Cantonese delights with a contemporary twist

Steamed Lotus Leaf Rice Mixed with Diced Chicken, Diced Yam and Duck Meat.

IN CANTONESE, the word for prawns is a homophone for laughter, hence it is often featured in Chinese New Year set menus.

While it is usually the fourth or fifth dish served, at Dorsett Grand Subang’s The Emperor, guests can choose to start their meal with laughter by tossing the prosperity Hee Har Yee Sang with Pink Prawn and Fresh Fruit like we did during a review.

We were served selected dishes from the Reunion Set Menus, which are available until March 2.

Ranging from RM1,188 nett to RM1,888 nett per table of 10 persons, the four choices of eight- or nine-course menus offer Cantonese delights with a contemporary twist.

Teh holding up a plate of Hee Har Yee Sang with Pink Prawn and Fresh Fruit. — Photos: SAMUEL ONG/The Star

It includes Pan-fried Scallops stuffed with Prawn Paste, Braised Black Mushrooms with Dried Oysters and Sea Moss, Double-boiled Fuji Apples with Snow Ear and Honey Dates as well as Crispy Roasted Duck with Chinese Herbs.

Another prawn dish we savoured was the Wok-fried Jumbo Prawn with Golden Garlic and Superior Stock Sauce.

Also served was the Steamed Lotus Leaf Rice Mixed with Diced Chicken, Diced Yam and Duck Meat.

For desserts, we had Deep-fried Chinese New Year Cake with Glutinous Dumpling Shanghai Style, and Double-boiled Fuji Apples with Snow Fungus and Honey Dates.

Deep-Fried Chinese New Year Cake with Glutinous Dumpling Shanghai Style, and Double-boiled Fuji Apples with Snow Fungus and Honey Dates.

While it is customary to end the meal with something sweet, especially during Chinese New Year, I was glad that the apples balanced the sweetness with a hint of tartness.

Another Lunar New Year favourite is the poon choy, which you can order for takeaway.

The Dorsett Poon Choy is abundantly layered with braised Chilean abalones, dried oysters, fresh white prawns, fish maw, roasted duck, black moss and more.

It is priced at RM688 nett (four to six diners) or RM988 nett (seven to 10 diners). An advance order of three working days is required.

Teh’s specialty, the Double-boiled Chicken Soup with Vegetable in Coconut.

The 2018 Chinese New Year delicacies are specially crafted by the newly appointed executive Chinese chef Bryan Teh and team.

Prior to joining The Emperor, Teh was the sous chef of a casino hotel in Macau and brings with him 16 years of experience specialising in Chinese cuisine.

The chef also prepared some of his specialities, which are also available on the a la carte menu, such as Double-boiled Chicken Soup with Vegetable in Coconut. Before our next dish was placed on the table, we could smell the fragrant aroma of coffee.

Turns out, it was the Wok-fried Lamb Chop with Mocha. And that was exactly what the chef intended.

“When I was thinking about new dishes during my previous tenure in Macau, I wanted to create a dish that would garner attention of not just the diner who ordered it but others too.

The aromatic Wok-fried Lamb Chop with Mocha.

“True enough, when it was served, it piqued the interest of diners sitting at the next table who also wanted to order the dish.

He would also customise the dish according to locality by using local coffee beans.

Another dish that was popular among his patrons in Macau is the Poached Pear Grouper Fish with Taro and Superior Soup.

I thoroughly enjoyed this dish and was surprised to learn that it was rejected by Teh’s executive chef in Macau.

“When he heard about my idea, he rejected it before even tasting it.

Wok-Fried Jumbo Prawn with Golden Garlic and Superior Stock Sauce.

“One day, some regulars asked me to whip up something new as they had tried everything on the menu and wanted something different.

“I then served them this fish and it became a hit among diners,” he said.

It was an inspiring tale to show that being rejected once does not mean that you have failed, as there may be others who will appreciate your talent.

And that was a great motivational message to take home from a Chinese New Year meal.

THE EMPEROR CHINESE RESTAURANT, Dorsett Grand Subang, Jalan SS12/1, Subang Jaya, Selangor. (Tel : [phone]). Business hours: Noon to 3pm and 6pm to 10pm. Pork-free.

This is the writer’s personal observation and is not an endorsement by StarMetro.