Lai Po Heen, Chinese New Year Menu, Mandarin Oriental KL

Lai Po Heen, Mandarin Oriental, Chinese New Year Menu, Chinese Restaurant
Yee Sang with sliced abalone and salmon
Lai Po Heen, Mandarin Oriental, Chinese New Year Menu, Chinese Restaurant
Tossing the Yee Sang
Lai Po Heen, Mandarin Oriental, Chinese New Year Menu, Chinese Restaurant
Braised sea treasure soup with American ginseng and Chinese cabbage
Lai Po Heen, Mandarin Oriental, Chinese New Year Menu, Chinese Restaurant
Steamed golden pomfret fish with spicy brown bean sauce
Lai Po Heen, Mandarin Oriental, Chinese New Year Menu, Chinese Restaurant
Simmered fortune duck with mushrooms and iceberg lettuce in yam sauce
Lai Po Heen, Mandarin Oriental, Chinese New Year Menu, Chinese Restaurant
Wok-fried lobster with sweet basil, spicy lemon grass sauce
Lai Po Heen, Mandarin Oriental, Chinese New Year Menu, Chinese Restaurant
Braised money bag filled with sea treasures and wok fried garden greens
Lai Po Heen, Mandarin Oriental, Chinese New Year Menu, Chinese Restaurant
Fried glutinous rice with fresh mushroom and chicken floss
Lai Po Heen, Mandarin Oriental, Chinese New Year Menu, Chinese Restaurant
Double boiled snow pear with Aloe Vera, honey date and sun-dried longan in osmanthus syrup
Lai Po Heen, Mandarin Oriental, Chinese New Year Menu, Chinese Restaurant
Deep fried glutinous rice cakes with red sweet potato, yam and honey lemon

Chinese New Year Menu at Lai Po Heen, Mandarin Oriental

Words by James Gibbs
Photos by The Yum List
Simply spectacular, slippery and smooth treats to usher in
the year of the snake are being offered during the New Year at the Lai Po Heen
Classic Cantonese Restaurant Mandarin Oriental Hotel Kuala Lumpur. The Mandarin Oriental needs no introduction when comes to
providing some of Kuala Lumpur’s finest Chinese cuisine. For this New Year however, the resident masters of food here
are pushing the envelope of culinary innovation to tempt all to come and test the
results.
Right from the curtain-raising event of the Yee Sang, through
to the finale of the Double Boiled Snow Pear with Aloe Vera, Honey Date and Sun
Dried Longan, the dishes were full of surprises. The Yee Sang was wonderful. I was interested to hear of some
of the significance of the ingredients… the salmon representing prosperity or money,
the olive oil to lubricate the wheels of business and the plum sauce was the
sweetener for friendships. Perhaps a tiny touch too sweet for some tastes
though the overall effect was wonderful – especially with the addition of
abalone and soft shell crab to the mix!
If you were seek the perfect dish to settle the nerves after
all that frantic Yee Sang tossing, the Braised Sea Treasure Soup is just oozing
with Qi that will be sure to perfectly realign any Yin and Yang. A hint of ginseng
and some tasty steamed items from Davey Jones Locker complemented the yellowish
coloured delicious soup. I especially enjoyed the sea cucumber here, one of my
favourites.
The next event was a perfectly steamed square of Pomfret
with a Spicy Brown Bean Sauce. One doesn’t think of melting fish though this
sure did when eaten. I loved the endorphin rush caused by the tangy chili
sauce! This dish was followed by the Simmered Fortune Duck with Mushrooms which
had a pleasant barbecue flavour adding a surprising twist to this dish.
Needless to say the duck was impeccably cooked. Had to go back for seconds on
that one; thereby throwing caution to the wind that I may not have enough space
for the remaining goodies. Have to also mention the presentation here – wow
what artistry – our dish had a tiny garden created with vegetables; ginger,
parsley and a carved tree complete with bird – nice!
And now, for the main performance, the Wok Fried Lobster
with Sweet Basil and Spicy Lemongrass Sauce! The golden fried lobster was
dramatically presented with a carved dragon guarding one end of the plate. The
tastes were even better than the presentations! The Yum List and I thought the
flavour here was a little like a curry with a hint of lemongrass – most
interesting.
Almost deliriously, we pushed ahead with the final dishes,
Braised Money Bags, and Glutinous Rice that also had a few taste surprises
hidden within that caused you to stop and think for a second or two. The dessert
was a spectacular finale that I managed to slurp down in entirety despite have
having reached my zenith point several courses before.
If you too think you deserve a little quality indulgence in
a grand environment to celebrate the year now past, or to honour the year to
come, then the Mandarin Oriental should definitely be added to your destination
list this festive season. Prices for both lunch and dinner are, predictably,
from RM 88++ to 338++ for half and full portions respectively. Don’t miss this
sensual culinary experience. 
Reason to visit: Wok Fried Lobster! Deliciously decadent options to bring in the New Year.
Lai Po Heen
Level 1
Mandarin Oriental Kuala Lumpur
Kuala Lumpur City Centre
50088 Kuala Lumpur
Malaysia
+6 03 2380 8888
+6 03 2179 8885

“The Yum List supports a shark’s fin free Chinese New Year for the prosperity of our oceans and the sustainable future of our global community.”

10 Comments

  1. the duck, the lobster, all look fit for a royal feast! 😀

  2. That's nian gao, isn't it? Never liked it – so sticky, even when fried coated with egg. So hard to swallow and not really tasty. Would love to try this – looks like it's really really good.

  3. Wow, that's a big meal that certainly fits a starving diner. The nian gao looks rich too; I wonder if it tastes as sweet as it looks…

  4. Everything looks so tempting! The sea cucumber is an acquired taste. Depends on how it is prepared and cooked, it's a delicacy. You guys are lucky!

  5. I like almost everything there… especially the new twist on the soup!

  6. I am impressed that you like sea cucumber so much! Seems a little tasteless to me… Presentation looks quite spectacular at Lai Po Heen, and like the mixture of individual servings and group free-for-all

  7. Is that pomfret? Does not look like it…

    Love the plating…Looks awesome and pretty.

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