Fruity yee sang for diners

By CHARLES FERNANDEZ
charlesf@thestar.com.my

CHENG HO COURT,
MINES WELLNESS HOTEL,
Jalan Dulang, Mines Resort City,
43300 Seri Kembangan
Tel:03-89436688 ext 1311

TOSSING yee sang is a tradition practised by the Chinese during the Lunar New Year but there is no argument even when the delicacy is just pure vegetable and fruit-based.

The important part is that it is practised in the hope the family attains peace and prosperity in the coming years.

The Cheng Ho Court at the Mines Wellness Hotel in Seri Kembangan is doing just that – celebrating the Lunar New Year with the tossing of yee sang that is purely fruit and vegetable- based.

Different offering: Yee Sang comprising vegetables and fruits

“It is just an experiment to gauge diners interest. I tried it at my previous workplace and it turned out quite well,” said Food and Beverage chef Chin Hock Seng.

Chin said there were more fruits than vegetable in the yee sang – containing shreds of mango, pomelo, honeydew, yam, strawberry, potato and tapioca.

“There are 18 items that make up this delicacy,’’

The Healthy Fruity Low sang is priced at RM43++ for a small portion and RM68++ for a large portion,’’ he added.

Diners can still opt for the traditional Low Sang Menu of Salmon and Snow Pear (RM48++ and RM78++), Salmon and Abalone (RM78++ and RM108++) and the pricier Abalone (RM88++ and RM128++).

The good news is that for the next visit, buy the yee sang for half the price.

However, the Lunar New Year is not just about yee sang as the Chinese are very particular and place much importance on all the dishes served during this auspicious time.

Hence, it is not surprising when hotels compete with one another with chefs cracking their heads to come out with the best and most innovative dishes that would hopefully pull in the diners.

Refreshing: Deep Fried Prawn with Salad Thai Style.

At the Cheng Ho Court, Chin is also going once step further to introduce the Chinese New Year Dim Sum. The tiny morsels, priced from RM6++, is just the perfect start to a bigger and hearty meal.

These steamed and deep-fried items are available as Steamed Shanghai Bun with Dried scallop, Thai Style Steamed Fish Bladder, Steamed Shrimp Dumpling with Abalone, Steamed Beancurd Skin Roll with Vegetable, Deep Fried Prawn Taste with Salted Egg and Mayonnaise, Deep Fried Crispy Prawn Ball and Deep Fried Shrimp and Fatt Choy Dumpling in Kataifi Paste.

There are many menus to choose from for the Chinese New Year promotion.

The CNY Set Menu available for lunch and dinner for a table of 10 is priced at RM688++ for a nine-course, and RM788++ and comes with a complimentary bottle of house wine while the RM888++ menu is complimented with a bottle of Chinese wine.

For the die-hard seafood lovers, there is a wide choice of abalone, dried seafood and Shark’s Fin menu priced from RM48++ to RM78++ per person. The Braised Assorted Dried Seafood Platter, baked Crystal Prawn with Cheese and Butter and the Deep Fried Prawn with Salad in Thai Style are available in three portions of small, medium and large while the Steamed Season Fish with Assam sauce is available at market price.

And while a list of vegetable and poultry dishes priced from RM23++ to RM66++ complete the menu, the Lunar New Year should always round up with a refreshing dessert of Deep Fried Nian Gao with Yam and Sweet Glutinous Dumpling with Ginger.

The promotion, which is available for lunch and dinner ends on Feb 28.