Xin, the Chinese restaurant in Concorde Hotel Kuala Lumpur, is impressive looking with its majestic dragon pillars reaching up to the ceiling. Each pillar has a glorious dragon intricately carved, entwining itself around the pillar and reaching upwards. I’m sure there are many interpretations and stories behind these golden pillars.
Amidst this grand Oriental setting, we seated ourselves at a table decked out with fine red tablecloths and delicate porcelain tableware for a prosperity feast. To usher in the Year of the Wooden Horse, Chef Wong Pak Seng and his culinary team have come up with special Prosperity Set Menus and delightful new dishes for this festive period (until 14 February 2014). The Prosperity Sets are price at RM1,388++/RM1,588++ per table of 10 persons.
If you’d like to select your own preferred dishes, well, there are plenty listed on their a la carte menu with many new dishes included as well. Prices ranged from RM13++ to RM318++ per order. We savoured some dishes from the set menus as well as their a la carte menu… so, check these out below.
Starting off the feast, we had the Prosperity Salmon Yee Sang, a must-have in any Chinese New Year celebration. Xin offers 6 types of Yee Sang variations, available for lunch and dinner daily and priced at RM68++ to RM108++ (Regular portion) and RM98++ to RM198++ (Large portion).
To warm up our tummies, the piping hot Double-boiled Chicken Soup with Wolfberries does a good job. It’s a clear soup that plainly highlights the sweet flavours of the free-range chicken and wolfberries.
The Roast Goose with Special Sauce and Bountiful Abalones in Golden Pouch are new dishes concocted by Chef Wong and his team. The golden-skinned roast goose weighs about 3kg as Chef Wong is not fond of geese which are too big as these tend to have tougher meat. We love the firm texture of the roast goose which has been marinated with all the right spices resulting in meat which has a perfect balance of flavours, yet not totally eliminating the natural gamey taste of the bird.
We are intrigued by the huge golden pouch served on a plate surrounded prettily of broccoli florets. When it’s untied, a nest of abalones, mushrooms and sea cucumber is revealed. Instead of the usual beancurd skin, Chef Wong explains that he prefers to use egg omelette for the pouch for its stronger hold and of course, its inviting eggy taste.
Bountiful Abalones in Golden Pouch
Wok-fried Prawns with Fresh Fruits & Sesame Sauce, Steamed Pomfret with Soya Sauce & Garlic Oil and Double-boiled Honeydew with Garbanzo Beans are tempting fares from the Prosperity Set Menus. The prawns are easy to handle as they are served without shells – a plus point for kids. Besides pomfret, diners can also select other types of fish to be steamed – just check with the restaurant on what’s available for the day.
Waxed Meat dishes are almost like a mandatory feature in any CNY meal. Xin offers 6 types of waxed meat dishes and the most popular among the lot is their Waxed Meat Rice in Claypot, which is one of the best I have tasted this year. Chef Wong uses a combination of white rice, glutinuous rice and brown rice for this and that explains the aromatic and deliciously chewy texture of the rice especially with the slices of waxed duck, sausages and waxed pork.
Waxed Meat Rice in Claypot
Nian Gao makes its appearance mostly only during Chinese New Year. Apart from the commercially made ones, you really can’t get the traditional ones at any other time of the year. Xin’s nian gao are always eagerly awaited as each year, there’s bound to be new versions served. This year, the special versions are Sweet Potato Nian Gao with Macadamia Nuts, Chocolate Paste Green Tea Nian Gao and Deep-fried Hazelnut Paste Nian Gao (all at RM9.80++ per order). My favourite is the Deep-fried Hazelnut Paste Nian Gao encased in a light delicately crispy batter.
Chocolate Paste Green Tea Nian Gao
Deep-fried Hazelnut Paste Nian Gao
Double-boiled Honeydew with Garbanzo Beans
Prior to the Chinese New Year, Xin also offers “Sau Gong” promotions with special 9-course set dinners priced at RM888++, RM1,068++ and RM1,388++ per table of 10 persons.
For enquiries & bookings, please call the direct line of Xin Cuisine at 03-2144-8750.
Xin Cuisine
Concorde Hotel
2 Jalan Sultan Ismail
50250 Kuala Lumpur
Tel: 03-2144-2200
Fax: 03-2145-2007
*Xin Cuisine is closed on the 1st day of Chinese New Year (31 January 2014) and resumes for business on the 2nd day (1 February 2014) at 9.00am with Dim Sum and CNY offerings as well as:
CONCORDE’S CNY 2ND DAY CELEBRATIONS
Starts at 10.00am, Hotel Lobby
The hotel has lined up some amazing entertainment for guests – acrobatic stunts by world champion lions, Kun Seng Keng Lion Dance Troupe, The China Acrobats, Little God of Prosperity and photo sessions with 2 beauties – a majestic beautiful horse named “Diva” and an adorable pony in front of the hotel driveway. Do not miss this!