This article is part of my Chinese New Year 2020 compilation.
Special thanks to Eastin Hotel Penang for extending this food review invitation.
Eastin Hotel Penang is giving a sneak peek at its upcoming Chinese New Year buffet. The buffet menu is designed by Executive Chef Alex Leong, who was transferred from Eastin Hotel’s sister property several months ago.
It is considered auspicious to toss yee sang (鱼生) during Chinese New Year. Eastin Hotel continues the tradition of decorating the yee sang platter in a captivating manner. This time, the Fortune Yee Sang spells out the Chinese character “fatt” (发), which means “prosperity”.
One of the main highlights this evening is Roasted Lamb, which has a crumbly parmesan herb crust. The lamb is served with Chef Alex’s special Mongolian sauce. Sweet potatoes are served on the side. I cannot recommend this dish highly enough.
Poon Choi (盆菜) is traditionally prepared in a large wooden basin as it is meant to be consumed in a communal manner. Key ingredients in this Cantonese dish are abalones, scallops, oysters, prawns, fish maw, broccoli, mushrooms and yuba sticks.
Yook Poon (肉盘) or “meat platter” is served at the carving station. Diners can enjoy succulent Roast Chicken and Roast Duck, which go extremely well with plum sauce. Peking Duck Rolls are also prepared, but I feel that the pancakes are too tough.
Taking a detour to chafing dishes, I am most impressed by Village-Style Steamed Sea Bass. The scrumptious fillets are cooked with shiitake mushrooms, enoki mushrooms and chopped garlic. Indeed, this is one of Chef Alex’s signature dishes.
Next, Baked Salmon Fillets are served with creamy saffron dill cream, making the dish aromatic indeed. The delectable slices are garnished with cherry tomatoes and baby tangerines.
Another recommended dish is Kong Po Prawns. “Kong po” sauce (宫保酱) has a lovely combination of sweet, savory and spicy flavors. The presence of cashew nuts not only lends crunchiness, but also enhances the dish’s aroma.
Wok-Fried Green Mussels are cooked with spicy sauce that leaves tantalizing sensation on the tongue. Meanwhile, colorful bell peppers add festive colors to this seafood dish.
Another noteworthy dish is Crispy Sesame Chicken. The cutlets are coated with fermented tofu (腐乳). Although green chili dip is provided, I feel that savory fermented tofu makes the chicken tasty enough.
Ever since Chef Alex joined the team, Dan Dan Noodle (担担面) has become one of Swez Brasserie’s popular dishes. Green tea noodle is matched with spicy chicken ragout and shrimp-flavored broth. The combined taste is remarkably balanced.
The salad section has delicacies like mung bean jelly with Sichuan pepper, eggplant with spicy garlic sauce, and prawns with honeydew salad. Meanwhile, marine delicacies include smoked salmon, salmon gravlax and white tuna tataki.
There are two choices of soup: Sichuan Seafood Soup and Pumpkin Cream Soup. Sichuan Seafood Soup is the right choice if you love sour and spicy flavors. Meanwhile, Pumpkin Cream Soup is infused with lemongrass for the distinctive citrus aroma.
One should not overlook the Double-Boiled Soup that contains peach gum, longan and red dates. Peach gum (桃胶) is jelly-like substance made of resin from peach trees. Also worth trying is Tau Fu Fa (豆腐花) with brown sugar syrup.
The desserts counter presents mochi, sesame balls, moist chocolate cake, Japanese cotton cheesecake, tiramisu and assorted French pastries. Chinese New Year cookies are also included during the actual buffets.
Eastin Hotel Penang has 5 buffet sessions for Chinese New Year. Held at the Grand Ballroom on Chinese New Year’s Eve, the Family Reunion Buffet Dinner will have the most lavish menu among all. On other days, the buffet is served at Swez Brasserie. Do take advantage of the early bird offer by booking your seats before 10 January 2020!
Name: Eastin Hotel Penang
Address: 1, Solok Bayan Indah, 11900 Bayan Lepas, Pulau Pinang
Contact: 04-612-1111
Business hours: 12:00pm-2:30pm, 7:00pm-10:00pm
Website: http://www.eastin.com/penang/dining
Coordinates: 5.33659 N, 100.30660 E
Directions: Eastin Hotel Penang is located along Tun Dr Lim Chong Eu Expressway (Lebuhraya Tun Dr Lim Chong Eu) and is conveniently next to Queensbay Mall. The Grand Ballroom is located on Level 3, while Swez Brasserie right next to the hotel lobby. There are parking spaces at the basement levels of the hotel.
