Having just emerged from the Christmas season, another celebration swiftly approaches.
Chinese New Year is just around the corner, and you can welcome the Year of the Dragon at The St. Regis Kuala Lumpur with extraordinary dining experiences tailored for family reunions, friend gatherings, and company events. The St. Regis, renowned for its luxury and exclusivity, has crafted a Chinese New Year menu that is certain to satisfy even the most discerning palates.
Yee Sang and its origins
The festive menu starts with my absolute favourite – the Yee Sang. The story of how it originated is quite interesting. Apparently after World War Il, Loke Ching Fatt, a caterer in Seremban, decided to rejuvenate the tradition of consuming raw fish during celebrations to boost his business throughout the Chinese New Year. He procured seven readily available symbolic vegetables, topped them with raw fish, and tossed them in a dressing of sweet plum sauce, oil, salt and pepper. And thus the dish we know and love today was born.
The Prosperity Yee Sang at The St. Regis is a cherished recipe passed down through generations within the owning family, originating from Puan Sri Sharon Chua’s ancestral kitchen. Hoping to encourage her children to embrace vegetables, she added a secret final ingredient which makes this Yee Sang quite unique.
There will be a few options to choose from – Canadian lobster and jelly fish, abalone and crispy fish skin, salmon and jelly fish as well as a vegetarian option.
Chinese New Year offerings at The St. Regis Kuala Lumpur
But the Yee Sang is merely the beginning of the culinary delights crafted by the executive chef. These menus, available for lunch and dinner in St. Regis Brasserie and exclusive, beautifully set up private dining rooms, will feature favourites such as braised bird’s nest soup with chicken, bamboo pith, and egg white and the succulent steamed red-spotted grouper with luffa gourd and dried shrimp. Also on the menu are deep-sea prawn with a golden seaweed crumb, braised dried oyster, black moss with bean curd and vegetables, and fragrant egg-fried rice with crab meat. Concluding this culinary extravaganza is a refreshing chilled osmanthus tea, accompanied by water chestnut and peach gum. Having tried all I can honestly say that maybe with the exception of slightly dry prawns, every dish proved to be a delectable delight.
Not to be outdone, the Astor Bar also unveiled three exceptional cocktails for the occasion. I shamelessly tried two and while the Mandarin Mimosa provided a refreshing experience, the Jade Dragon, a sublime creation featuring Macallan Double Cask 12 Years Old, pineapple, lemon, green apple syrup and cucumber, was a symphony of flavours. To make it more decadent, it was paired with a blini crowned with caviar and crème fraîche.
However, the festive menu is merely one among the myriad of St. Regis’ many festive offerings.
Other delightful attractions include the afternoon Properi-Tea with a selection of tea delights and an auspicious brunch at the Brasserie.
At the House of Fortune, you can get the ideal gift, be it delectable treats or a limited edition St. Regis Kuala Lumpur Dragon Silk Scarf.
Lastly, a captivating dragon and lion performance will take place on the first day of the Chinese New Year festivities.
So why wait any longer? Whether you’re on the lookout for meaningful gifts, indulgent treats, or fulfilling experiences, St. Regis has everything you need!
What are the traditions for Chinese New Year? Read our article here!
We were invited by The St. Regis Kuala Lumpur. As always, our opinions are honest and our own.
