Au says he invested months of preparation ahead of Chinese New Year to design the festive menus at Li Yen.
THE Chinese New Year reunion get-together is centred upon partaking in good food while giving elders the chance to catch up with younger family members.
It is for this reason that those celebrating the festive occasion make it a point to be present for this once-a-year ritual.
Clipboard03FSGThese days, instead of slaving in the kitchen, many are finding it easier to leave the arduous task of cooking a festive dinner in the hands of professionals.
Hence this is why it’s imperative for chefs at Li Yen of The Ritz-Carlton Kuala Lumpur to create a Lunar New Year menu that leaves a lasting impression on diners.
Li Yen executive Chinese chef Alex Au invested months of preparation ahead of Chinese New Year to design menus which he felt would be well-received by guests, especially families holding their reunion dinner at the hotel.
“Chinese New Year is a busy time for us and it requires a lot of planning.
“Not only do we have to plan the menu, we have to ensure there is enough manpower to serve guests,” said Au who originates from Hong Kong.
Here at Li Yen, classic Chinese dishes are prepared using specific ingredients imported from Hong Kong to give dishes authenticity in taste.
A charming dish of Stir-fried Scallops with Asparagus and Lily Bulbs sprinkled with edible flowers.
Among the Chinese New Year highlights that caught my attention was the Deep-fried Prawns with Truffle Sauce.
According to Au, adding mayonnaise to the truffle sauce lends the dish creaminess and a magic touch.
“After marinating the prawns, they are deep-fried and coated with the sauce which has truffle oil.
“Usually chefs coat deep-fried prawns with wasabi but I tried it with truffle oil and the result is satisfyingly good,” said Au who has resided in Malaysia for 18 years and is familiar with the local preference for Chinese cuisine.
I have to agree with Au on the crunchy mouthwatering crustacean dish that tempted us to keep reaching for another piece.
The mild yet flavourful Double-boiled Chicken Soup with Himematsutake Mushrooms and Dried Scallops, which takes nine hours to prepare, was simply perfect.
It is best to dig into the Barbecued Iberico Pork in Honey Sauce with your fingers.
“For the first six hours, the main ingredients including chicken are slow-cooked before adding the scallop. Himematsutake mushrooms are added in the final three hours. It is a long cooking process but the outcome is very enjoyable,” said the chef.
Indeed, the warm and nourishing soup is enticingly good.
The Hong Kong-style Waxed Meat Claypot Rice features imported wax meat from Hong Kong.
“The Hong Kong waxed meat is more dense in taste compared to local ones you find here. Since we are preparing the dish for Chinese New Year, it is best to use imported waxed meat which brings out the best in taste for this claypot favourite.
“Traditionally, waxed meat is dried in the open air.
The Deep-fried Prawns with Truffle Sauce is just too good to stop at one.
“But over the years more hygienic and modern methods have been employed, hence the taste is a lot better,” said Au.
He is also aware that yee sang, which originated from Malaysia, is a requisite among locals celebrating Chinese New Year.
He relishes thinking of ways to jazz up a yee sang platter for customers’ enjoyment.
Another signature highlight here is the Barbecued Iberico Pork in Honey Sauce.
I feel it is best to just leave the cutlery aside and savour it the local way – by digging in with your fingers.
Double-boiled Chicken Soup with Himematsutake Mushrooms and Dried Scallops.
The set meal here caters for two people and is priced at RM388++, RM488++ and RM788++.
For a party of 10, the set meals are priced at RM2,588++, RM3,188++ and RM5,988++.
Li Yen is open on the eve of Chinese New Year, as well as the first day and second day of the festival right up until Feb 24.
LI YEN RESTAURANT, The Ritz-Carlton Kuala Lumpur, Jalan Imbi, Kuala Lumpur. (Tel: 018-646 8033). Business hours: 12.30pm to 3pm, 6.30pm to 10pm (Monday to Saturday) and 10.30am to 3pm and 6.30pm to 10pm (Sunday). Non-halal.
This is the writer’s personal observation and is not an endorsement by StarMetro.
