Chef Alex Au-Yeung’s Acclaimed Malaysian Eatery Will Host Four Festive Seatings to Ring in the Year of the Rabbit
James Beard Award Semifinalist and Phat Eatery Chef-Owner Alex Au-Yeung is ready to welcome the Year of the Rabbit with a spectacular Lunar New Year celebration at his beloved Malaysian restaurant in Katy Asian Town. For the fifth year, Au-Yeung has fashioned a special menu to ring in a new year of happiness and prosperity. The five-course tasting feast features dishes typical of the holiday, served family style, including Yu Sheng, or Prosperity Toss, a traditional Malaysian salad symbolizing abundance. Together, tablemates use chopsticks to vigorously loft the dish’s many colorful components into the air; the higher the toss, the more their good fortune increases for the year. An interactive Lion Dance performance by local group Lee Dragon will precede each meal. Dinner seatings are offered Sunday, Jan. 22, and Friday, Jan. 27; lunch seatings are Saturday, Jan. 28, and Sunday, Jan. 29.
“Growing up, Chinese New Year was everyone’s favorite holiday,” says Au-Yeung, who was raised in Hong Kong by his Malaysian parents. “We’d buy new clothes and shoes, kids got red pocket money and we held big feasts on New Year’s Eve and the second day of the New Year. We’d also visit relatives that we might only see once a year. Now, I’m happy to share this celebration with my community.”
During each seating, Lee Golden will treat guests to a vibrant Lion Dance throughout the restaurant, enhancing the culinary experience with a lively musical performance. Audience members are permitted to pet the lions and will even be able to feed them little red envelopes to symbolize luck and prosperity in the year to come.
At the January 22 seating on Lunar New Year’s Day, a special Lion-Awakening Ceremony will take place to bless new “baby lions” before their first dance, empowering them to fulfill their duty of bringing protection, good luck, health and prosperity to those present.
YEAR OF THE RABBIT MENU
Yu Sheng “Prosperity Toss”
Traditional Malaysian Lunar New Year Dish
Sashimi-Grade Scottish Salmon (Raw), Pickled Carrot, Cabbage, Green and White Radish, Sesame Seed, Plum Sauce, Cracker
Phat New Year Dim Sum Trio
Steamed Lobster Dumpling
Caviar Shrimp Siu Mai
XO Chinese Carrot Cake
Chilean Sea Bass
Grilled Chilean Sea Bass, Sambal Belacan, Snow Pea Tips
Short Rib Rendang
44 Farms Beef Short Rib, Award-Winning Curry, Potato, Brussels Sprouts
Honey Truffle Ice Cream
HTX Nitro Creamery Ice Cream, Black Truffle
The tasting menu is $88 per person, with service included. A children’s menu will be available for children aged four to 12 for $28 and includes pineapple fried rice or chicken stir-fried noodles and ice cream. The regular menu will not be available during the celebrations. Dietary restrictions must be discussed with Phat Eatery before booking, and due to the nature of the event, accommodating restrictions may not be possible.
Dinner seatings are offered Sunday, Jan. 22, at 6 p.m. and Friday, Jan. 27, at 7 p.m. Lunch seatings are Saturday, Jan. 28, and Sunday, Jan. 29, at 11:30 a.m. Doors open 30 minutes before seating times, and guests are asked to arrive at least 15 minutes in advance to avoid interrupting performances once they begin. The entire experience lasts two hours. Entry is not possible during the performances. Refunds and reductions in party sizes are not permitted. Guests bringing children are requested to contact Phat Eatery before the event to accommodate for booster seats and safe seating. Strollers are not permitted. Pre-purchase tickets online at phateatery.com.
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