Bountiful Harvest Feast at Xin Cuisine, Holiday Inn Atrium Singapore

Chinese New Year is a time to welcome longevity, wealth and prosperity and to eliminate any negativity from the past. And of course, it is a year where everyone in the family gather and feast together.

If you are still thinking of the ideal place for reunion dinner, or planning to buy a bowl of pen cai back, Xin Cuisine Chinese Restaurant at Holiday Inn Atrium Singapore has kicked off their CNY dragon feasts with many culinary treasures to welcome the Chinese New Year!

The restaurant offers 9 different set menus from 2 pax ($188++) all the way to 10 pax ($2012++). If you are bored with the traditional looking Yu Sheng, try Xin’s Gold Leaf Australian Lobster, Canadian Geoduck Clam and Salmon Yusheng found in Bountiful Harvest set ($3999++ for 10). These sashimi appeared in a beautiful ice carving, together with a lobster head. Thanks to the folks from Holiday Inn, we got an additional sashimi ingredient in our Yu Sheng!

It was said that Yu Sheng (Prosperity Toss, also known as lo hei in cantonese) originated from the fisherman of Guangzhou feast on their catches on the 7th day of the Chinese New Year. It was then improvised by local chef Than Mui Kai as a symbol of prosperity and good health amongst the Chinese. However, when my Guangzhou relatives visited us last year, they have never seen nor tried Yu Sheng before! They were afraid to eat raw fishes but they certainly like the idea of coming together and lo hei.

This was a long lo hei for us because each blogger has to snap some pictures while the rest continue lo-ing. But we sure enjoyed mixing them and wishing for more money and better grades. HUAT AH!

After all the fun we had, dinner finally started proper with Pan-Fried Scallop with Eggplant in Japanese Miso Sauce arriving on our table. Fresh scallops were pan fried and topped with miso sauce, and placed above the eggplant. Put the whole thing into your mouth, the flavours simply complemented each other.

Next we had Double-Boiled Shark’s Fin and Baby Cabbage in Chicken Broth which was rich in flavour. The broth was boiled for a day to bring out the richness.

I like the Steamed Garoupa Fillet with Beancurd with Light Soya Sauce. The delicate and fresh garoupa was served with beancurd and chestnut paste, which added a crunchy taste to it.

Here comes the love: Xin’s Prosperity Pen Cai ($398 for 10, $298 for 6). It has a total of 17 ingredients which includes lobster, abalone, shark’s fin, fish maw, sea cucumber, dried oyster, dried scallop, wolfberry, fresh scallop, jelly fish, mushroom, sea moss, fish maw, bamboo pith, radish, sea whelk and chinese cabbage, such a wholesome dish!

After the pen cai, I was already very full but Bird’s Nest with Almond Cream is certainly a dish not to be missed. The delicate and lovely bird’s nest comes with a thick and nutty almond cream. It was very soothing and this dish is said to improve complexion. Can I have another bowl, please?

Nian Gao is said to bring good luck because it is a homonym for “higher year.” Deep Fried Xin’s Nian Gao has a crispy outer coat and a gooey inner core. It doesn’t stick to my teeth and it’s not too sweet.

Last but not least, treat yourself to the Fried Sesame Balls with Red Bean and Chocolate Liqueur Filling. One bite and the filling came oozing out. It literally melts in your mouth, with a strong champagne taste.

Dining at Xin Cuisine is an enjoyable one. The yu sheng and pen cai are very unique and challenges to surprise and tantalize the palettes. 

Hope everyone has a fabulous Chinese New Year!