The year of the Monkey calls for playful takes on the auspicious and symbolic dish
The Chinese take their special occasions very seriously, carrying out celebrations with profound ritual. This year, the all-important Chinese New Year will be held on 8 and 9 February, which begins at the table of every household: auspicious dishes to bring prosperity, health, joy, and much more for the coming new year. Tradition calls for Yee Sang, or “Prosperity Toss”, to initiate the feast. This raw fish salad comprises uniquely symbolic condiments, exuberantly tossed with chopsticks by everyone at the table as they utter well wishes for the Lunar Year. From traditional to inventive, these establishments keep the tradition fresh and colourful with their take on the age-old tradition.
Lai Ching Yuen, Grand Millennium
The avant-garde Lai Ching Yuen, Grand Millenium, offers not one or two types of Yee Sang, but five to choose from, all featuring their own distinctive highlights and paired with five tantalising set menus. Choices include the Sliced Abalone Yee Sang, Norwegian Salmon and Crispy Fish Skin Yee Sang, Soft Shell Crab and Norwegian Salmon Yee Sang, to name a few. From classic to fruity, vegetarian to luxurious, there’s one Yee Sang to suit the taste buds, among the carefully thought out options. Each menu features authentic Chinese dishes, with the choice to order newly introduced side dishes.
Ploy
Ploy’s Yee Sang, named the Ploy-sperity Yee Sang, is a delight to the eye and to the tongue. The auspicious delicacy comprises 18 meaningful and delectable ingredients, topped with a crispy tuille layer dusted with the Mandarin character for monkey, made from spices like star anise, clove, cinnamon and Sichuan peppercorns. The salad comprises ingredients like fresh salmon, scallops, pomelo, shredded beetroot, seaweed, golden pillows, and a passionfruit and yuzu sauce to drizzle, demonstrating the flow of money from all directions.
Resorts World Genting
The restaurants at Resorts Genting World are throwing together attractive festive Yee Sang selections with delicious menus to pair. The highlight Lucky Yee Sang and Prosperity Salmon Yee Sang will be available for dine-in at Genting Palace and Ming Ren, while Imperial Rama offers the Prosperity Salmon and Mango Yee Sang. Takeaway for the Yee Sang dishes are also available at the kiosks of Genting Palace, Good Friends Restaurant and Hainan Kitchen, which also offer a separate variety, from Japanese Tuna Yee Sang to Hokkaido Scallop Yee Sang.
Way Modern Chinois
To accompany imaginative Chinese New Year menus at Way Modern Chinois like The Way to Good Fortune, The Way to Happiness and The Way to Longevity, is the classic Yee Sang featuring sashimi-grade salmon and crispy white bait. Diners can enrich the dish with more of both condiments, or add on juicy sweet prawns. Famed for their elegant Cantonese cuisine, the special menu features specials like Golden Crispy Chicken, Crispy Soft Shell Crab with Oatmeal & Salted Egg Yolk, Truffle Roasted Duck and Double Boiled Coconut Sweet Soup with Six Treasures.
Chynna at Hilton KL
Chynna’s Mixed Salad with Squid Tentacles and Coconut White Curry is a “five fortune and prosperity” Yee Sang, the brainchild of Chef Lam Hock Hin. The indulgent dish is artfully presented, with condiments of the salad arranged horizontally rather than the classic circular. Flavours are distinctly localised, imparted by the white curry flavoured with creamy coconut drizzled throughout the mesclun greens, crunchy nuts and seeds, colourful garnishes and chewy squid. As homage to heritage, both Chynna’s special Prosperous Set and Bountiful Set menus come with the Traditional Norwegian Salmon Yee Sang.
