[CNY'16] Szechuan Court @ Fairmont Hotel: Best Lunar New Year menu of 2016


Chinese New Year arrived in a torrent of auspicious dishes and mad tossing of yu sheng. I won't brag, but by the time Christmas arrived, I had already raked the sweet sour concoction 5 times at various establishments. Despite the many frivolous moments spent at the round table, I distinctively remember one restaurant which managed a record-setting taste triumphant attempt at every signature dish served up.



Starting with the Lobster, Salmon and Abalone "Yu Sheng" ($108) armed with a chocolate manufactured monkey head and a body pieced of shredded vegetables, pickled ginger and other edible ornaments. After the mandatory reciting and a deluge of blessings tossed our way, we raised our chopsticks in good spirits. The result of our sky-driven tenacious hurling being a platter of deliciously balanced salad that doesn't bother on being too sweet nor one-dimensional.

A gelatinous bowl of 花膠燕窝炖螺头汤 Double-Boiled Conch Meat, Bird's Nest, Superior Fish Maw ($58) fills in the gaps and lends some excellent soul-warming qualities to the meal. Brewed with an expert hand using nothing but the best ingredients, you can only expect something magical.

More familiar, but just as transporting is their X.O. 酱三菇蜜豆炒螺花 Wok-Fried Flower Whelks, Trio Mushrooms, Honey Beans, X.O. Chilli ($40) - unraveling in waves of muted spiciness and thickened honeyed notes amidst the crunch of wild mushrooms and sea snails.



Sitting at the lunch table, the showy 鲜豆浆浸红鲷鱼 Poached Golden Snapper in Soya Bean Milk ($68) would tickle the fancy of most, even the prissiest palates with its harmonious merger of tender golden snapper with aromatic broth of soya bean milk. Silky and tender convene in a smack down of flavors, here, there is no need for extra seasoning nor even the additional boost of that amazing XO chilli sauce that sits conveniently table side.

Another smooth sailing dish, the 松露榆耳上素 Vegetarian Pumpkin Broth, Truffle, Brown Fungus ($30) offers a much welcome respite from the conventional entourage of steamed vegetables and abalone. Colors run a wild rampage here and the aromatic pumpkin broth clearly takes centerstage with the boosting of truffle slices overhead adding supplementary earthy tones.


Have your fill of desserts like 黑芝麻汤圆红豆羹 Hot Creamy Red Bean Soup, Black Sesame Glutinous Rice Balls and the mandatory 年年糕升 Traditional Nian Gao, Coconut Cream Black Glutinous Rice Nian Gao ($12.80). Everything about the former was likable, it's bewitchingly smooth red bean broth hiding fat envelopes of pleasure in the form of glutinous rice balls that burst at the seams with minimal effort (thin skinned) filling your mouth with thick black sesame paste. Even the Nian Gao was revolutionary, imagine perfect squares rolled handsomely in thick shavings of dessicated coconut. Definitely one of the best nian gao's I've had to date.


With an elaborate array of six set menus this Lunar New Year at Szechuan Court, diners will be spoilt for choice. Tune in to http://www.fairmont.com/singapore/dining/szechuancourt/ for more details.Note that the CNY set meals will only be available from the 21Jan to the 22nd Feb'2016.


Szechuan Court
Fairmont Singapore
80 Bras Basah Road
t: 6431 6156

Operating Hours:
Mon - Fri: 12pm - 2 30pm; 6 30pm - 10 30pm
Sat - Sun: 12pm - 3pm; 6 30pm - 10 30pm

Dim Sum Buffet:
Sat, Sun, PH: 12pm - 2 15pm

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