Jan
16
2012

Baba Nyonya Yee Sang @The Tranquerah, Red Carpet

Chinese New Year is just around the corner. I remembered vividly what Chinese New Year was back in my hometown in Malacca. CNY means staying up late on New Year eve to help Mom pack Ang Pows, filling up the cookie jar, hanging up red cloth (or Chai Kee as we call it in Peranakan language) on the main entrance of the house. All these were done with the entire house filled with the aromatic itik tim aroma, the fragrant sek bak, the mouth-watering pong teh and I MUST get my hands on some of the cili and timun acar. Well, these are the main dishes that my mom will prepare without fail for the FIRST day of Chinese New Year.

I got married back in 2005. Since then I have always been away on the first day of CNY as I had to be at my husband’s side. It has been 6 years since I missed having these mouth watering dishes on the FIRST day of CNY and this year will mark the 7th year :(

Imagine my delight when Alan of The Tranquerah, the house of Malacca Nyonya cuisine invited us to have an early Lou Sang at his restaurant at The Strand Encorp yesterday. My eyes sparkled and my stomach can’t wait for a feast of authentic Nyonya cuisine!

So there we were at The Tranquerah, Red Carpet.

Ethan and Alan. Super cute! :)

The Tranquerah

62A-G, Red Carpet Avenue
Encorp Strand, Jalan PJU5/22
Kota Damansara, 47810, Petaling Jaya
Tel: 603 – 6142 4106
Let me tell you the truth. I have NEVER in my entire life had Peranakan Yee Sang. I never knew they even have such a thing but Alan gave us a big surprise yesterday. He presented a platter of Baba Nyonya Yee Sang much to everyone’s delight.

Consists of fresh raw salad, squid, jelly fish, turnips and more. We just can’t wait to start tossing!

And that’s just what we did. Tossing up squids, jellyfish and more up high in the air while saying good stuffs such as, “Panjang panjang umur..” Yeah, if you wanna Lou Sang Nyonya style, you’ve GOT to speak the Nyonya way! :P

Alan wanted us to sample the Chinese New Year menu but with slight changes such as instead of having udang masak lemak we had squid instead. We are game to try anything and told Alan to serve us anything as we understand that certain items are not readily available yet until closer to the New Year.

Chinese New Year menu at The Tranquerah

The Tranquerah

Our appetizer for the day is Pai Tee or Top Hats. During the British colonialism in Malaysia, the British people wore top hats and the Peranakans thought of the idea that hey, top hats can be turned into a crispy shell to hold some savoury ingredients so that is how Pai Tee is born.

Hats off to that one particular person who came out with that idea!!

Next we had Chicken Meatball soup. Nothing beats having Itik Tim on the first day of Chinese New Year but if you dine at The Tranquerah for their CNY menu, you’ll be served Hee Peow Soup (Fish Maw soup)  or Itik Tim instead of this Chicken Meatball soup lah. It is a must to have Fish Maw or Itik Tim on Chinese New Year day right? :)

Back at home we always have the aromatic Sek Bak (stewed pork) but as Tranquerah is strictly PORK FREE, they’ve improvised to Sek Kay or Sek Ark instead (stewed chicken or duck). You may choose to have chicken or duck. All you needed to do is let them know your preference.

Not to be missed is their Chicken Curry. I’ve had it once and now having it again, this goes great with steamed rice. The curry is very rich and flavorful you’ll want to drench your rice with it.

Nyonya Chap Chye. No meal is complete without it. Fried with Tau Cheo (preserved soy bean paste), this vege dish gives a hint of sweetness that I guarantee will make all the little kids EAT their vege!

The Sotong Masak Lemak Nenas is to die for. Taken with sambal belacan this is such an appetizing bomb!

The first time I dined at The Tranquerah we had their famous Ikan Sumbat. Today, we tried their Ikan Cili Garam. It’s finger licking good! Oh yeah, you might as well be told now that we Peranakans eat with our fingers hence the ‘finger licking good’ phrase :P

I would give it a perfect 10 IF it was spicier though but according to Alan they had to tone down the level of spiciness due to their customer’s feedback of the food being too spicy! Aiyak!

Sambal Bendi is so good that for once Darling speak out and exclaimed that this is GOOD! -.-

Oh yeah, did I tell you that we have a special guest today? He is non other than Malaysia’s Top Model/Actor Isaac Ong.

Isaac and Ethan

This Sambal Terung is not in the Chinese New Year set menu but we got to try it simply because Isaac Ong requested for it. See what six packs can do to people?

He also requested the Gerang Asam.

Gerang Asam. If you are a non Peranakan and wish to impress your Peranakan in-laws, this has got to be one of the quickest dish to master and prepare. It is also one of the most appetizing meals around so I would highly recommend that you take a try of this and learn how to cook this dish! Savoury with a tinge of sourness, I can just slurp this as soup! Goodness… writing this post makes me crave for it again! @_@

Isaac is also a Malaccan so if he gives his thumbs up for the above two dishes means it is really GOOD! :)

We had sweet desserts to end our fantastic meal.

Ice Kacang

Bubur Chacha

Our meals today were all made possible with the presence of Uncle John. Uncle John is equally good as his famous wife, the celebrity chef Florence Tan. Thank you Uncle John :)

 

Last but not least, one pic for the album. The foodie gang at The Tranquerah.

The Tranquerah is open throughout Chinese New Year and closes from the 8th – 11th day of CNY. For reservations call +603-6142 4106.

Note: I found the level of spiciness in the food today to be a little mild for my Dragon hot Nyonya tongue but was told that this is due to the feedback and requests of the majority of Tranquerah’s customers. They do however, is able to prepare the dishes according to your preferences. So if you have a hot tongue like me, please remember to make a special request to ‘sky rocket’ your level of spiciness :)

19 Comments + Add Comment

  • //

    Very very nice writeup here Merryn. It was great dining with you over some really good food. :) btw I think you left out the description for the bendi.

    • //

      Sorry… got excited over Isaac’s scene that the bendi got kinda censored out! Muahahahahha.. nevertheless.. it is back! >_<

  • //

    ho ho ho.. I’m jelly T.T

  • //

    nice meeting you, merryn :) enjoyed reading bout the good food with perfect printscreen of the movie teaser :P

    Latest: CNY Buffet; Eat ALL You Can!

    • //

      Nice meeting you too Fish :D

  • //

    You make fast fast go an google the Hunter. Got interesting scene in there?

    • //

      I fast fast ask Isaac to show us that scene leh… He showed from his iPhone *too small*… then I went home and quickly watch from my PC! *bigger and better!* hehehe… :P

  • //

    Wow! This Alan is really an entrepreneur huh? From one restaurant to another. The food looks yummlicious.

    That teaser really..gulp! Big distraction. LOL.

  • //

    Nice gathering makan-makan. All the food make me drooling. Oh yes the Peranakan Yee Sang look so special to me, got Yao Yu wor haha.

  • //

    I saw Ethan’s tummy :P

  • //

    Is my first time to see Nyonya restaurant offer Yee Sang one.. QUite special this year!

  • //

    Yummy…

  • //

    nice food article…after reading makes me hungry!

  • //

    very nice food article…after reading makes me hungry!

  • //

    it was certainly a fun lunch hor! and btw… how on earth did u manage to capture that ‘Interesting part’ in The Hunter? kakaka :P

    • //

      hahaha…. picture perfect kan? LoL!

  • //

    Yummy, yummy. Food looks darn good!!

  • //

    hahaha.. “Ethan and Alan, so cute” so you mean who is cute?? kekekekeke~~ :p

  • //

    Look so delicious, would like to try it someday too… Thanks for the mouth-watery information, as a “gift” here I have a good offer to give it to you for this CNY.

    Great Yee Sang Offer @ Doppel Kafe
    Another Great Yee Sang Offer @ Doppel Kafe

Leave a comment to vickylow

Join ME for updates & giveaways!

About Me

MeHome is where MY heart is.
I am a mother to two boys; Ethan and Ayden and a wife to Darling William. I'm a stay at home mum who blogs to break the monotony of life and to avoid feeling jaded. Would love to get to know all the Super Mommies and Daddies and Babies or Singles out there with the hope that we can learn more from each other. Most of all, I am a happy person, and I hope YOU are too.

Click here to learn more about me ^_^

My Latest Video

Watch my videos      

Easy Tong Sui Recipes

Resipi Kuih Muih Tradisional

Our Hotel Reviews Collection

SUBMERRYN ON BERNAMA TV

SUBMERRYN ON TV3, MHI

Ayden and Mummy demo making CNY snacks

SUBMERRYN ON MHI

Submerryn and Mummy doing LIVE Peranakan Cooking Demo

Submerryn NTV7 Breakfast Show

Submerryn talks about coping with physical changes during pregnancy

Submerryn ON TV3, MHI

CNY Ang Pow lantern making demo and playing with snakes

Submerryn ON TV2 Hello On Two

CNY Ang Pow lantern making demo

Submerryn On TV3 KidsNews

Crafting with Ethan on KidsNews

Submerryn On Bernama Radio24

Submerryn In The Star Metro

Submerryn In The Star, In.Tech

Moms who’ve banked on their hobbies and build successful businesses

Submerryn In The Star, Metro

Tossing Lou Sang

Submerryn In Sin Chew

Family holiday trip

Thailand: Impiana Kata Noi

Thailand: Impiana Patong

Thailand: Novotel Hua Hin Cha-Am

Thailand: Swissotel Kamala

Thailand: Novotel Sukhumvit

Thailand: Novotel Ploenchit

Novotel Bangkok Ploenchit Sukhumvit

Thailand: Novotel Karon

Thailand: Novotel Surin

Thailand: Holiday Inn Mai Khao

Holiday Inn Resort Mai Khao and Activities for the Family

Thailand: Vana Nava Water Jungle

Thailand: Plearnwan Hua Hin

Thailand: Santorini Park Cha-am

Thailand: Asiatique Sky Bangkok

Indonesia: Holiday Inn Bali

Holiday Inn Resort Bali and Activities for the Kids

S’pore: Shangri-La Singapore

S’pore: Shangri-La Rasa Sentosa

S’pore Skyline Luge Sentosa

S’pore Universal Studio

Universal Studio Singapore

S’pore River Cruise

Singapore River Cruise

S’pore S.E.A Aquarium

S.E.A Aquarium, Sentosa, Singapore

S’pore Hotel Jen Tanglin

Klang Valley: Impiana KLCC

Port Dickson: Lexis Hibiscus

Lexis Hibiscus Port Dickson and Activities for the Family

Port Dickson: Thistle

Thistle Port Dickson

Penang: Golden Sands Resort

Golden Sands Resort, Penang

Penang: Holiday Inn Resort

Holiday Inn Resort Penang and Activities for the Kids

Penang: Shangri-La Rasa Sayang

Shangri-La Rasa Sayang Resort & Spa, Batu Feringghi Beach, Penang

Pahang: Swiss-Garden Kuantan

Pahang: Bukit Gambang Safari Park

Bukit Gambang Resort City

Melaka: Holiday Inn

Melaka: Hotel Equatorial

Equatorial Hotel Melaka

Melaka: Estadia by Hatten

Estadia by Hatten

Melaka: Novotel

Novotel Melaka

Melaka: Philea Resort & Spa

Johor: Pulai Springs Resort

Pulai Springs Resort, Johor Bahru

Johor: The Crystal Crown Arch

Johor: Dinosaur Alive Water Park

Johor: Legoland

Legoland, Johor

Johor: Hello Kitty

Sanrio Hello Kitty Town, Nusajaya Johor

Perak: The Haven Resort Hotel, Ipoh

Perak: Lost World of Tambun

Perak: Swiss-Garden Beach Resort

T’ganu: Resorts World Kijal

Archives