Lai Po Heen is serving dinner menus that come in neat one-person servings, perfect for those who may not have groups big enough for the typical tables of 10.
One of the best parts of Chinese New Year is the many grand dinners there will be lined up to be had in merry company of your closest and dearest.
However, loud affairs in huge tables of 10 persons are so passé. Make this Chinese New Year a classy one enjoyed in an intimate environment with top-notch service at Lai Po Heen, Mandarin Oriental Kuala Lumpur.
The award-winning Chinese restaurant doesn't only serve up some of the most authentically traditional flavours of Chinese New Year we've tasted, its portions come in neat one-person servings, perfect for those who may not have groups big enough for the typical tables of 10.
Here's what to expect.
Yee Sang with yellow fin tuna and salmon
True to its reputation for being a favourite among the elites, Lai Po Heen's yee sang comes with an extra touch of luxe in the form of creamy yellow fin tun sashimi on top of thick salmon slices. If we're going to toss to properity and auspiciousness this CNY, might as well make it luxurious.
Double boiled abalone soup
They say to gauge a Chinese chef's skill is through his soups and Lai Po Heen's chef gets top points in our books. This clear soup blooms with immense flavour the moment it touches the lips, with sweetness from the abalone, earthiness from generous use of morel mushroom and maca (a prized Peruvian ginseng) and the unmistakable creaminess of goji berries. It warms the stomach while kickstarting the appetite for more.
Steamed Omega-rich grouper
We weren't kidding about the neat single servings! Aside from being immensely pleasing on the eye, this dish also packs a a truckload of flavours. The chilli paste lends the tender grouper a spicy kick laced with an invigorating tartness while the ginger parsley paste provides a herbal and green crispness that efficiently cuts through the oiliness of the fish skin.
Poached corn-fed chicken
Lai Po Heen does poached chicken the way it is supposed to be done -- silky smooth while still maintaining a good bite. On its own, the chicken proves juicy with a mild saltiness from the light soy sauce bath, but had with a dollop of the special chef's creation dipping sauce, transforms into fragrant morsels with flavours that intensify the longer you chew.
Wok-fried Ming prawns
A feast for the eyes as well as the palate, Lai Po Heen's prawns come served arranged in the shape of a beautiful Chinese lantern with ingredients that are all edible. Carrot butterflies accompany springy prawns that are already shelled for easy eating. Wok-fried in a fragrant chilli paste, the prawns start off delightfully smoky in the mouth before melting into a tantalising caramelised finish.
'Fatt Choy' sun-dried seafood pot
All the prized traditional flavours of dried seafood in Chinese cuisine can be found here. Abalone, fish maw, sea cucumber and dried scallop are slow-cooked together with baby bok choy to present a dish that is boldly earthy in flavour and composition. It is even served over a low-burning fire so as to be kept warm from start to finish.
Fried healthy grain rice
Enjoy this fried rice with zero guilt as it is in fact brown rice mixed with other grains that are higher in fibre than carbohydrates. It borrows a medley of textures and tastes from diced pumpkin and a treasure trove of more mixed dried seafood to present a dish that is far from boring in the mouth.
Chilled osmanthus jelly
Dessert is a crisp and refreshing affair. Osmanthus jelly is nothing new in Chinese dessert but this one here comes with a layer of crunchy water chestnut cake so you are pleasantly surprised with a juicy crunch in each mouthful. Adding a small burst of sweetness are slices of fresh mandarin orange and strawberries, leaving you on a very naturally sweet end to the meal.
Lai Po Heen is offering 3 different Chinese New Year set menus this year. They are the Fortune set menu (RM278 per person), Prosperity set menu (RM388 per person) and Wealth set menu (RM628 per person). All 3 menus are available for order with a minimum of 4 persons from now until 29 February 2016.
For more information or reservation enquiries, please call 03 - 2179 8885 or email mokul-lpoheen@mohg.com.
More Chinese New Year dinner menus to add to your celebrations: Lai Ching Yuen serves up staples that are wholesome and significant.