Kitaro Japanese Restaurant's Yee Sang

Written by Delwin Keasberry Monday, 06 February 2012 21:33

Today marks the end of the Chinese Lunar New Year for 2012. One of the things about Chinese New Year is that it brings people together. The other day, I was at a relative's place where there were four generations represented in one house hold! Also central to Chinese New Year is the food! A variety of dishes, but perhaps none as well known as the Yee Sang dish. I must admit, I had to wiki the origins and symbolism of this dish. What usually happens is this - a colourful dish is brought out, sauce is poured over it and then every one gathers around, sticks their chopsticks into the borders of the dish and starts tossing about its contents. Read on. It will make sense.

Allow me to borrow extensively from Wikipedia for this post.

Yusheng, yee sang or yuu sahng, or Prosperity Toss, also known as lo hei is a Teochew-style raw fish salad. It usually consists of strips of raw fish (most commonly salmon), mixed with shredded vegetables and a variety of sauces and condiments, among other ingredients. Yusheng literally means "raw fish" but since "fish" is commonly conflated with its homophone "abundance", Yúshēng is interpreted as a homophone for Yúshēng meaning an increase in abundance. Therefore, yusheng is considered a symbol of abundance, prosperity and vigor.

Meaning of the Ingredients: When putting the yu sheng on the table offers New Year greetings. The raw fish is added, symbolising abundance and excess through the year. The pomelo or lime is added to the fish, adding luck and auspicious value. Pepper is then dashed over in the hope of attracting more money and valuables. Then oil is poured out, circling the ingredients and encouraging money to flow in from all directions. Carrots are added indicating blessings of good luck. Then the shredded green radish is placed symbolising eternal youth. After which the shredded white radish is added - prosperity in business and promotion at work. The condiments are finally added.

First, peanut crumbs are dusted on the dish, symbolizing a household filled with gold and silver. Sesame seeds quickly follow symbolising a flourishing business. Deep-fried flour crisps in the shape of golden pillows is then added with wishes that literally the whole floor would be filled with gold...All diners at the table then stand up and on cue, proceed to toss the shredded ingredients into the air with chopsticks while saying various "auspicious wishes" out loud. It is believed that the height of the toss reflects the height of the diner's growth in fortunes, thus diners are expected to toss enthusiastically.

Photographs from the Yee Sang from Kitaro Japanese Restaurant; be sure to try their Yee Sang dish for yourselves by 8th February 2012!

Other favorites including their Chicken Wasabi Tepanyaki, Garlic Fried Rice and Salmon Sashimi

Kitaro Japanese Restaurant

Operating Hours: 11am to 2.30pm & 6pm to 10.30pm

Unit 5-7, Ground Floor

The Centrepoint, Gadong

Bandar Seri Begawan BE3519

For reservations call 2457373