Every year, we wait with bated breath to savour what Chinese Executive Chef Ku Keung has planned for Lunar New Year at Golden Peony, Conrad Centennial Singapore. Year after year, he whips up a sumptuous spread that combines the best of traditional Cantonese cooking techniques with a modern flair.

After featuring innovative fillings like Hainanese Chicken Rice and even a giant California Maki, Chef Ku presents 2018's version: Whole Suckling Pig filled with Shanghainese Sticky Rice, Fritters and Chicken Floss ($338, 24-hours advance order required).

Typically enjoyed as 'Ci Fan', a breakfast staple in Shanghai, I felt the unique combination worked really well—albeit the slightly soggy chicken floss, due to the cooking method—with the brilliantly crisp, thin suckling pig skin.

Other standouts from this year's repertoire include chef's Stir-fried Half Lobster topped with Crispy X.O. Chilli Sauce ($38/person)—masterfully executed lobster topped with the restaurant's signature, and extremely popular, X.O chilli sauce—and the Fortune Eight Treasures Stewed Duck ($98).

Thoroughly infused with herbs and spices from being cooked for 5-hours wrapped in lotus leaf and a dough casing, similar to that of Salt Baked Chicken, the meat is wonderfully tender and just overflowing with flavour.

Another highlight is the Braised Australian Abalone in Japanese Beancurd with Black Moss, Chinese Mushroom and Seasonal Vegetables ($28/person). Swathed in a decadent braised sauce, the clever pairing of salty-sweet, soft Japanese beancurd showcases both the slight chewiness of the abalone and the sauce's umami.

If you’re hosting a big group, go straight for chef’s creative Fortune 3-D Meringue Yusheng ($888, min. 30 persons) that not only comes with deliciously plump New Bedford scallops, salmon, crispy white bait and fish skin, 3-D Meringue portrait of the dog zodiac, but a set of ‘hidden’ lucky numbers—it’s said many has won lottery with these numbers.

Lunar New Year Set Menus start from $100 per person or $1,198 per table of 10 persons, available from 5 February to 2 March 2018. For reservations or enquires, call +65 6432 7482/88 or sinci.goldenpeony@conradhotels.com.

This was an invited media tasting session, though all views expressed are my own.

Golden Peony
Address: Level 3, Conrad Centennial Singapore, 2 Temasek Boulevard, Singapore 038983
Tel: +65 6432 7482