Chinese New Year is a big deal in Asia especially in the world's most populous nation - China, Hong Kong, Taiwan, Malaysia, Singapore and also in cities with a sizeable Chinese population.
In Malaysia, the Lunar New Year is a time for family reunions and endless feasts that continue where the Christmas and Georgian celebrations left off. The new spring will see the Snake Year slithering in. Even if you're not Chinese it's easy to join in the merriment with so many buffet-style feasts and lavish set meals available for Chinese New Year at restaurants and hotels in and around the Klang Valley and nationwide.
Thanks to the hospitality accorded by the Dorsett Regency KL team at Checkers' Cafe, here's a list of 'must have' festive dishes that every Lunar New Year celebrant should savour:
1. YEE SANG
In Cantonese, the two words mean raw fish but to the superstitious Chinese, it also means easy to prosper or abundant liveliness.
The customary platter consists of 8-12 ingredients that run the gamut from finely shredded carrot, radish, spring onion, Chinese parsley, cucumber, snow pear, pumpkin, pickled ginger, leeks and shallots, deep-fried shredded yam, flour crisps, crushed peanuts and sesame seeds. Toppings of sliced raw fish that ranges from salmon to premium seafood such as scallops and lobster and a dressing of sweet-sour plum sauce, oil, five-spice and white pepper powder are usually added onto the salad prior to serving.
The fun part is really the 'loh hei' ritual where everyone picks up their chopsticks and have a hand in stirring and tossing the colourful salad whilst simultaneously spewing 'loh hei', 'loh hei' (stir up) - a fervent wish for stirring prosperity and good tidings for all around the table.
Our portion of Salmon & Soft Shell Crab Yee Sang had the right
equation of colours, textures and flavours that was enlivened
further by the attendance of old and new friends. Priced from RM68++ onwards, the Yee Sang from Checkers Cafe can be enjoyed dine-in or for takeaway in half or full portion.
2. POON CHOY
This basinful of goodies is also known as New Year Treasure Pot and why not? Every scoop that you unearth from a pot that is overflowing with prized catches of prawns, abalone, sea
cucumber, fish maw, mushroom, dried oysters, roast duck, fish, squid, bean curd
puffs and chunks of radish truly befits such an auspicious tag.
Again the Cantonese name for it denotes a Potful of Prosperity...now who wouldn't want a share of such rich pickings eh? Legend has it that the speciality was created for the Chinese emperor when the monarch sought shelter from a storm in a fishing village. The kind and generous villagers decided to contribute and pool together their prized foodstuff into a communal pot resulting in an extravagant dish that became an imperial treat.
3. CRAB MEAT, FISH MAW AND SEAFOOD BROTH
Thick, unctuous and swimming with chunks of surimi crabstick, spongy fish maw and assorted seafood, this indulgent broth symbolises overflowing opportunities. The inherent sweetness of King Neptune's treasures alone makes it sumptuous enough to savour on its own or perked up with a little dash of black vinegar.
4. CRISPY ROAST DUCK WITH PAN-FRIED FOIE GRAS
Duck is a symbol of fidelity to the Chinese so it's hardly surprising they go quackers over delectable duck dishes. We certainly took to the sublime creation of Crispy Roast Duck with Pan-fried Foie Gras like ducks to water!
5. GOLDEN HAPPINESS JUMBO PRAWNS
'Har', the Cantonese word for prawn sounds like happy laughter (ha ha) so you'd find prawns are very much in demand come CNY. Needless to say, anyone in their right mind would want a joyous start to their new year no? Chef KK Yau of Dorsett KL dished up this jumbo-sized crustacean for our feast thus ensuring that we not only blissfully happy but also look forward to months of golden prospects.
6. FRIED RICE WITH DICED CHICKEN AND PRAWNS
One of the customary rice dishes that you're likely to encounter for the CNY celebrations is lap mei farn, rice cooked with waxed duck, sausages and meat. It's a rich-tasting dish with the deep-seated and sometimes wine-infused flavours fully absorbed into the fluffy rice grains.
However, fried rice is equally popular and an evergreen alternative for those who don't fancy the traditional rice dish. To the Chinese, rice is such a staple part of their daily diet that they even ask 'sek pau farn mei' (have you eaten rice?) as an informal way of asking how you're doing in life.
7. NIAN GAO
This sticky, sweet treat made from steamed glutinous rice flour, brown sugar and sometimes coconut milk is known as nian gao (Mandarin) or nin koh (Cantonese). According to Chinese beliefs, nian gao is served to the Kitchen God as an attempt to seal his lips so that he is unable to speak and report on each household's shenanigans.
Older folks exhort the young to eat nian gao in the hope that this traditional cake will ensure they attain a higher status in life, realise their soaring ambitions and for those still pursuing their studies, score high in their exams.
For reservations and information, contact Checkers
Café, Dorsett Regency Kuala Lumpur, Jalan Imbi, Kuala Lumpur. Tel: +603-2716 1000 (ext. 188) or visit:
