Be a Tosser: 10 Cool Yu Shengs in Singapore for Your Annual Lo Hei(s)
PUBLISHED February 9th, 2015 04:00 pm | UPDATED May 19th, 2017 01:25 pm
If you’re looking at my byline, you might be wondering why a non-Chinese dude is writing about one of the most beloved Chinese traditions for the Lunar New Year. Yours truly is actually half Chinese (and 100% Singaporean). Having grown up with my grandmother’s wonderful Cantonese-Teochew cooking and yu sheng, here’s 10 yu shengs worthy of a rapturous lo hei – cause CNY celebrations ain’t complete without this tosser of a salad in your belly.
For an intoxicating mix of seafood – Peony Jade
Peony Jade’s version does pretty well (read: worth your money) for a super atas yusheng. Their Instant Enormous Windfall, Good Health and Longevity Bonsai-Shaped Monies Tree Yu Sheng comes with lobster, Alaskan crab claws, sea urchin, tuna belly, Atlantic salmon, and sweet shrimp. Every component of the yu sheng is luscious, juicy, and high in quality.
Price: $198.88++, feeds 15. Dine-in only and 1-day advance order required
To ensure a sweet, sweet year ahead – Antoinette
Sitting atop auspicious sweets like chocolate ingots and coins, mandarin orange butter cake, and meringue kisses is a huge chocolate egg. The latter is then cracked to reveal fresh fruit like pineapple, dragon fruit, and pomelo before a mandarin orange, plum, and gula Melaka dressing is poured over for the tossing.
Price: $88++, feeds 6 to 8. One-day advance order required.
For something pretty and slightly boozy: Jade, Fullerton Hotel
Jade’s Eight Happiness Gold Rush Yu Sheng features beautiful calligraphic drawings (only if you dine in), which gives a certain elegance to your Lunar New Year dinner. Not only does the peach dressing make a refreshing change from the usual plum, the accompanying champagne jelly adds a twist and layer of texture.
Price: $78++ for 4-6, $118 for 8 and above
For something ‘same same, but different’ – Tao Seafood Asia
At this institution of Teochew-Thai cuisine, succulent abalone – instead of the usual salmon – is the chief protagonist in their yu sheng and we like the addition of freshly cut fruits, which give the salad an extra jolt of tangy-ness. The icing on the cake, however, is definitely the dainty and crunchy little bits of fish roe!
Price: $128++, feeds 8-10
For a French twist – Cocotte
Featuring a delicious mix of zucchini, pears, grapefruit, fresh kumquat, hazelnuts, and tarragon in a honey, hazelnut and citrus dressing, Cocotte’s adaptation of the traditional dish is decidedly French. Plus you get to choose to have either home smoked duck or poached lobster with it – we say go for the former.
Price: $49++ for smoked duck, $102++ for poached lobster, feeds 4-6
For Spanish style – UNA
UNA’s rendition of the traditional Chinese dish stars a Spanish icon, the suckling pig. Combined with zucchini, carrots, pears, pomelo, and crispy pork crackling, this sounds like a successful blend of East and West.
Price: $48++, feeds 4-6
For the true blue truffle fans – Xperience Restaurant, Sofitel So Singapore
If raw Salmon doesn’t do the trick for you, Sofitel So Singapore’s So Classic Truffle Yu Sheng includes fresh salmon, smoked salmon, and salmon roe. You can also go luxe with their So Deluxe Truffle Yu Sheng, which is served with fresh lobster and scallops. And as you can guess from the name, there’s going to be a load of truffle oil in this.
Price: So Classic at $58++ (for 4) and $78++ (for 8), So Deluxe at $88++ (for 4) and $108++ (for 8)
For an impressive dressing – Min Jiang, Goodwood Park
The addition of wasabi to the lime-plum sauce proves to be a game-changer in the yu sheng arena. Plus, the fishy stars that top of colour stack of mesclun, radish, carrot, and jellyfish at Min Jiang are the uncommon tuna and kanpachi. For those who’d like some extra crunch, besides the crispy crackers, there are also sweet potato and yam crisps.
Price: $138++ (dine-in only), feeds 10
For an Italian Lo Hei – Alkaff Mansion
For most part, this yu sheng is pretty orthodox, save the strips of mouthwatering Italian-style salmon or tuna carpaccio you can choose to accompany this prosperity salad. And if your in-laws aren’t Chinese, this is a good way to introduce them to the tradition.
Price: $68++ feeds 4-6, $88++ feeds 10-12
For fans of kanpachi kingfish – Mitzo
Orchard Road’s new glitzy Cantonese restaurant-bar proves they’re not all about the looks with their Golden Prosperity King Fish Yu Sheng. Plus, you won’t find the usual plum sauce here either. Mitzo’s secret, savoury sauce has undergone so it can be poured over the prized kingfish before tossing.
Price: $78++ feeds 4-6, $138++ feeds 10
Top Image: Mitzo
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