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Rice dumplings from 7 upscale restaurants to savour this Dragon Boat Festival

Li Bai Cantonese Restaurant - Black Truffle, Quinoa and Kurobuta Belly Rice Dumpling. (PHOTO: Li Bai)
Li Bai Cantonese Restaurant - Black Truffle, Quinoa and Kurobuta Belly Rice Dumpling. (PHOTO: Li Bai)

By Alyssa Chung

SINGAPORE — The Duanwu Festival, or Dragon Boat Festival is here again – this year, the day to commemorate Qu Yuan falls on this Friday (7 June). In case you need to know where to buy atas (high-end) rice dumplings, or chang, as gifts for your family and friends, here's where you can pick up some yummy ones.

Li Bai

Li Bai at Sheraton Towers Singapore offers three rice dumpling creations for dine-in and takeaway from now till 7 June. An interesting new item this year is the Kurobuta with Black Truffle and Quinoa Rice Dumpling, packed with tender slow-braised Kurobuta belly, black truffle, quinoa, salted egg yolk, chestnut and conpoy. This satisfying bundle is available in two sizes: small at $28 and regular at $48.

Li Bai Cantonese Restaurant - Abalone and Pumpkin Rice Dumpling. (PHOTO: Li Bai)
Li Bai Cantonese Restaurant - Abalone and Pumpkin Rice Dumpling. (PHOTO: Li Bai)

Those who prefer a more classic rendition can go for the signature Traditional Rice Dumpling ($42) crammed with pork belly, roast duck, Chinese mushroom, chestnut, salted egg, conpoy and dried shrimp. For something more luxe, try the premium Abalone and Pumpkin Rice Dumpling (S$48) generously filled with whole abalone, pumpkin, Chinese mushroom, pork belly, salted egg, chestnut, conpoy and mung bean.

Black Truffle Roasted Duck and Pork Belly Five Grain Dumpling and Brown and Glutinous Rice Sakura Ebi Dumpling. (PHOTO: Paradise Group)
Black Truffle Roasted Duck and Pork Belly Five Grain Dumpling and Brown and Glutinous Rice Sakura Ebi Dumpling. (PHOTO: Paradise Group)

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Paradise Group

This year, Paradise Group restaurants are introducing two new healthier rice dumpling options: the Brown and Glutinous Rice Pork and Sakura Ebi Dumpling ($9.80) and Black Truffle Roasted Duck and Pork Belly Five Grain Dumpling ($12.80). For the latter, packed within the combination of black glutinous, five-grain and glutinous rice are roasted duck meat, roasted pork belly, chestnut, salted egg yolk and dried shrimp. The dumpling is then perfumed with black truffle, truffle oil and sesame oil.

Besides the two new items, Paradise Group will offer other variations such as Premium Abalone Dumpling ($23.80) and the Deluxe Pork Dumpling with Conpoy and Chestnut ($10.80) – glutinous rice is stir-fried with special sauces before being wrapped and steamed. The flavour is perked up further with deep-fried shallot, five-spice powder, dried scallops and shiitake mushroom. If you have a sweet tooth, consider the Red Bean Paste and Pine Nut Lye Dumpling ($5.80), great when paired with Chinese teas. To enjoy a little bit of everything, get a pack of four dumplings at just $50.20.

Rice dumplings. (PHOTO: Xi Yan)
Rice dumplings. (PHOTO: Xi Yan)

Xi Yan

Xi Yan’s three unique rice dumpling flavours are inspired by the restaurant's signature recipes: Dongpo pork with mushrooms; XO sauce with Hong Kong pork and liver sausages dumpling; and Black Truffle Chicken dumplings. Each delicious parcel comes with chestnut and mushrooms and are priced at $5.50 each. And if you love salted yolk, these dumplings also come with added salted yolk at $6.50 each. Handmade to order and filled with the freshest ingredients, they are sold from now till 7 June for dine-in or takeaway at both the Xi Yan outlets at Shaw Centre and the i12 Katong mall. While purchases can be made at the outlets during operating hours, advance pre-ordering is recommended in case certain flavours are sold out for the day.

Rice dumplings. (PHOTO: Summer Palace)
Rice dumplings. (PHOTO: Summer Palace)

Summer Palace

This year, Summer Palace at Regent Hotel brings back four of its best-selling rice dumpling flavours, available from now till 7 June. You can’t go wrong with the classic Steamed Abalone Rice Dumpling filled with abalone, black mushrooms, chestnuts, green beans, dried scallops, roasted duck and salted egg yolk ($38). Or try the Steamed Dried Oyster Rice Dumpling teeming with dried oysters, sea moss and kurobuta pork ($28).

Those who prefer a wholesome meat-free alternative can go for the Steamed Eight Treasures Brown Rice Dumpling loaded with a nutritious blend of grains, lotus seeds, morel mushrooms, bamboo pith, oat, barley, sweet corn, black mushrooms, chestnuts and green beans ($22). And sweeten the festival with the Steamed Red Bean Paste Rice Dumpling laced with lightly floral osmanthus honey ($13).

Rice dumplings. (PHOTO:Hua Ting)
Rice dumplings. (PHOTO: Hua Ting)

Hua Ting

Hua Ting at Orchard Hotel is rolling out a trio of house-crafted rice dumplings for dine-in and takeaway from now till 7 June. Shaped like a rectangular golden pillow, the signature Hong Kong Style Rice Dumpling with Abalone, Roasted Meat, Dried Scallops and Beans ($32.80) comprises abalone, roasted duck, roasted pork, dried scallops, mushrooms, salted egg yolk and chestnuts, all encased in premium glutinous rice. Great for the health-consious is the new Rice Dumpling with Pork Bone Cartilage and Organic Black Garlic ($18.80). Another new creation which durian lovers will enjoy is the decadent Rice Dumpling with Mao Shan Wang Durian and Sago ($16.80).

Hua Ting Restaurant’s Assorted Dumplings are also ideal for gifting. Each set priced at $62.80 comprises all three varieties of dumplings mentioned above.

Hong Kong Style Abalone Rice Dumpling. (PHOTO: Jade Restaurant)
Hong Kong Style Abalone Rice Dumpling. (PHOTO: Jade Restaurant)

Jade

Over at Fullerton, you can pick up Jade restaurant's Traditional Pork Belly with Salted Egg Yolk Glutinous Rice Dumpling teeming with marinated pork belly, salted egg yolk, shiitake mushroom, black-eye bean and chestnut. For the health conscious, there’s the Vegetarian Five-Grain and Assorted Mushrooms with Omnipork Glutinous Rice Dumpling. This dumpling features glutinous rice scented with five-spice alongside wholesome grains such as Oats, Barley and Brown Rice. In place of meat, the dumpling features Omnipork - a blend of plant-based protein from pea, non-GMO soy, shiitake mushroom and rice – lightly pan-fried with ginger.

For something ultra luxurious, try the Hong Kong Style Abalone Glutinous Rice Dumpling brimming with two 10-head Abalones, Dried Scallop, Roast Duck, Roast Pork Belly, Marinated Pork Belly, Salted Egg Yolk, Mushroom, Green Bean, Lotus Seed and Chestnut. Those looking for an impressive gift for the family, can request for the Golden Treasures ($88 per basket) comprising a set of eight assorted dumplings in two flavours (Traditional Pork Belly with Salted Egg Yolk, and Vegetarian Five-Grain with Omnipork).

Traditional 'Hakka' Pork Belly Rice Dumpling, Hong Kong Style Rice Dumpling, and Vegetarian Rice Dumpling (from top to bottom). (PHOTO: Peach Blossom)
Traditional 'Hakka' Pork Belly Rice Dumpling, Hong Kong Style Rice Dumpling, and Vegetarian Rice Dumpling (from top to bottom). (PHOTO: Peach Blossom)

Peach Blossoms

Peach Blossoms at Marina Mandarin has rolled out a variety of rice dumplings this year. New creative ones to sink your teeth into are the Southeast Asian-inspired rice dumpling with Rendang Kurobuta and Otah ($12.80), as well as the unique Blue Flower Rice Dumpling with Japanese Purple Sweet Potato and Egg Custard ($12.80). Purists can still opt for the classic Hong Kong Style Rice Dumpling ($28.80) filled with abalone, conpoy, pork belly, mushrooms, salted egg yolk, chestnut, lotus seeds and lentils.

Perfect for family or business associates, the Peach Blossoms Dumpling Gift Set ($68.80) comprises an assortment of four rice dumplings: Hong Kong Style Rice Dumpling; Traditional Hakka Pork Belly Rice Dumpling; Vegetarian Rice Dumpling with Spiced Mock Meat and Cordyceps Flower; and Blue Flower Rice Dumpling with Japanese Purple Sweet Potato and Egg Custard. What’s great is that you will receive a complimentary jar of Peach Blossoms’ Homemade Dried Shrimp Chilli Paste with each set.

Place your orders at least three days prior to collection date. Collect them at Peach Blossoms (level 5) from 12pm to 2.30pm and 6.30pm to 10.30pm daily, from now to 7 June 2019.

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