Yee Sang and waxed meats are two must-have components when it comes to the Chinese New Year celebration. You don’t see these at any other time of the year, seriously but when a new lunar year is about to dawn, restaurants and eateries everywhere will have these on their menus.
This year, Xin Chinese Cuisine at the Concorde Hotel Kuala Lumpur offers 6 varieties of Yee Sang to welcome the Year of the Fire Monkey. Tossing into the mounds of shredded vegetables and fruits are ingredients like sliced abalones, Norwegian salmon, scallops, shredded duck meat and snow pear for the vegetarian option. So, take your pick – prices start from RM79nett for the regular portion and RM114nett for the large portion.
Smoked Salmon Yee Sang
If you are dining in a big group, it’s worthwhile to go for Xin’s special set menus. To keep things simple, they are offering only 2 sets this year, at RM1,618nett and RM1,968nett per table of 10 pax. These 9-course sets come with good portions of specially-curated traditional festive dishes and are available until 22 February 2016. We tasted several of these popular dishes recently and as always, the food at Xin does not disappoint.
For starters, if you can’t decide but would like a combo of several items on a platter, go for the 3 Hot Combination appetizers. The chefs will prepare what’s best and freshest for the day.
Abundant 3 Hot Combination
Deep-fried Prawns wrapped with yam paste
Soups are always welcome in a Chinese meal and a good choice would be Xin’s famed dried seafood soup. Every spoonful of the thick rich soup is filled with dried scallops, fish maw and crabmeat. I can have two bowls of these myself!
Prosperity Thick Soup with Dried Seafood
The chefs at Xin are wizards when it comes to roasting suckling pigs. Just take a look at this fine crispy golden skin…
Crispy Suckling Pig Hongkong-style
Popular fishes during the Chinese New Year at Xin are either the garoupa or codfish. I like both actually…
Steamed Codfish with Garlic Oil
Prawns are another must-have item. Diners can choose either the sea prawns or the freshwater prawns.
Baked Freshwater Prawns with King Superior Soya Sauce
Waxed meats and Chinese sausages are not only cooked with the usual Lap Mei Fan but also cooked with other meats and ingredients. Xin’s chefs have created 6 such dishes for this festive season and here’s one of those…
Braised Chicken with 3 Varieties Chinese Sausages
Other waxed meats dishes that are available on the a la carte menu are the Steamed 2 Varieties Chinese Sausages with Seasonal Vegetables, Steamed Bud Mushrooms with 3 Varieties Chinese Sausages and Braised Leek with Chinese Sausages. Prices range from RM40nett – RM114nett per order (small/regular/large).
Of course, the best seller among the lot is their Waxed Meats Rice in Claypot – it’s one of the best around town!
Waxed Meats Rice in Claypot
The 2 set menus come with the same desserts of …
Pomelo Puree with Mango Sago … totally delicious! and Assorted Nian Gao…
Sweet Potato Nian Gao with Macadamia Nuts
Peanuts Nian Gao with Pistachios
Waxed Meats Nian Gao with Chicken Floss
For the special nian gao, I love all 3 varieties which are the Sweet Potato Nian Gao with Macadamia Nuts, the Waxed Meats Nian Gao with Chicken Floss and the Peanut Nian Gao with Pistachios. These are also available as a la carte orders at RM12.80nett per portion.
For reservations, please call Xin Cuisine 03-2144-8750.
XIN CHINESE CUISINE
The Concorde Hotel Kuala Lumpur
2 Jalan Sultan Ismail
50250 Kuala Lumpur
Tel: 03-2144-2200
*Xin Cuisine will be closed on the 1st day of Chinese New Year and will reopen for breakfast on the 2nd day of Chinese New Year
Like in previous years, there’s always a special performance at The Concorde Kuala Lumpur on the 2nd day of the Chinese New Year. On 9 February 2016, everyone is welcome to join the New Year activities at the hotel lobby from 11am onwards. The well-known Kun Seng Keng Lion Dance Troupe will be performing alongside another star attraction “Monkey King Sun Wukong”. Guests will then be invited to join the big Yee Sang toss, watch more stunts from the Amazing China Acrobats and meet “JK & Shaki”, 2 adorable monkeys on stage.