[Review] Celebrate Chinese New Year 2018 at Li Bai Cantonese Restaurant (Sheraton Towers Singapore)
Chinese New Year (CNY) is a time for catching up with family and friends. If you are not intending to cook this year, indulge in a well-deserved feast at Sheraton Towers Singapore's Li Bai Cantonese Restaurant instead.
Li Bai has always had a special place in our hearts because that's where we had one of our first dates. Helmed by Executive Chef Chung Yiu Ming, this restaurant offers top-notch Cantonese cuisine and excellent service. With a setting that exudes elegance and sophistication, this fine dining establishment usually comes to mind when we'd like to have some good dim sum.
So what are the special dishes on this year's CNY menu?
1) Sweet Shrimp and Hamachi Lohei Platter
A CNY feast, whether at home or in the restaurant, is never complete without the traditional Lohei. Consisting of raw shredded vegetables and usually smoked salmon or abalone, the most enjoyable part of this appetiser, for me, is the time when we shout different auspicious words/ phrases across the dining table while flinging tossing the ingredients in the air.
Make the Lohei experience more special this year with the platter from Li Bai. Apart from the premium ingredients used, a key feature of this dish is how it is specially plated to celebrate this year's zodiac - the Year of the Dog. Post a flatlay photo of this dish, and get ready to receive many Instagram Likes from your friends. :)
This item is also available for takeaway ($78++ for small/ $138++ for large).
2) Double-boiled Bird's Nest Soup with Fish Maw in Young Coconut *Recommended*
For the Chinese (or Cantonese like me), a piping hot bowl of double-boiled soup is a must to start a meal.
This CNY, indulge in a luxurious bowl of bird's nest soup. Filled with generous portions of bird's nest, fish maw, sea whelk, wolfberries and other herbs, this soup was one of my favourite dishes from the festive menu and I couldn't help but keep scooping into the last bits of soup and premium ingredients, and scrapping the coconut flesh from the shell. Bird's nest and fish maw are traditionally known to boost complexion, so this nourishing bowl of delicacy would be just the perfect way to start the year.
3) Braised Sliced Abalone and Chinese Marrow stuffed with Conpoy
Abalone 鲍鱼, which sounds like 包余 (the latter literally means "definitely surplus"), symbolises good fortune and is a delicacy often served during CNY.
Chef Chung does this no better by pairing a thick juicy piece of abalone with conpoy wrapped in Chinese squash. It's not easy to prepare abalone well as it can sometimes end up chewy, but he manages this art perfectly.
4) Barbecued Suckling Pig stuffed with Glutinous Rice and Preserved Meat
A full course Chinese meal usually consists of a huge bowl of carbs served towards the end of the meal and diners sometimes end up not being able to finish the food. As such, Chef Chung thoughtfully recreated this rice dish so that it is overall more palatable.
True to Chinese tradition where food should be served whole to symbolise unity and close family ties, the suckling pig was first presented for photo opportunities. Thereafter, the crispy skin and flesh was shaved into thin slices to form an envelope over the glutinous rice. Needless to say, the suckling pig with its crispy skin was the highlight of the dish.
5) Shanxi Red Date Cake *Recommended*
Nian Gao is a type of cake eaten during CNY and it is believed that having 年糕 Nian Gao, which sounds like 年高 Nian Gao (the latter literally means "year high") will enable you to receive higher income/ status in the new year.
I am not usually a fan of Nian Gao because of its starchy and sticky texture, but I really loved how Chef Chung gave this traditional dessert a modern twist using premium Shanxi red dates. The pan-fried cake is rich with red dates flavour, yet not cloyingly sweet. Just the perfect way to end a CNY meal over some hot tea. :)
For those who are keen to try this new item on Li Bai's festive menu, it is available for takeaway (S$50++) too. Set in a luxurious red and golden box (like those beautiful mooncake boxes), it definitely makes a wonderful gift when visiting family and friends this festive season. Just some tips if you are serving this at home, I found that the pan-fried version (with slightly crispy skin) came out better than the steamed version.
So, do you usually prefer your Nian Gao steamed or pan-fried? Let me know in the Comments below!
Li Bai Cantonese Restaurant's Festive Menus: Available from 1 Feb to 2 Mar 2018
Chinese New Year Set Menu (4 menus available)
- 8 persons menus: From S$988++ to S$1088++- 9 persons menus: From S$1038++ to S$1868++
- 10 persons menus: From S$1088++ to S$3488++
Prosperity Delights Set Menu (4 menus available)
- 2 persons menus: From S$158++ to S$168++ per person
- 4 persons menus: S$398++ for 4 persons
- 6 persons menus: S$598++ for 6 personsLi Bai Cantonese Restaurant
Sheraton Towers Singapore
39 Scotts Rd
Sheraton Towers Singapore
Singapore 228230
Telephone: +65 6839 5623
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