my CNY Eve Reunion Dinner at Shark Fin Inn City, Melbourne, Australia

Arrived Melbourne on 9^th Feb, the eve of Chinese New Year; just in time to catch the reunion dinner. Lesson learned, I will try not to catch night flight if possible really suffering I can’t sleep throughout the whole journey and the next day I was like a zombie. Sigh, I was the last to leave coz I have no choice but to work until Friday 8^th Feb because no more leave for me sob sob.

After checked out from airport, all I really want to do is have a good sleep. I only had a nap then woke up went out for a quick bite and back to freshen up and get ready for dinner aka Big Makan. The Chinese New Year Eve Reunion Dinner is important so i try not to be late. We had our reunion dinner at Shark Fin Inn City Restaurant, Melbourne. Eating out during CNY is common since nobody like to cook and get messy.

Restaurant was fully booked on that day, both ground and first floor were pack and have to open additional table. In between the dinner there were entertainment like lion dance and also Elvis singing all the oldies with his backup dancers. Most of the restaurant patrons would give Ang Pows to the lion dance troop and also some to Elvis for his hilarious performance.

I didn’t really take many pictures during the dinner but still, looks like I am the only one who took the most pictures the rest just eat, drink and talk. So I have limited pictures to choose for this post.

Lou Sang the Malaysian way in Aussie

Lou Sang the Malaysian way in Aussie waa….

We had Salmon Yee Sang, fresh salmon of course with red sauce = nice

Crispy Suckling Pig, Deep Fried Prawn Ball and Jelly Fish

Crispy Suckling Pig, Deep Fried Prawn Ball and Jelly Fish, the suckling pig is too fat but the skin is crispy, the prawn ball is so so only sort of like standard la when you had the Deep Fried Prawn Ball during dim sum. Jelly Fish errr… not so crunch bit soft.

Caramelize Walnut Chicken & Prawn

Caramelize Walnut Chicken & Prawn. This is good, I like the crunchy caramelize walnut I only got a few. The prawns were fresh and sweet stir fried chicken, sweet peas and french beans. This dish is light and I like it because its without much gravy and corn starch.

Shark Fin Soup with Dried Scallops and Chicken

Shark Fin Soup with Dried Scallops and Chicken. This is the restaurant signature dish. I find that the Shark Fin Soup ‘geli’ and so thick as I am not a fan of shark fin. So skip.

Live Lobster with Ginger and Shallot

Live Lobster with Ginger and Shallot. Not too bad. The seafood in this restaurant in general were fresh. I think the best cooking for Lobster is either steam or bake without any seasoning just plain then only can taste the sweetness and juiciness of the Lobster. Mind you if the Lobster in not so fresh please cook it on another style.

Steam Live Coral Trout

Steam Live Coral Trout (Chat Seng Pan in Cantonese). Steam fish with head and tail attached is a tradition or a must. Fish is fresh and the soya sauce is just right, not too salty and don’t take like too much msg in it.

Braised White Abalone with Chinese Mushroom

Braised White Abalone with Chinese Mushroom. Abalone is quite big and thick but its quite dry there is not enough abalone sauce or gravy. Nevertheless I finished the whole abalone and mushroom.

Combination Glutinous Rice

Combination Glutinous Rice. I was so full after eating the abalone.

Only had like 2 spoon of rice.

Braised Ee-Fu Noodle with Preserved Vegetable and Shredded Meat

Braised Ee-Fu Noodle with Preserved Vegetable and Shredded Meat was not so good.

It was a bit tasteless, cold and soggy. I only had a mouth the rest remain untouched.

Sago and Jackfruits Dessert instead of the Red Bean Paste

Fresh Fruits Platters and Chinese Cookies

CNY Reunion Dinner Menu

I feel that the dishes could be better, perhaps they cater for such a big group that night and maybe lack of staff so some of the dishes were bit below par. The entertainment was good, the lion keep dancing around to collect as many ang pows that they could and some patrons even danced when Elvis was singing rock n roll. Overall we quite enjoyed ourselves.

Happy Chinese New Year