Taste of tradition at Qing Palace

The Lunar New Year is just around the corner and Qing Palace, the award-winning Chinese restaurant at Pulai Springs Resort, is one of the preferred destinations to celebrate with authentic Cantonese-Szechuan cuisine by Master Chef Lim Ming Chong.

Check out the Awards [on the wall]
at the entrance to Qing Palace in
Pulai Springs Resort

At the preview of the Chinese New Year festive menu, a few dishes have been selected from the various sets for us to sample and remind us why the Qing Palace remains popular with diners over the years.

Chef Lim has planned menus that are suitable for family reunions and gatherings with friends with traditional dishes designed with symbolic Chinese expressions of good fortune, prosperity, happiness, wealth and abundance for the Chinese New Year!

This of course, includes the serving of traditional Qing Palace Special Yee Sang with Royal Abalone Slices.  

I am pleased that the serving staff is conversant with the Chinese tradition of uttering positive wishes as she adds the various toppings onto the platter for us to toss for greater prosperity in the lo hei tradition.

Qing Palace, renowned for their Camphor and Tea Smoked Duck, serves the boneless version with a side of fried mantou buns complemented by a drizzle of delicious sweet sauce.

When I sink my teeth into the tasty, tender meat, I nod my head with approval because it tastes as good as it always did!

She utters positive phrases as she
adds the various topping on the
platter of Qing Palace Yee Sang

The skill of the chef is proven in the dish of Hong Kong style Steamed Dragon Garoupa where the steamed fish is timed to perfection and is paired with tasty superior sauce.

Szechuan Chilli Sauce flavours on the Fried Prawns is simply lip-smacking and this is followed by the traditional Chinese New Year dish of Braised Sea Cucumber with Black Mushrooms and Greens.

Steamed Glutinous Rice in Lotus Leaf is another popular dish on the menu and the preview ends with dessert of deep-fried traditional Chinese New Year Cake, nian gow or kueh bakul.

I like how this traditional favourite is sandwiched between a slice of sweet potato and yam, and the triple layered cake is dipped in batter before being deep-fried to crispy golden-brown.

While we savour this delectable dessert, our chat is on the traditional Chinese legend of how nian gow was fed to the Kitchen God so that his lips will be sealed when he returned to heaven to make his annual report on the family…

On Feb 4, the Qing Palace offers two options for the Chinese New Year Eve Reunion Dinner:

Tasty and tender Camphor and Tea Smoked Duck

Set Menu A is priced at RM880+ for table of 10 and RM528+ for table of 6 persons.

Set Menu B is priced at RM1,300+ for table of 10 and RM780+ for table of 6 persons.

To accommodate the modern trend of enjoying a restaurant Reunion Dinner, Qing Palace offers three dining sessions scheduled at 5.30pm, 7pm and 8pm on the eve of Lunar New Year, Feb 4 to usher in the coming Year of the Boar.

Feasting on high-value ingredients and dishes with auspicious names is a must this festive season and Qing Palace offers three Chinese New Year Set Menus, A, B and C for tables of 10 or 6 diners, served from Feb 5 to 19, for both lunch and dinner.

Braised Sea Cucumber with Black Mushrooms and Greens

Set A is priced at RM818+ for table of 10.

Set B is priced at RM938+ for table of 10 and RM558+ for table of 6 persons.

Set B is priced at RM1,388+ for table of 10 and RM828+ for table of 6 persons.

Diners may choose from Yee Sang options in two sizes that feature salmon: RM68+ (small) RM128+ (large), Royal Abalone Slices: RM68+ (small) RM128+ (large), dried seafood: RM78+ (small) RM138+ (large) or smoked duck: RM78+ (small) RM138+ (large).

On Feb 4, the all-day dining Cinta Terrace Restaurant will have a Chinese New Year Prosperity Reunion Barbecue Nite Buffet. This is priced at RM88+ per adult and RM44+ per child.

Bookings before Jan 31 will save RM15 per adult from the original price. Bookings for groups of 10 guests or more will enjoy RM18 savings per adult.

Delectable dessert of triple layered cake made with
traditional nian gow sandwiched between a slice of
sweet potato and yam 

On Feb 5, there is a Day One, Chinese New Year Day Special High Tea from 12pm to 2.30pm at RM58+ per adult and RM29+ per child.

On Feb 6, there is a Day Two, Chinese New Year Day Special High Tea at RM48+ per adult and RM24+ per child. For every four paying adults, one child dines for Free.

If you are in the resort on Feb 7, the third day of the first lunar month, don’t miss the Lion Dance performance at the hotel lobby, scheduled for 10.30am.

Pulai Springs Resort is at 20km Jalan Pontian Lama, 81110 Pulai, Johor. Qing Palace serves food which is pork-free and without alcohol.

Cinta Terrace Restaurant is Halal certified.

Visit website: www.pulaisprings.com for full details of menus and special promotions at the resort hotel and restaurants.

For reservations, Tel: 607 – 521 2121, Email: enquiry@pulaisprings.com