Name of restaurant: Man Fu Yuan
Type of cuisine: Cantonese

Pulling out all the stops for a family dinner to impress the in-laws (or in-laws to-be) this Chinese New Year? Then Man Fu Yuan at InterContinental is one option to consider.

The main dining area at Man Fu Yuan and one of the private dining rooms

Ambience:
Out with the old and in with the new, they say. After its major decor uplift last year, the interiors of Man Fu Yuan are now graced with wooden furnishings, efflorescent chandeliers and touches of ornate Chinese decor. It’s a classy, contemporary revamp that makes the restaurant more inviting; the perfect way to start your Cantonese fine dining experience.

Must-tries:
Spread joyous cheer around the table by tossing up a plate of yu sheng together. A must-have for this festive period, diners who can’t decide on the type of yu sheng to pick can opt for the Man Fu Yuan yu sheng ($158); this dish contains salmon, ikan parang (wolf herring), hamachi (Japanese amberjack) and fish skin.

Even better is the chilled Mexican abalone in spicy Nyonya sauce ($98 per portion); a zesty and juicy appetiser that will whet your appetite for more decadent dishes to come. The abalone is super chewy and juicy while the Nyonya sauce has the right amount of spiciness that doesn’t overwhelm the taste of the abalone.

Man Fu Yuan’s double-boiled Buddha jumps over the wall ($88 per person) and the Man Fu Yuan Deluxe Treasure Pot ($358 for 5 persons)

The double-boiled Buddha jumps over the wall is that requisite soup to have at major Chinese family dinners. Brewed for six hours, this double-boiled soup contains panax ginger, South African five-head abalone, shark’s fin and fish maw. The name of the dish alludes to how this broth’s rich aroma would tempt even a vegetarian monk into eating this meat-based delicacy.

The Man Fu Yuan Deluxe Treasure Pot is the restaurant’s bestselling pen cai pot of 26 layers: a dizzying list of ingredients that include whole baby abalone, fish maw, goose web, roasted duck, eel, sea cucumber, sea whelk, shark’s fin and scallops, cuttlefish and more. This large pot of premium ingredients is packed with nutrients and flavour

If you would rather avoid consuming shark’s fin at your reunion dinner, there are still other dishes to opt for; alternatives that are both sumptuous and traditional.

Man Fu Yuan's stuffed glutinous rice in whole suckling pig (featured right, $488++ to takeaway) and its steamboat spread

Set menu 11 ($4,288++ for 10 persons) for instance, is perfect for environmentally conscious families. The set features double-boiled chicken with fish maw and cordyceps in place of shark’s fin soup and the other dishes more than make up for its absence.

Besides the obligatory yu sheng dish and a Hong Kong style steamed star garoupa, the menu also includes braised dry green lip abalone with sea cucumber, double-boiled superior bird’s nest with young coconut and a stuffed glutinous rice in whole suckling pig (featured above); the latter in particular, is a key dish not to be missed.

Glazed and roasted beautifully all round, the sight of this suckling pig should please even the most particular of in-laws; your elders will love this return to tradition. It’s as delectable as it looks; the skin is crispy, the meat tender and the glutinous rice is such heartwarming comfort food to have.

The familial warmth of a cosy dinner at home makes for a memorable family reunion but if you’ll rather dine at home than at a restaurant, Man Fu Yuan’s steamboat takeaways will save you much time and effort.

We recommend the handmade fresh crab meat shrimp ball, the fresh prawn dumpling as well as the sea moss dace fish ball (all priced at $18+ for 8 pieces). These freshly made creations are soft, bouncy and easy to cook.    

In fact, Man Fu Yuan offers takeaway options for just over a dozen of its signature festive dishes too, so you’ll get to enjoy more than just steamboat dishes in the comforts of your home.

Price:
Man Fu Yuan's Chinese New Year set menus start at $108.00++ per person for Set Menu 1, which has the minimum of two diners, not valid on 22nd January), $538.00++ for the five-person Set Menu 5.

If you’re keen on splurging for the occasion, look to Man Fu Yuan’s premium Set Menu 12 ($6,888++ for 10 diners). The menu features a plate of prosperous raw fish yu sheng in traditional style, an imperial Buddha jump over the wall, premier cut roasted duck, stewed noodle with Australian lobster and concentrated bird's nest.

Steamboat takeaway options are priced between $18+ to $68+; the soup base ($18+) is complimentary with orders of $288 and above.

Verdict:

Whether you’re dining in or ordering restaurant fare as takeaways, Man Fu Yuan’s extensive Chinese New Year menu give diners a diverse range of dishes to choose from. Give in to tradition for this festive season; you can’t go wrong with these well-executed classic dishes.

Man Fu Yuan’s Chinese New Year dine-in and takeaway specials are available from now to February 6, 2012. The restaurant is located at 2F InterContinental Singapore, 80 Middle Road, Tel: 6825 1062.