Celebrate the Year of the Goat at Man Fu Yuan, InterContinental Singapore

Be it lunch or dinner, Man Fu Yuan at InterContinental Singapore will never disappoint. Every time when I am here for media tasting, there will always be surprises. This time round, we were treated to a series of sumptuous menus and take home delicacies, in celebration of the most important festival on the Chinese Lunar calendar. Created by Executive Chinese Chef Kwan Yiu Kan of Man Fu Yuan, each specialty dish and reunion menu is symbolic of the occasion, with themes of prosperity, longevity and happiness, ideal for an auspicious start to the Year of the Goat.

In keeping with the traditions of Lunar New Year, Chef Kwan has carefully selected the finest ingredients to prepare ten lavish set menus ranging from 5 to 8 courses, for guests to enjoy in the contemporary elegance of Man Fu Yuan. The menus are available from 1 February to 5 March 2015 and priced from $118++ per person to $3,688++ for ten persons. A wide variety of auspicious and traditional dishes are also available from the a la carte menu, featuring delectable culinary delights ranging from double-boiled soups, abalone and bird’s nest to an array of handcrafted dim sum specialities.

New on the menu, Man Fu Yuan’s Salmon and Japanese Hokkigai Yu Sheng ($98+/$148+) is served with a refreshing Ponzu Shoyu sauce, lending a tangy nuance to the sweet Japanese Hokkigai, Salmon and shredded vegetables. Chef Kwan’s alternative use of fried vermicelli lends a delightful crackle to the dish. A must-have each new year to bring one great fortune and good luck for the new year ahead, this luxurious Yu Sheng platter is topped with sweet golden flakes, symbolising wealth and prosperity.

For an impressive yet intimate reunion meal with family or business associates, opt for Man Fu Yuan’s
exclusive grand private dining room that seats up to 30 guests around the reunion table. Toss to a year of abundance with Chef Kwan’s mega-impressive Yu Sheng, arranged to form the Chinese character “祥”, meaning “auspicious” and “propitious”, and is also an ode to the Year of the Goat, available at a supplement of $688++.

A sell-out item every year, Man Fu Yuan’s signature Deluxe Treasures Pot ($428+ for 5 persons, with Yusheng) brings a visual and gastronomic treat to the reunion table. Filled to the brim with 23 premium ingredients such as succulent whole baby abalone, sea cucumber, fish maw, goose web, scallops, and preserved meat sausage, all braised to perfection in a flavourful broth, it comes in an exclusively designed claypot with a colour palette of vibrant pink and auspicious red amidst floral patterns, signifying a blossoming beginning to the New Year.

For the quintessential steamboat reunion feast, Man Fu Yuan’s culinary team has thoughtfully put together the Steamboat Deluxe Collection ($328++ for 5 persons), which comes with an impressive array of handmade specialties including Minced Beef Balls with Water Chestnut, Fresh Crabmeat Shrimp Balls, Fresh Abalone with Minced Shrimp and a selection of fresh seafood and meat items, ensuring a fuss-free sumptuous reunion feast.

Indulge in Chef Kwan’s Double-boiled Buddha Jumps Over the Wall ($688+ for 5 persons, with Wok-fried Glutinous Rice and Yu Sheng), resplendent with delicacies like whole abalone, sea cucumber, fish maw, dried scallops, deer tendon and panax ginseng. Cooked over low heat for 48 hours, the result is a luxuriously thick broth that is rich in both flavour and nutrients. Not forgetting the Braised Beef Brisket with Radish, a dish that has been in the menu for some time. It is a very hearty stew with tender beef cubes, tendons and tripe. Now, can I have a bowl of rice please?

Abalone lovers will enjoy their Braised Australian Green Lip Abalone and Chinese Mushroom with Seasonal Vegetables ($128++ per pax). Braised for 48 hours, the abalone was paired with soft sea cucumber. It was rich and dense. They have been so well braised that the ingredients absorbed the flavours well.

Next up, we also have the Double Boiled Fish Maw, Bamboo Shoot, Chinese Cabbage with Dumpling in Superior Stock ($365++ for 5 pax). The star is definitely the huge fat dumplings packed with prawns and cooked in a lighter broth. A taste of home would be Steamed Red Garoupa in Homemade Black Bean Sauce. The fish is light and tender, and the homemade black bean sauce totally lift up the flavours by a notch.

It’s crispy skin galore with Barbecued Whole Suckling Pig with Wok-fried Glutinous Rice ($488++). With careful preparation, this suckling pig also has a crispy skin flavoured with Asian flavours and you won’t feel too oily after eating it. The glutinous rice is cooked with cubes of preserved meat was equally yummy and pair very well with the suckling pig.

Last but definitely not the least, here comes my favourite Double Boiled Bird’s Nest in Whole Coconut. Such a sweet smelling scent of the coconut as I slurped up strands of bird’s nest using chopsticks. It soothes my itchy throat that night and brings a perfect ending to the night.

Alongside the Bird’s Nest, we also tried the new Koi Fish Nian Gao ($56+) of mango and pineapple flavours that is beautifully presented in a pair, a delicious symbol of abundance and wealth and also ideal as an auspicious gift. Stock your larder with Man Fu Yuan’s array of sweet treats and delectable titbits including the Golden Egg Custard Pastry ($38+ per jar), consisting of rich egg custard encased in a delicate pastry crust, Prosperity Pineapple Tarts ($38+ per jar), Honey-Glazed Walnuts ($28+) and savoury Steamed Radish Cake with Assorted Chinese Sausages ($28+).

If you prefer to stay in to celebrate with your family, you may want to check out Man Fu Yuan’s Dine-at-home takeaway delicacies, meant for you to have a taste of their creations at the comfort of your own home.

Man Fu Yuan
Address: Level 2, InterContinental Singapore
80 Middle Road, Singapore 188966
Tel: +65 6825 1008
Email: intercontinental.dining@ihg.com

Opening Hours:
Lunch 12.00pm – 2.30pm (Daily)
Dinner 6.30pm – 10.30pm (Daily)