Reunion celebration at St Giles Southkey

 

I am back at the Causeway Café for a preview of the Chinese New Year dishes presented in the hotel’s Chinese New Year Prosperity Dinner served for tables of 10 and the Chinese New Year Buffet Dinner served at this café.

 

Nian Gao, in slices, served for dessert 
at the Chinese New Year Dinner Buffet

The warm welcome by the staff, dressed in Chinese traditional attire, and the decorations in auspicious Red, certainly created the mood for celebration at the dawn of a new year.

 

A tall vase adorned with stalks of cherry blossoms stood on the Dessert counter which was nicely complimented by clusters of Mandarin oranges and a pomelo.

 

My eyes zeroed in on the platter of Nian Gao, a traditional Chinese New Year cake made with glutinous rice known locally as kueh bakul and was pleased that this item was among the desserts served.

 

Nian Gao was among the
desserts served in the buffet

I paused in front of this platter and wondered if diners knew about the tradition of eating this glutinous rice cake, also called sticky rice cake because of its sticky consistency.

 

I must confess that thinking about the tradition of Nian Gao always made me smile because it was a sweet treat offered to the Kitchen God in the homes of traditional Chinese families, about a week before the dawn of the lunar new year.

 

According to traditional Chinese belief, the Kitchen God would leave for heaven to make his annual report about the family to the Jade Emperor and return on the fourth day of the first lunar month.

 

So besides offering fruit and meat, lighting joss sticks and burning joss paper, the Nian Gao was offered to the Kitchen God to “seal his lips” so that he would fail to give a poor report about that family, especially when they were more naughty than nice!

 

Chef Leong adding slices of
raw fish to the Yee Sang dragon!

Still smiling from these thoughts, I was introduced to Chef Leong, who was leading the culinary team in putting on the finishing touches to a massive Yee Sang or Prosperity Raw Fish Salad designed in the form of a dragon, laid out on long banquet tables.

 

Chef Leong was delighted to present some of the dishes served in their Prosperity Dinner menus in the preview of dinner buffet spread for us to sample along with some of the 300 items served in the spectacular Chinese New Year buffet dinner.

 

From January 21 to February 5, their Chinese New Year Prosperity Dinner presented in three set menus will be served for tables of 10 diners in a private dining space served from 6.30pm to 10.30pm.

 

In the tradition of Chinese New Year, the first course served in these set menus will be Yee Sang.

 

A display of some of the dishes served in the
Chinese New Year Prosperity Dinner menus

The menu that starts with a Rainbow Salmon Yee Sang is priced at RM1388+, the Rainbow Tuna Fillet Yee Sang at RM1688+ and the Rainbow Ocean Trout Yee Sang at RM2188+ per table of 10 diners.

 

Typical of Chinese New Year banquets, these menus comprise high-value ingredients to braise, steam, double-boil or fry the chicken, fish and prawns.

 

Meanwhile, at the Causeway Café on Level Six, a Chinese New Year Buffet Dinner will be served from 6.30pm to 10pm at the Causeway Café on eve of Chinese New Year, January 21, Saturday and January 22, Sunday.

 

Roasted Duck, Prawn Harlok, Cantonese steamed Seabass and Salted egg yolk fried Chicken were among the mouthwatering Chinese dishes to enjoy at this festive meal.

 

In the Chinese New Year mood at Causeway Cafe

There were also Wok-fried Black Pepper Beef with Ginger and Lamb Tandoori but the cannot-be-missed item (trust me!) must be the Oven-roasted Beef Brisket.

 

And to end your meal sweetly, don’t forget to have a taste of traditional Nian Gao.

 

Rate at RM158 nett per adult and RM79 nett per child aged six to 12 years and seniors aged 60 and above. Payment by Maybank Cards will enjoy 15% off your bill.

 

St Giles Southkey is located within Mid Valley Southkey Mall at No. 1 Persiaran Southkey 1, Kota Southkey. 80150 Johor Baru, Johor.

 

For reservations, Tel: +6012 309 9762 or email to fnb.skjb@stgiles-hotels.com.

For more info, visit webpage: www.stgileshotels.com/St-Giles-Southkey