Friday, January 6, 2023

YUN NANS (云海肴) @ ION Orchard - 6 Lunar New Year Set Menus For The Year Of The Rabbit

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Whether you have a small group of 3 to 6 people or a big family of 10, YUN NANS has got you covered with their 6 new Lunar New Year set menus that will be available from 9 January to 5 February 2023. These range from $338 for 4 pax to $828 for 8 pax for dine-in, each accompanied by their Traditional Baked Rose Pastry and the new Prosperity Abalone Yu Sheng.

4 selected dishes are available for a la carte orders as well. They are the Prosperity Abalone Yu Sheng, Crispy Roast Chicken, Sautéed Tiger Prawns with Superior Soy Sauce and Yun Nans Prosperity Treasure Pot.

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Prosperity Abalone Yu Sheng 鸿福鲍鱼捞生 4/5

We started with the Prosperity Abalone Yu Sheng ($68.80 for Regular, $88.80 for Large) featuring shredded white carrot adorably shaped as a rabbit and plump whole abalones. The plum sauce used leaned tangier, while the abalones were tender.

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Prosperity Treasure Hot Pot 火焰聚宝盆菜 4.8/5

The crowd favourite Prosperity Treasure Hot Pot ($328 for Regular - 6 pax, $468 for Large - 8 pax and any additional at $40 per pax) makes a return this year. With an eye-catching golden broth base that is stewed for 6 hours. It's further topped with 11 auspicious ingredients of roast pork belly, bamboo pith, sea cucumber, abalone, scallops, prawns, mushrooms, fish maw, cordyceps flowers, yam and Chinese cabbage. The result was a comforting and luxurious savoury broth that had us going for seconds and thirds. It’s full of depth and not overly salty.


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Crispy Roast Chicken 脆皮烤鸡 4/5

The Crispy Roast Chicken ($24.80 for Half, $39.80 for Whole) is another familiar dish from last Lunar New Year, but with an improved recipe. It is marinated with five-spice powder, air-dried and roasted. The meat was tender, but my dining companions and I agreed that we would prefer crispier skin. It's served with an in-house chilli sauce made with seven types of Yunnan's chillies and a salt and pepper dry dip.

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Steamed Jade Perch 清蒸翡翠鲈鱼 4.2/5

Opt for the Steamed Jade Perch prepared in either spicy garlic lime or Hong Kong style. We had the former, and the fish was tender and fresh, carrying an appetising tangy-spicy kick.

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Braised Spinach in Superior Stock with Dried Scallops and Bamboo Pith 瑶柱竹笙烩苋菜 4.2/5

The Braised Spinach in Superior Stock was a dish most of us enjoyed. It is paired with shredded dried scallops and bamboo pith. The flavourful stock is similar to that of the Prosperity Treasure Hot Pot.

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Sauteed Tiger Prawns with Superior Soy Sauce 豉油王老虎虾 4/5

The Sauteed Tiger Prawns with Superior Soy Sauce ($38.80) is made with a blend of premium soy and nine specially curated ingredients such as aromatics and spices. After the prawns are flash-fried, it's stir-fried in the soy sauce mix, resulting in crispy shells and a fragrant finish.

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Braised Truffle Ee-fu Noodles with Fresh Scallops 4.2/5

Braised Ee-fu Noodles is one of my favourite dishes to order at Chinese restaurants. YUN NANS' rendition features the noodles in truffle sauce, with scallops and mushrooms. The noodles were cooked to just the right texture and soaked up the sauce thoroughly.

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Double Boiled Peach Gum with Snow Pear 桃胶炖雪梨 3.8/5

Our first dessert was a refreshing and sweet bowl of Double Boiled Peach Gum with Snow Pear made with peach gum, snow pear, red dates and wolfberries.

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Traditional Baked Rose Pastry 现烤玫瑰鲜花饼 3/5

We ended with a traditional Yunnan dessert, the Traditional Baked Rose Pastry ($6.80 for 3 Pieces). It is almost similar to a tau sar piah but filled with fresh rose petals. We appreciated how these were served warm, but the interior was a tad too doughy.

Do note that YUN NANS operating hours for reunion dinners on Chinese New Year Eve (21 January 2023) is as follows:

Session 1: 4.30pm to 6pm
Session 2: 6.30pm to 8pm
Session 3: 8.15pm to 9.45pm

They will be closed on 22 January 2023, while operating hours remain the same for the rest of the days.

Photos and words by Jo. A girl who loves her Mala (麻辣) at Da La (大辣), discovering hidden food gems and a good cup of matcha latte. Note: This is an invited tasting.


YUN NANS (云海肴)
ION Orchard
2 Orchard Turn
#B3-17
Singapore 238801
Tel: +65 65130828
Facebook
Website
Nearest MRT: Orchard (NS Line, TE Line)

Opening Hours:
Mon-Fri: 1130am - 10pm
Sat-Sun, PH: 11am - 10pm

Direction:
1) Alight at Orchard MRT station. Take Exit 4. Walk to destination. Journey time about 3 minutes. [Map]

Thursday, January 5, 2023

Joyden Canton Kitchen Chinese New Year Reunion Set Menus

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Joyden Canton Kitchen unveil a line-up of prosperous reunion set menus to welcome the Year of the Rabbit. This Lunar New Year, the restaurant presents a repertoire of reunion set menus showcasing appetising yam and duck creations. In offer are two sumptuous six-course (from $288) and eight-course ($688) menus, available for dine-in from 2 January to 5 February 2023.

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Crispy Yam with Salmon and Abalone Prosperity Yu Sheng 3.5/5

Toss to a new year of happiness, prosperity and longevity with Joyden's Crispy Yam with Salmon and Abalone Prosperity Yu Sheng ($78), comprising velvety slices of salmon, yam strips, julienne carrots, pomelo and crushed roasted peanuts in piquant plum sauce. I love the addition of the crispy yam sticks for additional textural enjoyment.

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Traditional Crispy Szechuan Fragrant Duck 4/5

A splendid offering for this Lunar New Year is the Traditional Crispy Szechuan Fragrant Duck. It is marinated with a medley of aromatics, steamed and then deep-fried to render a beautiful crispy skin on the outside and tender meat inside. It is served alongside a homemade sambal and kumquat sauce for a sweet and spicy kick that is the perfect foil for the deep-fried bird.

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Traditional Braised Eight Treasure Duck 4.2/5

Another impressive duck dish is the Traditional Braised Eight Treasure Duck braised for two and a half hours. The fork-tender duck is stuffed with an array of eight moreish ingredients: water chestnut, chestnut, shiitake mushroom, lotus seed, lily bulb, ginkgo, roast pork, garlic, cloaked in a luscious oyster-based sauce.

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Yam Ring with Pork Loin & Fresh Scallops in XO Sauce 4.2/5

Besides the duck-centric dishes, customers can look forward to the nostalgic crispy homemade Yam Ring with Pork Loin & Fresh Scallops in XO Sauce. The yam ring is fried to perfection with a crisp exterior and creamy interior. Nestled within it is a treasure trove of pork loin, scallops, cashew nuts, asparagus, shiitake mushroom and bell peppers stir-fried in robust XO sauce.

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Handmade Seafood Beancurd with Slow Braised Shanghai Baby Cabbage 4.8/5

The Handmade Seafood Beancurd with Slow Braised Shanghai Baby Cabbage looks unassuming, but it is a tasty and comforting dish. The seafood beancurd is pillowy soft while the soft cabbage soaked up the delicious broth.

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Steamed Fragrant Glutinous Rice with Yam and Chinese Sausage 3.5/5

The Steamed Fragrant Glutinous Rice with Yam and Chinese Sausage features fluffy, sticky rice accompanied by diced chicken, dried shrimp, Chinese sausage, shiitake mushroom and yam cubes, topped with strips of egg and deep-fried Kai Lan leaves. It is like a huge rice dumpling fragranced by Chinese sausage.

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Yam Sago 4/5

Wrapping up the dinner, I opted for the Yam Sago, a change from the usual mango sago. The rendition tastes like bubur cha cha less the sweet potatoes and tapioca cubes.

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EXCLUSIVE CHINESE NEW YEAR PROMOTIONS
Dine-in Promotions
From 8 December 2022 to 28 February 2023:
• Customers to receive a set of Prosperity Red Packets with a minimum spend of $50.
• Customers to receive an exclusive Prosperity Cushion with a minimum spend of $130.

Takeaway Promotions
From 7 December 2022 to 5 February 2023:
• Members to enjoy 15% off with a minimum purchase of two festive delights.
• UOB card members to enjoy 10% off with a minimum purchase of two festive delights.
• Add on smoked salmon slices for $15 (U.P. $18) with any ‘Yu Sheng’ purchased.
• Stand a chance to win a free exclusive Prosperity Cushion:
    o Follow @JoydenConcepts on Facebook or Instagram
    o Snap lo hei moments with the Lo Hei Mat that comes with each set of takeaway ‘Yu Sheng’
    o Post a photo with the hashtag #CNYWithJoyden on Facebook or Instagram
Note: Prices stated are subject to 10% service charge and prevailing GST

Note: This is an invited tasting.


Joyden Canton Kitchen
HillV2
4 Hillview Rise
#02-21
Singapore 667979
Tel: +65 64659988
Facebook
Instagram
Website
Nearest MRT: Hillview (DT Line)

Opening Hours:
Daily: 1130am - 3pm, 5pm - 9pm

Direction:
1) Alight at Hillview MRT station. Take Exit B. Walk straight to Hillview Road. Turn right onto Hillview Road. Walk down Hillview Road. Walk to destination. Journey time about 5 minutes. [Map]