As a multicultural country, we celebrate all kinds of cultural and traditional festivities in Malaysia. That should be the way. I mean, like what’s wrong with wishing people “Merry Christmas” and putting up red decorations in public places to usher in a new year? And most of us have been practising this, especially when it comes to food! Like how we love our ketupat & rendang, murukku, roast turkey and yee sang! Yes, yee sang is now served and enjoyed in Indian and Malay restaurants! Let’s celebrate MALAYSIA.
Celebrity Chef Wan has come up with his unique version of Yee Sang at De.Wan 1958 by Chef Wan – his very popular restaurant in The Linc, Kuala Lumpur. There are many Malay elements in this Prosperity Yee Sang but the Chinese concept remains, which is to toss everything together for prosperity!
It is a colourful assembly of vegetables, fruits and some of Chef Wan’s signature items. There’s julienned carrots, radish, clumps of sweet juicy pomelo and then there’s also kerb pucuk paku, rempeyek, cucur udang and crispy slices of fried otak-otak! For more colour and fragrance, there’s also sprigs of our local ulam, cherry tomatoes and edible flowers. And to bind all these together, toss it with some serunding, plum sauce, Chef Wan’s kuah kacang and crunchy crushed peanuts and sesame seeds!
It’s a vibrant flamboyant Yee Sang, for sure, much like the chef himself! And totally delicious.
Prosperity Yee Sang (RM68 for 4-6 pax/RM128 for 10-12pax)
For the coming Chinese New Year celebration, for a change, why not take the family or have a friends gathering to savour Malay cuisine? At De.Wan 1958 by Chef Wan, there are CNY Set Menus for group dining, for groups of 8-10 pax at RM1,388 & RM1,688 and a bigger set at RM1,888 for 10-12 pax.
Of course diners can also order a la carte dishes from the menu. I would recommend these dishes… but beware, be prepared to eat lots of rice with these, simply because they are just that good and appetising! And the rice, with several choices, is so fragrant and addictive – we love the Nasi Telur Trengganu and Nasi Minyak Bunga Telang.
Since our last visit to the restaurant, there are some new items added to the menu (Season 2 already!). The Bakar-Bakar (BBQ/Grilled) items are always popular and now there’s live fish offered, like Ikan Ketutu (soon hock/marble goby), Kerapu Harimau Estuary (grouper), Australian Jade Perch, Ikan Jenahak (silver snapper) and Ikan Siakap (sea bass). The sweet fresh fish tastes amazing!
Grilled Live Seabass (RM148, 1-1.2kg)
A new item added to the Bakar-Bakar menu which we highly recommend is the Tulang Ekor Bakar (grilled oxtail). We were sceptical about this, as we know, oxtail can be tough, unless it’s made into Oxtail Soup! However, when the dish of these golden chunks was served and we took our first bite, we were completely bowled over. They were tender yet chewy, the meat superbly marinated and so skilfully grilled that we almost fought over the last piece! Yes, this is a must-order.
Tulang Ekor Bakar (RM62) richly marinated oxtail, grilled to aromatic juicy perfection
Other dishes that we love and recommend are the ever-popular Prawns Gulai Lemak Nenas, Squids in Green Curry & Salted Eggyolk (very addictive) and Otak-Otak.
Gulai Lemak Nenas Prawns (RM68)
Squids in Green Curry & Salted Eggyolk
Otak Otak (RM48) delicious baked seafood mix of mackerel and fresh prawns seasoned with aromatic galangal, kaffir leaves, daun kapok and basil leaves
Stir-Fried Broccoli with Crispy Garlic (RM32) with mushrooms
For desserts, we love our favourite Bubur Som Som and this time we were introduced to a new sweet: Puding Hang Li Po Gula Endau. Served in a modern presentation (it looks like the western trifle), this elegant pudding tastes amazing, thanks to the super fragrant palm sugar (gula endau). Order this.
Puding Hang Li Po Gula Endau (RM18) – smooth fragrant lemongrass custard, topped with sticky sweet and salty palm sugar
Keliat Labu (RM18) – fleshy pumpkin cooked in rich coconut cream, traditional Malaysian dessert is thick and satisfying
Bubur Som Som (RM16) soft rice flour pudding topped generously with coconut cream, cinnamon-infused palm sugar syrup, classic Indonesian dessert
If you like crispy snacks, try the Homemade Rempeyek (RM20) here. Made from crispy rice flour topped with mung beans and anchovies, they are tasty munchies for this festive season!
De.Wan 1958 by Chef Wan
Lot 2-2 Level 2
The Line KL
360 Jalan Tun Razak
50400 Kuala Lumpur
Tel: 010-207-0383
Website here
Reservations on tableapp.com