Here's where to go to satisfy your cravings for a big bowl feast
Poon choi is loosely translated to mean "a treasure pot", "big bowl feast", or even "basin cuisine". Though traditionally a Cantonese dish, poon choi has transcended cultures and has become a gastronomic landmark in many families' celebrations during Chinese New Year. Composed of a number of layers of different ingredients, poon choi gives you the quintessential Chinese New Year flavours—all in one dish.
Served in a large bowl, the ingredients are cooked for a long time to ensure the meat becomes tender and the other fresh ingredients soak up all the essences. It is believed that only the freshest of ingredients have to be used to do the dish justice; canned, frozen, or any other ready-to-eat ingredients are considered a big no-no.
Common auspicious ingredients for poon choi include abalone, pork, fish maw, dried mushroom, prawns, broccoli, and sea moss but the list differs from clan to clan, village to village, and family to family depending on where they are located and what resources they have access to.
Like the list of its typical ingredients, the folklore of poon choi varies as well with the most common belief being that it was created as a dish for Emperor Song and his troops as he escaped the Jin army to the vicinities around Hong Kong and the Guangdong Province. The locals gathered their most precious ingredients and compiled them into large washbasins, placing the most valuable and rare ingredients like abalone, sea cucumber and other seafood on top of the other layers, fully on display.
Now a symbol of cultural unity, teamwork and gratitude, poon choi is becoming increasingly popular at reunion meals.
1. The Ritz-Carlton, Kuala Lumpur
Executive Chinese Chef Alex Au and his talented team at Li Yen offer two options of Poon Choi. Available daily for lunch and dinner from now till February 15, 2022, they are Li Yen's Traditional Poon Choi (RM868++ for small and RM1,388++ for large) or Li Yen’s Deluxe Poon Choi (RM1,568++ small and RM2,518++ for large). Abalone, fish maw, and dried oysters are among the featured ingredients
Reservation
Visit its website, WhatsApp +6018 646 8033 or WeChat @LiYenKL.
See also: Where & What To Eat: 8 Places to Explore in Bukit Bintang
