Celebrate CNY 2017 with Cherry Garden [MEDIA INVITE]

Cherry Garden Luxurious Pen Cai

Pen Cai (Pooh Choi / Peng Chai) which literally means “Basin Vegetables” is a traditional Chinese New Year dish from the old days. It was first created for the Emperor and has been passed down to the current generation. In the olden days, Pen Cai is normally served in wooden basin where it is assemble with the dishes from the festive praying offerings. In modern time, Pen Cai is served in claypot as it is easier to reheat and retain the heat as well.

In Singapore, Cherry Garden is known for its amazing Cherry Garden Luxurious Pen Cai (豪华盆菜). Singapore's largest traditional 'basin dish', weighing more than 25 kilogrammes and measuring up to 45 cm in diameter. Knowing it is Cherry Garden, you can expect the best ingredients are used for this Pen Cai.

This auspicious basin shown here is enough for 10 pax or more. It will take three rounds of serving to finish all the ingredients inside. 1^st serving was lobster, braised four-head abalone, scallop and prawn.

1^st serving: lobster, braised four-head abalone,
scallop and prawn

2^nd serving was dried oyster roll, meatball with tangerine skin, cabbage and black moss

2^nd serving: dried oyster roll,
meatball with tangerine skin, cabbage and black moss

3^rd serving was sea cucumber, roasted duck, roasted pork belly, and mushroom. Not seen in the photos are conpoy (dried scallops), dace fillet, lotus chicken and waxed sausage.

3^rd serving: sea cucumber, roasted duck,
roasted pork belly, and mushroom

It was definitely a superb dish, where all ingredients are cooked just right before it was assemble. Other than the ingredients, the highlight for me was the gravy. It is slightly thick but not sticky till overpowering. It tasted like a solid robust broth, flavourful and it is the key ingredient that binds the rest of ingredients together. Absolutely Delicious!!

 Prosperity Yu Sheng with Salmon and Crispy Fish Skin

Of course not to be missed is Prosperity Yu Sheng with Salmon and Crispy Fish Skin (风生水起鱼生). A nicely decorated Yu Sheng. Crunchy, refreshing intertwined with bold flavours from the pickled ingredients. It is slightly sweet, but it was just addictive as you feel like you wanted more.

Yu Sheng - Serving Size

Balancing the heavy meal were Stir-fried seasonal vegetables with black garlic (黑蒜时蔬) and Wok-fried mushrooms and celery with XO sauce (XO 酱芹香炒珍菌). The mini bok choy is stir-fried with black garlic exudes a similar fragrance like truffle. The wok-fried mushrooms and celery with XO sauce has a nice crunchy feel to it. I do wish their XO sauce has a bolder taste to it.

Wok-fried mushrooms and celery with XO sauce

The staple food was Braised Shanghai Nian Gao with Kurobuta pork and mixed vegetables (黑豚肉焖上海年糕). Came in a mini portion, which was good after such a heavy Pen Cai meal. The Nian Gao (rice cake) is chewy in a good way as you will take your time to appreciate the well-absorbed pork flavour in the dish.

Braised Shanghai Nian Gao with Kurobuta pork and mixed vegetables

Dessert was Cherry Garden Trilogy dessert delight: Organic black bean pudding with Japanese sesame ice-cream (黑珍珠); Chilled cream of mango, sago pearls, pomelo, lime sorbet (青柠雪芭杨枝甘露); and Cherries in nue er hong and aged kuei hua wine cocktail jelly served with refreshing lychee sorbet (樱桃红). Each one of them has it own unique characteristics, but my main pick remain as the Chilled cream of Mango.

Desserts: Chilled cream of mango, sago pearls, pomelo, lime sorbet;
Cherries in nue er hong and aged kuei hua wine cocktail jelly
served with refreshing lychee sorbet;
Organic black bean pudding with Japanese sesame ice-cream.

The dishes that I tasted above is based on the menu of $138 per pax (min 6 pax). In which the dessert offered Chilled cream of mango, sago pearls, pomelo, lime sorbet (青柠雪芭杨枝甘露).

Overall, it was a memorable dining experience. The Pen Cai definitely got my Yummy and my Die Die Must Try tick. So for this Chinese New Year Dining, definitely must consider Cherry Garden. Cheers!

Usher in the Year of the Fire Rooster at Cherry Garden

When: 05 January – 11 February 2017

Where: Cherry Garden (Dine-in & Take Away)

Reservation: Call +65 6885 3500 or e-mail mosin-dining@mohg.com

For Festive Takeaway: Call +65 6885 3081 or e-mail mosin-festive@mogh.com

TheCNY Menu and Brochure are available here

Thank you very much to Mandarin Oriental Team for the tasting Invitation.

Food & Drink: 9/10

Value: 7.5/10

Service: N/A (Tasting Invitation)

Ambiance: 9/10

Budget per Person: $81 and Above

Cherry Garden

5 Raffles Avenue

Level 5, Mandarin Oriental Singapore

Singapore 039797

T: +65 6885 3500

W: http://www.mandarinoriental.com/singapore/fine-dining/cherry-garden/

F: https://www.facebook.com/MandarinOrientalSingapore

IG: @MO_Singapore

OH:

Lunch, Mon – Fri: 12.00 – 14.30

Brunch, Sat, Sun & PH: 11.00 – 13.00 (1^st Seating), 13.30 – 15.30 (2^nd Seating)

Dinner: Daily: 18.30 – 22.30