TOP PICKS
EIGHT GEMS YUSHENG
$201.16 (small), $243.96 (large), from Gourmet Carousel, Royal Plaza on Scotts, 25 Scotts Road, tel: 6589-7788. Available from Feb 13 to Mar 5.
Initial doubts about this savoury platter – its star ingredient is braised lamb shank – were quickly banished. A surprise hit among tasters, the lamb was tender and paired perfectly with the spring onion and ginger dressing, and chilli sauce. It also scored on variety, with five types of fresh seafood – slices of Hirame (flounder), Alaskan crabs, abalone, lobsters and Hokkaido scallops.
LI BAI’S SALMON LOH HEI PLATTER
$55.64 (small), $102.72 (large), from Li Bai Cantonese Restaurant, Sheraton Towers Singapore, 39 Scotts Road, tel: 6839-5623. Available from Feb 2 to Mar 4.
It was well-balanced, with just the right amount of dressing and neatly cut vegetables that did not turn soggy after the tossing. The ingredients and flavours came together nicely, and we liked how the pickled ginger strips added a nice zing.
PROSPERITY YUSHENG
$72.76 (small), $145.52 (large), from Wan Hao, Marriott Singapore, 320 Orchard Road, tel: 6831-4605. Available from Jan 28 to Mar 6.
The most traditional-tasting, with an appetising sweet-spicy gingery hit. There was just enough plum dressing to coat the generous mix of vegetables and fresh salmon sashimi for a good balance of flavours. And instead of crackers, the cod fish fries (top up $XX for them) added a nice smoky flavour and texture.
THE CLASSICS
PROSPERITY YUSHENG
$41.52 (medium), $56.50 (large), from all Putien restaurants, including #02-18 Raffles City, tel: 6336-2184. Available from mid-Jan to Mar 5.
This combination of ingredients – radish, pickled ginger, preserved melon strips and candied persimmon – and dressing turned out to be slightly on the sweet side, but tempered by the umami flavour of Putien’s signature crispy seaweed and jellyfish, it was polished off in minutes.
PROSPERITY SALMON YUSHENG
$73.62 (medium), $105.72 (large); top up $42.80 for four baby abalone, from Tien Court, Copthorne King’s Hotel, 403 Havelock Road, tel: 6318-3193. Available from Feb 1 to Mar 5.
The citrusy dressing perfectly complemented the fresh abalone, although it failed to mask the slight fishiness of the salmon. We loved that the abalone was not too chewy, but we wish they had been cut up to make them easier to toss and eat.
THE MODERN
SIGNATURE SALMON YUSHENG
$84.90 (small), $120.60 (large), from Jiang-Nan Chun, Four Seasons Hotel Singapore, 190 Orchard Boulevard, tel: 6831-7220. Available from Feb 6 to Mar 5.
This platter was helmed by crunchy elements – crispy vermicelli, fried shredded yam and gold-coated rice krispies. Its vegetables were fresh and crunchy, but could be shredded more finely for an easier toss. With a pineapple paste and a sweet-tangy plum and passionfruit dressing, it won points for creativity.
EIGHT HAPPINESS GOLD RUSH YUSHENG WITH CHAMPAGNE JELLY, SALMON, OLIVE OIL AND PEACH DRESSING
$83.46 (small), $126.26 (large), from Jade Restaurant, The Fullerton Hotel Singapore, 1 Fullerton Square, tel: 6877-8188. Available from Feb 3 to Mar 5
The crisp vegetables, aromatic cinnamon spice and tangy peach dressing made this very refreshing. We liked how the champagne jelly gave it a pop of flavour, but would have preferred that the veggies weren’t cut so fine – they soaked up the dressing too much.
SIGNATURE SOUTH AFRICAN ABALONE AND SALMON CAVIAR YUSHENG
$126.26 (small), $252.52 (large), from Summer Pavilion, The Ritz-Carlton, Millenia Singapore, 7 Raffles Avenue, tel: 6434-5286. Available from Feb 2 to Mar 5.
Two abalones – sliced and served in shells – drew oohs and aahs from the team. And it tasted as delicious as it looked, with a citrus dressing that enhanced the flavour of the seafood, and candied nuts that added a delicious sweetness and crunch. The small bursts of salmon roe were delightful too, but only if you manage to find them after the tossing.
THE ULTRA-HEALTHY
HEARTY FIVE TREASURES YUSHENG
$84.32 (small), $137.82 (large), from Crystal Jade Golden Palace, #05-22 Paragon, tel: 6734-6866. Available from Feb 6.
A mix of nuts and seeds – like pine nuts, pumpkin seeds and sunflower seeds – made this platter full of texture and crunch, and the thick slabs of salmon sashimi were among the freshest we had. The scallop slices tasted lovely with the punchy plum sauce and pistachio nut oil. We only wished there were more vegetables to soak up the dressing.
ATLANTIC SALMON LO HEI
$62.06 (small), $94.16 (large), from Majestic Restaurant, New Majestic Hotel, 31 Bukit Pasoh Road, tel: 6511-4718. Available from Jan 31 to Mar 8.
A semi-fruity yusheng that was well-received by the ladies. This light and refreshing combination of shredded snow pears, grated radish, carrots, pickled cucumbers and pomelo bits was nicely punctuated with hints of fresh parsley and candied orange peel.
SUPERFOODS YUSHENG WITH SALMON SASHIMI
$83.46 (small), $147.66 (large), from Daily Treats, The Westin Singapore, 12 Marina View, tel: 6922-6968. Available from Feb 1 to Mar 5.
A unique platter chock-full of dried fruit and nuts – apricots, raisins, dried berries, apples, sunflower seeds, pine nuts, and honey-roasted cashew nuts and walnuts. However, it seemed more of a salad than a yusheng. It appealed to some but others found the combination didn’t go well with the salmon.
* All prices are nett for takeaway orders. A small yusheng serves four to six people, and a large one serves eight to 12. Most restaurants advise orders to be made three days in advance.
This article was originally published in Simply Her February 2015.