By EDKL Writer A.A.
With 2019 now in full swing, it's high time to plan the first triumphant toss for the Lunar New Year: Pullman Kuala Lumpur Bangsar's Oriental Chinese Cuisine restaurant has already launched its Prosperity New Year Set Menu to help usher in the Year of the Boar, brought to bear by cheerful chef Ken Lee, who boasts more than three decades of professional experience in Malaysia and abroad.
Chef Ken's diverse repertoire draws from the comforting favourites of past reunion dinners that rekindle blissful memories, imbued with a skilled chef's craftsmanship, relying on fresh, high-quality halal ingredients that symbolise the Chinese New Year cornerstones of health, wealth and happiness.
These sets are designed for 10 persons, priced at RM1298, RM1598 and RM1998 nett each, showcasing six hearty courses per set, including a fit-for-an-emperor Poon Choi. We visited to sample the mid-range set, the Platinum Prosperity (RM1598 nett), which proved an indulgence worthy of feasting with family and friends from all walks of life.
Our very first yee sang for this season was an enjoyable experience, teeming with both traditional and contemporary components. The Japanese Scallop Snow Pear Yee Sang is as invigorating as it sounds, complete with lusciously seared scallops complemented by everything from pumpkin to pomelo, bursting with lively flavours. If this turns out to be both our first and final yee sang for 2019, we'd still be thoroughly satisfied.
This Yee Sang is also available a la carte at RM108 for a full portion. Other variations include a Vegetarian Yee Sang, Salmon Snow Pear Yee Sang, and Abalone Snow Pear Yee Sang.
The Double-Boiled Soup is soulfully mellow, comprising dried scallops, fish maw, and chef Ken's hand-picked choice of red mushrooms, which he believes to be an underrated ingredient, seeping into the soup and rounding out each sip with a wonderful earthiness that whets the appetite for more.
The fish that surfaces next is even more impressive, a magnificent pearl tiger grouper that weighs up to 1.2 kilograms, sourced from Pulau Ketam and fed with purely organic nourishment throughout its entire breeding, so this is the most wholesome catch you might find, filled with Omega-3 goodness.
A fish like this is inherently delicate and delicious enough that it's best cooked classically to savour its firm but sweetly moist flesh, steamed with a house-made superior soy sauce that's chef's Ken's personal recipe, brightened with a coriander reduction for a balancing uplift.
For many customers, Pullman's take on Poon Choi might be the ultimate highlight - the Hong Kong-style Braised Assorted Sea Treasure is an intercontinental extravaganza of seafood and more, flooded with everything from Japanese scallops to South African abalone, sea cucumber to fish maw, smoked oysters to prawns, waxed duck to roasted duck, layered with Chinese mushrooms, Chinese cabbage, and broccoli.
Steamed for four hours, the robust nuances of each element is fully developed in this ambrosial offering, especially the elegant umami of the bounty of the ocean. The Braised Assorted Sea Treasure is also available a la carte at RM598 nett per serving for six persons.
The Sumptuous Waxed Duck with Smoked Oyster Rice comes wrapped in lotus leaves, revealing a remarkable halal rendition of waxed duck that's as tasty as we could have hoped, elevated by a boost of unmistakable savouriness from salted egg yolk hidden within the sticky glutinous rice. It's an excellent example of a time-honoured, crowd-rousing staple that's made even better than ever.
Two desserts combine to herald the final course. The Deep-Fried Nian Gao is made naturally nectarous with sweet potato and yam, while the Double-Boiled Peach Jelly cleanses the palate with notes of red dates and ginseng, sending us soaring into the year ahead.
All in all, Oriental Chinese Cuisine's 2019 CNY menu is thoughtfully conceived and terrifically executed, with premium ingredients that make every course worthwhile. The focus is on quality, so that each of the six courses is both noteworthy and praise-worthy - as well as princely in portion so that everyone returns home fulfilled.
The Prosperity Set Menus are available now. Please allow one to three days advance preparation; call 03-2298-1888 (ext 5006) or email H7962-FB2@accor.com to make your booking.
Many thanks to Pullman Kuala Lumpur Bangsar for having us; this has been one of our favourite hotel destinations this past year, with warm companionship each time we head here. We're looking forward to more Pullman dining adventures in the Year of the Boar - Gong Xi Fa Cai!
Many thanks to Pullman Kuala Lumpur Bangsar for having us; this has been one of our favourite hotel destinations this past year, with warm companionship each time we head here. We're looking forward to more Pullman dining adventures in the Year of the Boar - Gong Xi Fa Cai!
Oriental Chinese Cuisine
Level 1, Pullman Kuala Lumpur Bangsar, Jalan Pantai Jaya, Tower 3 59200 Kuala Lumpur. Daily, 12pm-230pm, 6pm-1030pm.
For details or reservations:
Tel: 03-2298-1888, ext 5006
Email: H7962-FB2@accor.com
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