Usher in the Year of the Dog at Conrad Centennial Singapore

Expect innovative Lunar New Year dishes over at Golden Peony at Conrad Centennial Singapore during this festive season. Executive Chef Ku Keung’s Year of Dog Prosperity Dishes is once again, a menu showcasing his effort to innovate year after year.

Fortune 3-D Meringue ‘Yu Sheng’ 3.5/5

立体金犬鸿运鱼生 Fortune 3-D Meringue ‘Yu Sheng’ ($888++ 30 persons & above) with abalone, salmon , crispy fish skin is probably the most adorable Yu Sheng of the year. Enliven with a 3-D Meringue portrait of a zodiac dog, this festive salad may just bring a smile to your face first, even before it delights your stomach.

Double-boiled Cordyceps Flower Soup 4.5/5

椰皇虫草花黑鸡丸天使虾汤 Double-boiled Cordyceps Flower Soup with New Caledonia ‘Obsiblue’ Prawn and Black Chicken in Whole Young Coconut. It is a wonder to see a black chicken soup being so pristine looking, partly because there isn't a trace of unsightly bones nor chunk of meats. As clear as a consomme, the soup was light on the palate, rich on flavours. Double-boiled in coconut, it carries hint of coconut and the constant whiff of coconut fragrance up the taste by a notch. The black chicken is being deboned after being double boiled, minced with mushrooms and water chestnuts into chicken meat balls. Gracing the top is the angelic looking Obsiblue prawn. This blue prawn of New-Caledonia is seemingly a Michelin-starred ingredient and I attribute its status to its clean-sweet taste.

Roast Whole Suckling Pig 4/5

特色上海粢饭烤乳猪 Roast Whole Suckling Pig filled with Shanghainese Sticky Rice, Fritters and Chicken Floss ($338++ ). Every year, Chef Ku Keung will think of a different filling for his suckling pig. In one year it was chicken rice, and this year, encased within the glistening crispy skin is Shanghainese Sticky Rice. Traditionally, Shanghainese sticky rice is served in rolls, which is also known as Ci Fan. Meant as a heavy snack to fill the stomach, the rice wraps around a fried dough stick with pork floss. A popular street food, I was impressed by how seamlessly it has been turned into a lavish dish on our table. Do note 24 hours advance order is required for this dish.

Fortune Eight Treasures Stewed Duck 4.5/5

A dish that I find really soul warming, is the 荷叶八宝鸭 Fortune Eight Treasures Stewed Duck ($98++). It takes about a total of 5 hours of stewing for the duck to reach this level of tenderness. And in between is the wrapping of the lotus leaf, followed by the wrapping of the dough (similar to baked salted chicken) as the final stewing stage. My favourite is the eight treasures filling that has completely absorbed the flavours and softened in the juices of the meat at the end of the 5 hours.

Stir Fried Half Lobster 3.8/5

Featuring Golden Peony's mouthwatering X.O. Chilli Sauce is the 脆口X.O酱开边龙虾 Stir Fried Half Lobster topped with Crispy X.O. Chilli Sauce ($38++ per pax). Stir-fried till crispy, the X.O Chilli Sauce becomes even more fragrant, like how bacon bits does its magic. The lobster meat was firm and bouncy, and my favourite part was near the edge of the shell, where parts of the meat had gotten slightly fried.

Braised Australian Abalone 3.5/5

Served with a touch of finesse is the quintessential abalone - 日本豆腐袋痴缠澳洲鲜鲍鱼 Braised Australian Abalone ($28++ per pax). What's interesting is that the abalone is wrapped in Japanese beancurd pouch, which I though it sort of represents a gold porch.

Chilled Japanese Sweet Potato Puree 2.5/5

The sweet note to our feast was 紫薯珍珠露 Chilled Japanese Sweet Potato Puree with Pearl Sago ($8.80++) . The cookie in between is Chef's idea to give it a little western flair but I find the presentation a bit too much. The pretty 'Peony' pastry atop, which is made with date filling is the only element that I like out of the entire artwork.

Lunar New Year Set Menus start from $100++ per person or $1,198++ per table of 10 persons, available from 5 February to 2 March 2018. For reservations, call +65 64327482/88 or email: sinci.goldenpeony@conradhotels.com

There are two Treasure Dinner Sets for takeaway, Other dishes available for takeaway include Signature Roast London Duck, Roast  Suckling Pig, and Prosperity ‘Pen Cai’ between 15 January to 15 February 2018. For orders, visit http://bit.ly/conradcnygoodies (live on 15 January 2018), call +65 6432 7489 or email: sinci.festive@conradhotels.com

Words and photos by Si An. A girl who is allured by travelling, loves the feel of freedom, smell of the rain and the aroma of fine coffee and food.


Golden Peony
Conrad Centennial Singapore
2 Temasek Boulevard
Singapore 038983
Tel: +65 64327482
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Nearest MRT: Promenade (CC Line)

Opening Hours:
Mon-Sat: 1130am - 230pm, 630pm - 1030pm
Sun: 1030am - 230pm, 630pm - 1030pm

Direction: 
1) Alight at Promenade MRT station. Take Exit B. Continue walking along Temasek Avenue to destination Journey time about 3 minutes. [Map]

Yon Yan (永焱) Fried Chicken Wings @ West Coast Market Square - The Fried Chicken Wing Stall That PM Lee Queued For 30 Minutes Is Back

Do you still remember the fried chicken wing stall at Redhill hawker centre which Prime Minister Lee Hsien Long has queued for 30 minutes for it? If you have been back to the stall at Redhill hawker centre, you will probably noticed that the uncle selling the chicken wings is no longer there, and it has changed hand. Apparently the uncle is forced to quit due to illness, and after half a year of treatment and resting, it has decided to make a come back at West Coast Market Square, naming his new stall Yon Yan (永焱) .

Fried Chicken Wing 4.2/5

The Fried Chicken Wing ($1.40 each) here is definitely the hot seller and the stall uncle only fried a small batch one at a time. While that increases the queue time, it ensures that the chicken wings are hot and fresh. The batter that coats the chicken wings are flavourful and crispy too. While the chicken wing was juicy, i thought it didn't quite absorb the marination. The meat tasted a little bland compared to the skin.

Bee Hoon 3/5

A plate of Bee Hoon at Yon Yan is priced at only 60 cents. This has not change for more than 10 years. Taste wise, I find it rather bland and texture was a bit too soft and wet for my liking.

Besides the fried chicken wing and bee hoon, the stall also sells other items such as Luncheon Meat, Fish Cake, Ngoh Hiang and Taiwan Sausage to along with the plate of bee hoon.

The stall facing the main road constantly has a queue, at the moment the waiting time probably is about 10 to 20 minutes. As words get around, I suspect the waiting time will be even longer.


Yon Yan (永焱) Fried Chicken Wings 
West Coast Market Square
Blk 726 Clementi West Street 2
#01-191
Singapore 120726
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Nearest MRT: Clementi (EW Line)

Opening Hours:
Tue-Sat: 11am - 2pm, 5pm - 830pm
(Closed on Sun & Mon)

Direction:
1) Alight at Clementi MRT station. Take Exit B. Walk to bus stop at Clementi MRT station. (Stop ID 17179). Take bus number 201. Alight 2 stops later. Journey time about 8 minutes. [Map]