CNY 2020: Le Mei, Le Meridien Putrajaya

This Lunar New Year, we celebrate the Year of the Rat, the first of the Chinese zodiacs; a year that represents new beginnings and new opportunities.

Usher in the Year of the Metal Rat at Le Mei, Le Meridien Putrajaya with a specially curated menu by newly appointed Chinese Executive Chef, Chef Lim Kian Meng from 8 January until 8 February 2020. Chef Lim brings with him over 20 years of experience in leading hotels in Malaysia, Russia and Macau. His contribution to the culinary team in Bi Ying Restaurant in Macau was key to the outlet being awarded the Recommended Restaurant by GHM Cordon Bleu in Hong Kong in 2016 and Recommended Restaurant in 2017 Michelin Guide for Hong Kong/Macau.

There will be three set menus to choose from, each offering authentic Chinese flavours which are also symbolic to the Lunar New Year celebration. Choose from the Spring and Happiness Set (RM1,688), Everlasting Prosperity Set (RM2,388) or Wealth and Fortune Set (RM3,388) per table of 10 persons. Each set menu also comes with a complimentary bottle of wine. Scroll down to the bottom of the post for the full menus.

During the media preview, we sampled a selection of dishes from the set menus as well as their Chinese New Year Lucky Dishes off the a la carte menu.

We started off with a boisterious Lo Hei, aka Yee Sang toss with the Salmon Yee Sang. Other yee sang varieties available are Snow pear, Sea grapes, Four seasons prosperity (sea grapes, salmon, snow pear, jellyfish) and Abalone, with prices starting from RM50 for half portion and RM98 for full portion.

Chef Lim impressed with his first dish, the "Shunde Style" Traditional Shredded Fish Soup. It smelt and tasted absolutely amazing. To achieve the milky coloured, flavourful broth, Chef Lim boils wan yue 鯇魚(grass carp) bones and meat over high heat for two hours. The boiled bones and meat are then removed, and before serving, fresh sek pan 石斑魚 fish meat (sea grouper), shredded petola, black ear fungus 木耳, and carrot are added to the thick soup. Fried fish meat is also topped on the soup for extra texture and flavour. It was so good, our kids had two helpings of this.

Fish is a must-have during Chinese New Year as it represents abundance for the new year. The Sabah giant grouper was expertly steamed with premium soy sauce - loved the simplicity of this dish, which allowed the natural flavours of the fish to shine.

Consuming scallops is believed to expand one's horizons for the new year. The large, plump scallops are sauteed with asparagus and shimeji mushrooms in a spicy XO sauce. Delicious!

Wok-fried scallops with asparagus and fresh mushroom in extraordinary sauce 

My personal favourite dish of the evening was the Stewed sea cucumber with free range chicken and black truffle in clay pot. It was certainly refreshing to see sea cucumber served in this manner. The chu po sam sea cucumber is braised with the chicken for 20 minutes and black truffle paste is added to elevate the taste of the dish. Absolutely exquisite!

If you're familiar with the Hong Kong-style typhoon shelter crab, these lamb racks are prepared in a similar manner. The lamb is first marinated with fresh herbs, then deep fried and finally wok fried with a mix of garlic and dried chilli.

Wok-fried lamb racks with crispy garlic and chilli

The Wok-fried organic brown rice with seafood and tobiko features two types of rice - brown and white rice for differing textures, cooked with plenty of wok hei along with fish, prawn and sakura shrimp and topped with popping tobiko pearls.

For dessert, we were served glutinous rice cake (nian gao), made in-house by the dim sum chef and pan fried without any oil for a crisp exterior. 

Pan fried glutinous rice cake

Le Mei, Le Meridien Putrajaya

Le Mei, Le Meridien Putrajaya CNY 2020 Menu

For those looking to host company lunches or dinners, Le Mei offers banquet set menus from RM1,688. The hotel's all day dining restaurat, Latest Recipe is also offering a festive Buffet lunch at RM118 nett per adult and RM59 nett per child and buffet dinner at RM138 nett per adult and RM69 nett per child from 8 January until 8 February 2020. On 24 and 25 January, the buffet dinner is priced at RM158 nett per adult and RM79 nett per child and guests will enjoy complimentary yee sang with reservations of 10 adults.

For information or to make a reservation, please call 03-8689 6888/6847/6868 or email dining.lmputrajaya@lemeridien.com

Pork-free.

Opening times: Mon- Fri 12.00pm to 2.30pm; Sat, Sun and PH 11.00am - 2.30pm; Dinner 6.30pm - 10.30pm daily.

Location: Le Mei, Le Meridien Putrajaya, Lebuh IRC, IOI Resort City, 62502 Putrajaya, Sepang, Malaysia (located next to IOI City Mall).

Tel: 03-8689 6888

Website: http://www.lemeridienputrajaya.com

GPS Coordinates: 2.969213, 101.712596


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