For the Chinese, celebrating the lunar new year is all about family and tradition with lots of auspicious symbolism thrown in. So, preferably the dishes during such festive feasting should ring in “prosperity”, “good fortune” and “happiness”. To bring these elements to the table, the chefs at the Tai Thong restaurants have curated special dishes that symbolise all things good.
We checked out some of Tai Thong’s special dishes to usher in the Year of the Monkey. The chefs have a come up with 5 special set menus for 6 pax and 10 pax. Prices of these sets start from RM538++ for 6 pax and RM828++ for 10 pax.
Golden Fortune Yee Sang
Tossing for good fortune is a must and this year’s yee sang at Tai Thong is incredibly healthy too. Their Golden Fortune Yee Sang is made up of fresh assorted fruits, vegetables and crunchy nuts – my absolute favourite. It’s a platter of glorious colours, tastes and textures coming from dragonfruits, pomegranates, green apples, rose apples, mandarin oranges, red grapes, peaches and even jackfruits! Lots of crunch comes in the form of sesame seeds, pumpkin seeds, peanuts, pistachios, salted almonds and dried berries. There’s also shredded carrots and radish to add more colours to the dish.
There’s always soup in a Chinese meal and the Double-boiled Dried Premium Seafood Soup served in a coconut is both nutritious and comforting.
Poon Choy has always been a popular dish to have during a festive meal as the pot of goodies contains a variety of delectable items. Tai Thong’s poon choy comes in 2 sizes – RM298.80++ for 5 pax and RM498.80++ for 10 pax. Choose either the Prosperity Poon Choy or the Golden Treasure Poon Choy with slightly different ingredients.
Fortune Seafood Treasure Pot
Please note that reservation has to be made 2 days in advance for the Poon Choy for both dine-in and takeaway.
Where rice is concerned in a lunar festive meal, the addition of waxed meats is a must. Diners can choose with the individually-served Steamed Bamboo Rice or the communal, both with waxed meats and their unmistakable aromas.
Steamed Bamboo Rice with Waxed Meats (RM10.80++)
The dimsum chefs at Tai Thong have also been busy as they will be presenting several new auspicious dimsum this coming Chinese New Year. They are available from 1-29 February 2016, so look out for these…
Steamed Fatt Choy Dumplings with Prawns (RM8.80++)
Baked Dried Oysters Tart (8.80++) – these were my absolute favourites. Soft crumbly buttery pastry encasing a delightfully aromatic filling of chopped dried oysters!
Steamed Triple Delight with Oyster Sauce (RM9.80++) – steamed dumplings topped with mushroom, dried oyster and “fatt choy”.
This year, Tai Thong’s special dessert comes in the form of Chilled Nian Gao with Osmanthus and Sakura. Very pretty and appealing, the slice of nian gao is chilled inside konyaku jelly with fragrant osmanthus and some sakura petals.
With the Chinese New Year just a few weeks away, it’s time to make your reservations. Check out your nearest restaurant:
KUALA LUMPUR
Imperial City Restaurant, Cheras (03-9132-0118)
Tai Thong Odeon Restaurant, Kepong Baru (03-6257-7918)
*Spring Garden Restaurant, KLCC (03-2166-9881)
*Oriental Pearl Restaurant, Bkt Jalil (03-8994-4811)
*Oriental Pearl Restaurant, Bkt Kiara (03-2092-3118)
PUTRAJAYA
*Spring Garden Restaurant, Putrajaya (03-8889-1188)
SELANGOR
Imperial Garden Restaurant, Petaling Jaya (03-7956-6868)
Imperial Palace Restaurant, Bdr Puchong Jaya (03-8076-6882)
Imperial China Restaurant, Subang Jaya (03-5636-1266)
*Spring Garden Restaurant, Kota Permai (03-5122-3088)
*Spring Garden Restaurant, Tropicana (03-7880-7226)
IPOH
Royal China Restaurant, Ipoh (05-241-3088)
*Pork-free