chinese | Rebecca Saw

MIGF 2011 – Lai Po Heen, Mandarin Oriental KL

Post author:Rebecca Saw
Post published:October 9, 2011
Post category:Food
Post comments:10 Comments

Participating for the 11^th year, Mandarin Oriental, Kuala Lumpur is again part of MIGF 2011 with it’s 2 signature restaurants – Lai Po Heen and Mandarin Grill.
Other than innovative gourmet creations, both restaurants very recently had a change of head chefs, with Chef Ricky Thein, Executive Chinese Chef stepping in for Lai Po Heen and Chef Reto Weber, is now Chef de Cuisine of Mandarin Grill.

Well, fresh faces, fresh menu. Or at least I hope so.

Chef Ricky Thien.

It’s good to see Chef Ricky again. I told him honestly what I thought of the quality of dim sum at his previous hotel, and was happily assured that I expect his signatures here at Lai Po Heen as well.
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EXQUISITE MOËT & CHANDON MOONCAKES AT LI YEN THE RITZ-CARLTON, KUALA LUMPUR

Post author:Rebecca Saw
Post published:September 2, 2011
Post category:Food
Post comments:5 Comments

The Mid-Autumn or Mooncake Festival is just around the corner. It is one of the most celebrated Chinese festivals & is held each year on the 15th day of the 8th lunar month. It is a time of celebration with family, prayers, mooncakes & lantern parades.

For me, I cared little for the lanterns & prayers. It’s the time of the year for me to gorge on mooncakes!!

Not a very traditionalist at heart, this year is a very good year for me as there are so so many funky combinations of mooncakes flavours available!
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Zing Restaurant, Grand Millennium Kuala Lumpur

Post author:Rebecca Saw
Post published:July 7, 2011
Post category:Food
Post comments:12 Comments

Having read so many reviews of Zing, I have been most curious to sample the non-halal cuisine here, especially so for the dim sum.
While I missed out on the dim sum this round, I was given a treat of a set lunch specially prepared by Group Master Chef Chan Kwok, featuring Roasted Suckling Piglet with Prawn Paste and Crispy Fresh Crab Meat Spring Roll combination, Double Boiled Baby Superior Shark’s Fin with ‘Ling Zhi’ and Chicken, Grilled Crystal Prawn with Yunnan Ham, Stewed Lamb Shank with Chinese Parsley, Minced Pork Fried Rice and Preserved Radish and Mango puree with sago served with pomelo.

Group Master Chef Chan Kwok had just recently been awarded Chef of The Year and Asian Cuisine Chef of The Year at the prestigious Asian Gastronomic Awards of Excellence 2011.
Based in Singapore’s renowned Hua Ting Restaurant of Orchard Hotel, Master Chef Chan will be the guest chef at Zing Cantonese restaurant from the 27 June to 2 July, sharing his signature award-winning cuisines with Cantonese food lovers.

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Dim Sum & Rice Dumplings At Li Yen, Ritz Carlton KL with Chef Tan

Post author:Rebecca Saw
Post published:June 5, 2011
Post category:General
Post comments:9 Comments

The rice dumpling festival is coming to almost an end; with most hotels & restaurants offering their once-a-year creations til 6th June 2011.
What about you? Have you tried any of these fancy, loaded with abalone & what- nots yet this year?

Aside from a 3 kg one (HERE in Sunway Resorts Hotel) & a lovely red dates one by One World Hotel , here’s one that I had the opportunity to make myself at Li Yen, Ritz-Carlton, Kuala Lumpur just last week.

Yes, “make” as in getting my hands dirty actually stuffing the dumplings & tying it up prior to boiling. Usually, the case is the other way round, me untying the dumpling & stuffing my mouth with it.

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Rice Dumplings Festival @ Zuan Yuan Restaurant, One World Hotel + AWESOME DESSERTS!

Post author:Rebecca Saw
Post published:May 29, 2011
Post category:General
Post comments:9 Comments

In celebration of Duan Wu Jie or Rice Dumplings Festival which falls on the 5th day of the 5th lunar month (CHINESE CALENDAR), the imaginative chefs at Zuan Yuan added a new twist to the traditional recipe by offering enticing flavours such as Five Grain Glutinous Rice Dumpling with Sliced Australian Abalone, Eight Treasure Glutinous Rice Dumpling Hong Kong Style & Steamed Sweet Glutinous Rice Dumpling with Red Date Paste.

Five Grain Glutinous Rice Dumpling with Sliced Australian Abalone.
RM58++ per dumpling.

Eight Treasure Glutinous Rice Dumpling Hong Kong Style.
RM 25++ Each.

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Rice Dumplings Festival & DESSERTS @ West Lake Garden, Sunway Resort Hotel & Spa

Post author:Rebecca Saw
Post published:May 24, 2011
Post category:General
Post comments:18 Comments

The elegant & stately decor of West Lake Garden, Sunway Resort Hotel & Spa greeted me as I entered the restaurant from the lobby.

Relaxing immediately from the after- work rush hour, I soothed my eyes on the pretty eye piece & breathed in the sweet-smelling scent in the air that is distinctive to this hotel.

West Lake Garden Chinese Restaurant exudes modern oriental opulence. I was captivated with the traditional furnishings; the chests, the panels & the paintings on the walls.

But nothing prepared me for the sight of this.

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Yut Kee Restaurant for Hainanese fare, pork chops & Roti Babi!

Post author:Rebecca Saw
Post published:March 4, 2011
Post category:General
Post comments:30 Comments

The news of Yut Kee getting evicted from its humble shoplot on Jalan Dang Wangi created a ripple of shock & raised indignation among foodies & friends yesterday.

Source of story here: HERE

Truth to be told, I thought Yut Kee’s food was average at best & its quality has seen better days; and my sentiments was echoed by many fellow foodies & friends. Hence obviously I wasn’t that “affected” by the news.

Still, Yut Kee is institutional, and rarely would one see the humble coffee shop empty during breakfast or lunch hours. The queue is pretty epic. And uncomfortable too; as it stretched out to the main street under the hot sun.

Having said all that, where else can I find tender savoury pork chops, roti babi (a personal favourite thought I didn’t quite like Yut Kee’s version), and all that traditional kopitiam fare & variety of Hainanese food under one roof in Selangor/KL?

Hainanese Pork Chop.

Roti Babi (Pork Bread/Bun).

And not to mention our traditional breakfast favorites; the humble half boiled eggs & toast.
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Usher in the Year of the Rabbit @ Zuan Yuan Chinese Restaurant, One World Hotel

Post author:Rebecca Saw
Post published:January 11, 2011
Post category:General
Post comments:19 Comments

Chinese New Year 2011 is in less than 3 weeks !! Man, I’ve got to say this cliched statement “Time sure flies!“. 😉
We have now come to that time of the year again, where the ubiquitous Yee Sang makes it’s appearance during every dinner in every restaurant.

I’m not complaining of course. On the contrary, I’m actually looking forward to some boisterous CNY dinners with my friends to usher in a new beginning in this year of the Rabbit. :yes:
To start the ball rolling (or the tossing going ) I tossed my first Yee Sang at Zuan Yuan, One World Hotel just last week.

To the uninitiated, yee sang is not so much about eating the dish but more of the food-play as the key element of the “yee sang” involves tossing the ingredients as high as possible and mixing it all vigorously while shouting out loud all the positive vibes & wishes you desire for the coming year.
This is a very auspicious act as it portends to financial and personal success where future ventures will hopefully “rise and reach high levels”.

“For $! For better health! For better opportunities in life! Toss it all high, higher & higher!!”

(pic below frm one of my CNY dinners last year, & for illustration purpose, as I was too busy tossing that night at Zuan Yuan to take any pic of my own! )

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