Get Jingle Bells out of your head if you havenât, because youâre already too late to the Gong Xi Gong Xi 2023 game. Donât panic about reunion dinner planning and the like, though, because weâve got PUTIEN on the line to sort you out.
PĂŠn cĂ i, çč, or poon choi in Cantonese, is a traditional, communal-style Cantonese festive dishâa huge pot of luxurious ingredients thatâs cooked over several days, and only served on special occasions. Today, almost every Chinese restaurant has their own take on it, but PUTIENâs Pot of Goodies (Abalone and Prawn) is one for you to seriously consider.Â
Each pot is brimming, or some might say overflowing, with all the good stuff. Think 12 different ingredients, starting with abalone from Nanri Island in Putian, known as the hometown of abalone in China. Then, youâll also get prickly sea cucumber, AKA the most expensive variety of this top-tier ingredient, loved for its crunchy, springy finish.
The treasures of the sea donât end there with this pot. It continues with Duotou clams, whole conpoy, fish maw, fatt choy, prawns, chicken wings, sio bak, Japanese flower mushrooms, stir-fried yam, and handmade, traditional Fuzhou fish balls, which dense and meaty, not artificially springy like the ones we are familiar with.
The pen cai here comes in four sizes: for four ($208+), six ($318+), eight ($428+) and 10 ($518+) diners; youâll have to top up for service charge should you dine in. You could definitely order as you see fit, but do note that thereâs only enough of the premium ingredients for the respective number of diners accounted for.Â
Thatâs not all, because each a la carte takeaway order of the Pot of Goodies entitles you to a complimentary box of PUTIENâs Mazu Mee Sua (U.P. $12.80+), while stocks last. Hereâs a tip on how to best savour this mee suaâenjoy these noodles with the leftover pen cai the day after!
This pen cai is included in all Fortune Set Meal (from $188+) options, along with Prosperity Yusheng (Abalone), which stars an appetising, house-made dressing, and more Nanri abalone.Â
If youâre skipping the pen cai, but absolutely must have yu sheng, then check out the Prosperity Set Meal (from $118+) line-up. Depending on which set you choose, you can expect the meal to cater to a minimum of six, and up to 10 dishes!
A new dish to look forward to, which is included in every set, is Stew Muscovy Duck Soup with Black Garlic.Â
Itâs a classic Fujianese dish that looks deceptively simpleâa clear golden soup and chunks of chopped-up duckâbut is ultra packed with clean, rich flavours.
Of course, you canât forget the Longevity Noodles, or ĺšłĺŽé˘ (pĂng Än miĂ n), featuring Mazu mee sua, which is traditionally eating in Fujian during celebrations and festive occasions for blessings of safety, good health, and more.Â
To up the blessings when you eat this, slurp the noodles in a single mouth without biting into them!
There are two fish options on PUTIENâs Chinese New Year set menus, one of which is Yellow Croaker in Sambal Sauce.Â
This particular fish, which is a speciality of the Fujian region in China, gets a local twist, deep-fried and blanketed in hae bee-rich sambal that complements the delicate white meat.
Another deep-fried dish thatâs sure to win the hearts of the older folk is Deep-fried Pork Trotters with Salt & Pepper thatâs full of gelatinous tendons.
To complete the experience, disposable gloves are provided so you can fully savour the ter kah.
End the meal on a sweet note as you enjoy Peanut Soup with Glutinous Rice Balls, for blessings of wealth, longevity, and vitality, with extra sweetness and prosperity from the addition of red dates.
PUTIENâs CNY set menus are available both for dine-in and takeaways from 1 January to 5 February 2023. Except for their outlets at RWS, MBS, and ION Orchard, all the other restaurants will be closed on 22 January, or the first day of the Lunar New Year. If youâre looking for a deal, only bookings for the first dinner seatingâfrom 4pm to 5:15pmâat all their restaurants on 21 January are entitled to a 10% discount on the meal. Â
Website | Full list of locations
Photos taken by Chew Yi En.
This post was brought to you by PUTIEN.
Get the viral cheesy and crispy kunafa dessert in six different flavours at Jay And…
Run, don't walk, to Burnt Cones for their $1 scoops and cones on 2 December…
Blanco Court Beef Noodles, the famous chain thatâs been around since 1979, has opened a…
Shan Cheng serves legit Ipoh food inspired by two Ipoh-born sisters, including Ipoh hor fun,…
Snowsand, a popular Japanese confectionery brand from Hokkaido, is finally in Singapore! Check out their…
Restoran Hua Mui in Johor Bahru serves up all sorts of local favourites, including a…