Yvette Kang shares her favourite CNY dishes and the best spots for Chinese cuisine in Malaysia, HK and Singapore.
At the helm of Yvents! is the beautiful Yvette Kang, whom we can thank for giving Malaysians a taste of some of Broadway and West End's best productions, like 'Chicago the Musical', 'Disney's Beauty and the Beast', and most recently, 'Hairspray the Musical'.
With Chinese New Year just around the corner, we asked the past winner of Malaysia Tatler's 'Most Promising Young Woman' award about her celebrations for the lunar festivities and her recommendations for great Chinese restaurants in town and abroad.
My favourite dish for Chinese New Year is:
Lou-sang of course, doused with extra abalone! It just kickstarts the whole dinner and sets everyone in a good mood for the rest of the evening.
Growing up in Kuala Lumpur, how did you celebrate Chinese New Year?
As a child, Chinese New Year was always the season I would look forward to eagerly because that's when the entire family returns to my father’s hometown in Batu Pahat, Johor. Devoid of our modern day gadgets like iPads, we would still find ways and means to amuse ourselves playing games like ‘catch’ in the gardens, five stones and firecrackers in the evening. Those idyllic childhood days are forever etched in my memory and will always be nostalgic.
What are the essential dishes you have to have during the Chinese New Year reunion dinner?
Definitely a good ‘poon choy’ and ‘nian kao’.
Describe your ideal way to spend Chinese New Year?
I miss my mum and sisters tremendously and since they live in Singapore, my ideal Chinese New Year would be to spend the entire week in Singapore with my family and just spending quality time with my mum, sisters, nephews and nieces.
What is your Chinese New Year comfort food?
Too many to name! But I would rank up there pineapple tarts, butter cookie and peanut cookies! I am fortunate to receive these delicacies in abundance every year from my dearest family and friends.
Have you celebrated Chinese New Years outside of Malaysia?
Yes during my student days in Australia, a group of us friends would get together and we would usually visit a restaurant in Chinatown and have dinner and spend time together. The ambience and atmosphere would of course be muted versus the experience back home and this is when homesickness kicks in but we would still make the best of it.
Where would you go to dine out for great chinese cuisine in Malaysia?
Elegant Inn at Menara Hap Seng, Li Yen at Ritz Carlton and generally all the Oriental group of restaurants are great for their refined Cantonese cuisine but I personally prefer to eat at home for my Chinese New Year dinner and enjoy the evening with my loved ones.
When traveling, where would you recommend for good Chinese cuisine?
In Singapore, Majestic Hotel's innovative chinese cuisine is a top pick of mine and also Xi Yan, the private dining kitchen by famed chef Jacky Yu. In Hong Kong, the private dining kitchen 'Chairman' is superb but always make sure to make reservations in advance. 'Tin Heung Lau' is a great choice for its fabulous Hangzhou cuisine and its hairy crab roe noodles is also a favourite of my husband and I.
You may also be interested in: