Book Your Chinese New Year Reunion Dinner at Penang Marriott and Get a FREE Room!
Why not kick off 2025 with a special Chinese New Year Reunion Dinner at the Penang Marriott Hotel?
These days, eating out is one of the best ways to treat yourself and enjoy some quality time with loved ones.
The Reunion Dinner is always extra special—it’s not just about the food but about family coming together to celebrate, reconnect, and welcome a new year filled with hope, joy, and prosperity.
This year, SmartDory Media got to experience the amazing 8-course Abundance Prosperity Set at the super stylish Penang Marriott Hotel.
It was an exclusive private dinner with just three tables for the media, and let me tell you—the hotel has totally nailed this promotion!
The food was absolutely delicious!
Executive Chef Lee Keen Suaan and his talented team have outdone themselves, creating dishes that bring warmth, joy, and all the good vibes for a festive celebration.
And here’s the best part – it’s not just a treat for your taste buds but also an exciting perk that comes with the experience!
Book and pay by 31 December 2024 for just RM3,388 nett per table, and you’ll enjoy the following:
At just RM3,388 nett per table, this is the best way to celebrate with your loved ones!
Now, let’s talk about the fantastic 8-course feast that awaits you.
8-Course Abundance Prosperity Set Menu
Traditional Norway Salmon Yee Sang (Salmon Yee Sang)
新年快乐 – Wishing you a Happy New Year
Double Boiled Free-Range Chicken and Abalone, Hokkaido Dried Scallop (Chicken & Abalone Soup)
恭喜发财 – Rich Chicken Consommé with Sarawak Pepper
Oven Roasted Crispy Cherry Valley Duck with Patong Sauce and Mini Mantao (Crispy Duck)
吉祥如意 – Wishing you prosperity and good fortune
Steamed Grouper in Lime and Garlic, Served with Kyuri Salad (Steamed Grouper)
年年有余 – Wishing you abundance and surplus
Pan Fried Sea King Prawn with Supreme Soy Sauce (Pan Fried King Prawn)
心想事成 – Wishing you success in all your endeavors
Braised Fish Maw, Dried Oyster, Sea Moss, Flower Mushroom, Balling Mushroom with Broccoli (Braised Fish Maw)
万事如意 – Wishing everything goes smoothly
Steamed Lotus Leaf Rice with Chinese Sausage, Honey Glazed Chicken, Chinese Mushroom, and Spring Onion (Lotus Leaf Rice)
学业有成 – Wishing you success in your studies
Peach Gum and Glutinous Rice Ball, Fried Nian Gao Sweet Potato Sandwich Monk Fruit with Red Dates, Dried Longan, Gingko Nuts, Lotus Seed (Monk Fruit Dessert & Fried Dessert)
身体健康 – Wishing you good health
Accompaniments:
Mandarin Orange 大吉大利 – Wishing you good luck and fortune
Pu-Erh Tea 普洱茶 – A traditional Chinese tea for good health
We started with Chef Lee Keen Suaan’s warm welcome speech.
He led us in the traditional Yee Sang, or Prosperity Toss!
Chef Lee encouraged everyone to reply “收到” (sau1 dou2), which means “Have Received,” after he said his auspicious phrases.
Meanwhile, the waitstaff was busy preparing the dish—it was a fun and interactive start to the evening!
Contents
Salmon Yee Sang
Tossing Yee Sang is always a highlight of the celebration!
This Prosperity Toss features fresh salmon, creating a vibrant and flavorful dish that symbolizes joy, renewal, and a prosperous start to the new year.
Each bite was a delightful mix of tangy, sweet, and refreshing flavors – the perfect way to kick off the festivities and send wishes for a prosperous year ahead.
Here are some fun and meaningful phrases you’ll hear during the Yee Sang celebration.
- Da ji da li (大吉大利) – Said when squeezing lime over the dish.
- Nian nian you yu (年年有余) – Said when adding fish or salmon.
- Cai yuan guang jin (财源广进) – Said when pouring dressing oil in a circular motion.
- Tian tian mi mi (甜甜蜜蜜) – Said when drizzling plum sauce.
- Gong xi fa cai – A standard greeting meaning “may you be rich and wealthy.”
- Wan shi ru yi – Often said after “gong xi fa cai,” meaning “may all things go your way.”
- Huat ah – A wish for prosperity.
- Lou hei – Means “move upwards.”
As we tossed the ingredients up with chopsticks, we shouted words like “Heng,” “Ong,” and “Huat,” all of which are common during Chinese New Year celebrations.
It’s all about wishing for blessings in every way possible!
The higher the ingredients are tossed, the more auspicious the year is believed to be.
Fun fact: the name Yee Sang (鱼生) means “raw fish,” but it also sounds like 余升, which translates to “increased abundance / prosperity.”
How cool is that?
Chicken & Abalone Soup
Next up was the Double-Boiled Free-Range Chicken and Abalone Soup.
We couldn’t help but joke about Dory finding baby abalone (not Nemo) in this case!
The baby abalone has a delicate, slightly sweet, and briny taste. I’d say it’s a cross between a scallop and squid – with its subtle oceanic flavor and slightly chewy texture.
The consommé was packed with Hokkaido dried scallops and a touch of Sarawak pepper, making it rich and nourishing.
Every sip felt like a warm hug, symbolizing wealth and success for the year ahead.
Crispy Duck
The Oven-Roasted Crispy Cherry Valley Duck with Patong sauce and Mini Mantao was an absolute showstopper.
The duck’s golden-brown skin was perfectly crispy, and the meat was tender and juicy.
Paired with the tangy Patong sauce and the deep-fried, warm, soft mini manual buns, this dish truly embodied good fortune and fulfilled wishes.
And guess what?
We had some fun and turned the mantao buns into roasted duck burgers – a delicious twist on the classic!
Was the roasted duck salty? It might have been a little salty if you’re like me and slathered the duck meat and bun with the Patong sauce.
But hey, when food tastes this good, who’s counting?
Steamed Grouper
The Steamed Grouper in Lime and Garlic was huge and incredibly fresh—a standout for its delicate, fresh flavors.
With zesty lime, garlic, and a refreshing kauri salad garnished, this dish symbolized abundance year after year.
The tangy notes paired perfectly with the fish’s natural sweetness, making each bite absolutely delicious.
Pan Fried King Prawn
The Pan-Fried Sea King Prawns with Supreme Soy Sauce is a showstopper!
These fresh, plump prawns are packed with incredible flavor, thanks to the rich and savory soy sauce glaze.
Plus, the portions are super generous—everyone at the table gets two prawns each! It’s the perfect dish to share and savor.
Braised Fish Maw
One of my favorite dishes, this one’s pure luxury in every bite!
The fish maw is so tender it practically melts in your mouth, the dried oysters are bursting with umami, and the mushrooms add that earthy depth that hits just right.
And the broccoli?
Green, crisp, and with the perfect crunch—it ties everything together beautifully.
But it’s not just about taste; this dish is loaded with meaning.
Every ingredient symbolizes prosperity and abundance—talk about a delicious way to bring in good fortune!
Lotus Leaf Rice
The Steamed Lotus Leaf Rice was definitely a 10/10 dish.
I remember thinking I could easily eat two bowls of it!
This hearty dish packed with Chinese sausage, honey-glazed chicken, and mushrooms.
We cheekily asked Chef Lee if we could order the lotus leaf rice on its own for takeaway!
The aroma from the lotus leaf infused every grain of rice, creating a dish that celebrates success in all endeavors.
Monk Fruit Dessert & Fried Dessert
As the meal concluded, we moved to desserts.
The Monk Fruit Dessert arrived—a soothing concoction of red dates, longan, ginkgo nuts, and lotus seeds.
This dish was both refreshing and nourishing, symbolizing good health and well-being.
Another 10/10 creative twist on the traditional nian gao was a sweet surprise.
Sandwiched between thick-cut slices of sweet potato and taro, the nian gao became wonderfully gooey when fried.
The best part?
Biting into that crispy batter – every bite revealed the gooey, oozing texture that made it so irresistibly delicious.
Finally, the meal concluded with a touch of tradition.
Mandarin oranges for great fortune and a cup of Pu’Erh tea for balance and prosperity.
It was a simple yet meaningful way to wrap up the feast with a belly full of smiles.
This dining experience at Penang Marriott Hotel was a perfect blend of tradition and indulgence.
The presentation is meticulous, and the flavors exquisite; every detail was thoughtfully crafted to ensure a memorable celebration.
I recommend booking your table now if you want to make this Lunar New Year memorable.
Call +604 566 1888 to secure your spot and prepare for a reunion dinner that’s as prosperous as it is delicious!
Penang Marriott Hotel
55 Persiaran Gurney, George Town, 10250 Penang, Malaysia.
Tel: +60 4-5661888
Website: Penang Marriott Hotel
Blog Disclosure: This is a sponsored blog post, but all opinions are mine. Thank you Penang Marriott Hotel for the CNY Reunion Dinner invitation.
