes of the night. RM8.80++

The steamed bamboo rice with waxed meat, part of the lunch time menu, at RM10.80++. is worth every penny.  Lovely flavours infused into the rice by the waxed stuff...

Steamed Triple Delight With oyster sauce, RM9.80++, pretty good value as well, with a dried oyster, a small tuft of fatt choy and chinese mushrooms on a fish and prawn patty.

Everyone's unanimous favourite of the night, double boiled dried premium seafood soup served in coconut.  A clear soup, with all the goodness of a chinese soup, abalone, scallops, fish maw, crab sticks (eugh, I don't know why this absurdly fake ingredient is allowed in any dish at ALL), mushrooms, bamboo pith, village chicken and red dates.  Well, seeing to how all the ingredients are listed out, I might try making this at home, because it's really very very good.  RM48.80++.  (That used to be the price of an entire meal per head)...

By this time, we were all getting rather full, as that soup was quite filling, and we already had the bamboo rice, so I think Eddy was trying to get us into a food coma.  The main rice dish, the Claypot Rice with Chinese Waxed Meat and Edamame, really filled us up.  What a jolly good idea to add edamame to the lap mei fan dish...

The grandfinale, Fortune Seafood Treasure Pot.  I personally think crab sticks should really be banned from any dish, unless it deliberately wants to look cheap.  The fortune pot, well, costs a fortune as well, RM298.80 ++ for 5 pax, and RM498.80 ++ for 10 pax.  Consists of tiger prawn, jade perch, cheese baked mussels, stuffed squid with chicken meat, shitake mushrooms, baby corn, etc etc...

Something must have greatly amused the floggerati...

And finally, chilled nian gao with osmanthus and sakura RM11.80++. Such a pretty dessert if you ask me, pieces of nian gao enveloped in the translucent osmanthus jelly.

Anyway, there's a whole host of Tai Thong restaurants to choose from,