Yan Ting, St. Regis Singapore - Chinese New Year 2014 Offerings

This Lunar New Year, Michelin-starred chef Mak Kip Fu brandishes eight festive set menus, both available for lunch and dinner, as well as an exclusive a la carte menu featuring finessed classics and new gourmet creations for those tossing to a flourishing year ahead at St. Regis Singapore's award-winning Cantonese restaurant, Yan Ting.

Putting an ingenious spin on the usual Yusheng plum sauce, Chef Mak's passion fruit-infused variation pleasantly rounds off the Prosperity Yu Sheng ($88 large, $68 medium) with Norwegian Salmon and their signature touch of refreshingly moist, julienned snow pears with a lingering fruity acidity that also lends the dish some complexity. Yan Ting also offers up a Vegetarian Prosperity Yusheng ($78 large, $48 medium).

I also enjoyed the simple yet gorgeously presented Hong Kong-Style Steamed Coral Trout (available as part of set menu). Masterly executed, the just right slices of fish were paired with a discreet coriander cap that wonderfully accentuates the delicate freshness and natural flavour of the trout.

For those who are out to impress the in-laws, Yan Ting has a variety of dishes ranging from the luxuriant Braised Superior Bird's Nest Broth with Lobster or Crab Meat (both $78 per portion) to the savoury Braised Whole 5-Head African Abalone with Seasonal Greens ($52 per portion).

One of the more interesting new creations on the menu is the Baked Rack of Lamb with Chef’s Signature Coffee Glaze (available as part of set menu). While the lamb is slightly dry, the unassuming glaze more than makes up for it with its weirdly satisfying savouriness that carries a salty edge, despite it seemingly sweet scent.

Their Braised Ee-Fu Noodles with Seafood in XO Sauce (available as part of set menu) certainly fared better than last year's Wok-fried Glutinous Rice. Wonderfully fried with that touch of wok hei, the generous use of robust XO sauce highlights this unpretentious dish with its spiciness and flavour.

The various set menus at Yan Ting, ranging from $108 6-course menu per person to $2088 8-course menu per table of 10, is available from 2 January through 14 February 2014. For reservations and enquiries, please call +65 65066887, or email yanting@stregis.com.