Once upon a time, there lived a young female mitten crab named Sally. She was a tiny little crustacean, less than 10 centimetres wide, and had pincers covered with dense patches of hair. Thankfully, Brazilians were not the vogue for females like Sally, and she reveled in her hirsuteness. She laughed and frolicked and basked in the summer warmth in the river that she called her home. But for all the gaiety in that river with her hairy little friends, she felt empty inside. As she approached adulthood, she felt certain yearnings, feelings that could not be satisfied in her swirling gurgling home. The weather was cool, a sure sign that autumn was approaching, and leaves of orange and gold floated along the river bed, painting the water an earthen shade of copper and rust. Her instincts told her to head towards the estuary. She didn’t know why she had to leave her home. She only knew that she had to. As she approached the estuary, she was greeted by other young adult mitten crabs just like her, discovering their new home in saline waters. It was there that she found love. He was a chappie named Henry (What? Were you expecting Harry?), bristly, stubbly and sexy. Together, they danced and mated in the luxuriant marine waters, and because no one taught them about birth control, Sally quickly discovered that she was pregnant. As the dark wintry days approached, she moved further into the cold marine waters. Love knows no bounds, they say, and Sally knew that this was her destiny. As her young ones hatched, Sally drew her last breath. The little orphans fed on plankton, and when the weather turned from winter to spring, they swam towards the brackish water where Henry met Sally, and when they were old enough, they moved to Sally’s old home, where the freshwaters gleamed in the warm summer sun.
This is an old fashioned love story. Perhaps romance between crabs isn’t anything like what we humans picture it to be, but all the elements of survival, reproduction and attachment are there. Mitten (or hairy) crabs have a unique life cycle where they move from brackish waters to clear waters and back to saline waters over one life cycle (about 5 years). The best time to eat hairy crabs is in Autumn just after the mating season. Hairy crabs are prized for their creamy roe – what is generally called the Caviar of the East. Crabs that hail from the Yang Cheng Lake are the most sought after, but crabs from the Tai Lake, China’s largest freshwater lake, are fast gaining popularity here in Malaysia. Having tried both, the differences are subtle, although the crabs from Yang Cheng Lake have slightly creamier roe and sweeter flesh.
The Hairy Crab Set Menu at Dragon-i (available from October to December), priced at RM128 nett per person (for a minimum of 3 persons), features a six-course Shanghainese meal at outlets at Pavilion KL, 1 Utama Shopping Centre, The Curve, Mid Valley Megamall, Sunway Pyramid and Queensbay Mall in Penang. The diner gets one medium crab weighing at approximately 200grams (larger ones are also available, ala carte and priced according to weight, at between 250 to 300 grams each). Hairy crabs at Dragon-i are from Suzhou’s Tai Lake (flown in weekly). Black vinegar and julienned ginger are provided on the side, and these serve a purpose too. Hairy crabs are said to be “cooling”, and the vinegar and ginger concoction counteracts this effect. One can also choose to enjoy the hairy crabs with Chinese “hua diao jiu” (rice wine), but this does not come with the set.
The menu also includes Dragon-i’s signature Steamed Shanghainese Dumplings (xiu long bao) with Hairy Crab Roe, Double-boiled Superior Chicken Soup with Fish Maw and Bamboo Pith (a very delicately flavoured soup with contrasting textures), Sauteed Vegetables (baby bok choi) with Crab Roe, Yong Chow style Fried Rice and a popular traditional dessert, Sesame Glutinous Rice Dumplings (tong yuen) in Ginger Broth. The servings are moderate; each person is served one crab, one XLB, and two glutinous rice dumplings. The XLB has good skin elasticity and delicious filling. It comes attractively presented on individual carrying baskets, thus preventing mishaps when transporting the XLB from serving plate to one’s own plate. The fried rice is substantial (with its lovely fragrance and distinct grains) and the vegetables, sufficient.
Can’t live without chilli
Double boiled Superior Chicken Soup with Fish Maw and Bamboo Pith
Sauteed Vegetables with Crab Roe
Xiao Long Bao with Hairy Crab Roe
Yong Chow style Fried Rice
Sally’s children – steamed
Sally’s children, Part 2 – creamy roe within
Yangzhou-born Chef Kung Yu Hung – has over 20 years experience including stints at several famous Hong Kong restaurants. He is one of six master chefs from mainland China now helming the kitchens at Dragon-i outlets.
www.dragon-i.com.my
(Note: Thank you to the management of Dragon-i and PRkraft (who facilitated this event) for your kind invitation to sample this menu.)
I think we went to Dragon I in May this year- last restaurant we ate before we came back! What wonderful flavours and selection- I know we will head back!
Aw. What a tragic love story! 🙁
(Hmmm.. the crabs look cholestofically delicious though!)
Cholesterol-filled tragic love story. So sad. So, so sad.
Waitamin, is that Henry’s (or hairy’s) kid wrapped up in a Xiao Long Bao?
Oh, maybe the real question should be, did you utter Hairy and Xiao Long Bao in the same sentence? Tee Hee
mow hai fest 😛 the roe so luscious
so sally originally went out with henry and later eloped with harry?
tragically boo-tiful! luv the story LL 🙂
wei luscious.. pls update our website to http://www.cumidanciki.com la.. than k u thank u .. 😛
daphne: I also like the ambience there. Not your typical chinese restaurant. 🙂
J: But it’s so true with hairy crabs, you know.
Munkeyboy: Yup, Henry and Sally’s kid. We ate him. As for Hairy and XLB, hmmmmm. I wonder…..;-)
babe_kl: Did you utter a bad word? 😛 Yar, the roe was good.
lotsofcravings: Where got third party in my love story wan? 😛 Check with munkey…hairy was with someone else lah.
cumidanciki: Thanks…I love love stories. 😀 Ya larrrr…updated di ler. 😛
I love your imagination 🙂 must have read and watched a lot of love stories… particularly When Harry Met Sally.. lol!!!
I gotta lay my hands on one of those delectable hairy crabs before the season is over. Normally I would head to King Crab in Kelana Jaya as it’s less expensive compared to other establishments.
Quite a morbid tale started with smooch smooch lovey dovey ending with slurp slurp yummy yammy of the main characters.
=P
leo: I actually like King Crab’s hairy crabs…I believe they have Yang Cheng Lake crabs there which are, in my opinion, superior to Tai Lake Crabs. And yes, I do have an active imagination. 😛
tummythoz: Yar, it’s a sad love story. But true, nonetheless, as I was merely translating a hairy crab’s life cycle into the movie version. hehe.
OMG….the sight of that glorious orange roe is enough to clog arteries! Great pictures…and I love the Sally story! =D
Wao….I’ve never try hairy crab. Hope they introduce this to public soon and I wanna to try it 🙂
*Sob Sob* So romantic….eh how come it sounds so familiar ah? Name oso….hmm…..
…but but how come Sally ended up on the serving plate? *oh nooooooo*
Joe – Maybe Sally eloped with Harry, that’s why ended up on the serving plate! Gah!
Believe it or not… I’ve not had any this season… though it has absolutely nothing to do with the story I heard about how the male ones taste better with the sperm and all…
But but but why did Sally have to die? And where was Henry when the tragic process of birth of the little ones took place? WHERE WAS HENRY??!! *wails in agony Hollywood style*
Bangsar-bAbE: I still have lovely memories of that creamy roe. Mmmmmm.
uLi: It’s already available in several restaurants. Go try. 🙂
Lisa: No, no…it wasn’t Sally on the serving plate. Sally died after childbirth! It’s her baby on the serving plate. We ate him. Hehe…I like your theory (to Joe) about why Sally ended up on the plate. 🙂
Frat: Sperm’s good for you. I’m sure you know that.
550ml jar of faith: Hahahaha! Henry was in it for the ride, apparently. Poor POOR Sally!
aiks and I was half expecting the story to end abruptly, after the crab got pregnant. since the roes are the prized treasures of the hairy crustaceans.
but at least Henry and Sally lived happily ever after?!!
What a story! Heartbreaking but hilarious, nonetheless. And what gorgeous photography!
J2Kfm: No, no, Henry and Sally died! Hairy crabs die after reproduction. Sad, hor?
The Little Teochew: Thanks very much! Glad you enjoyed it. 🙂
Oh noooo, both also died ah? Adoi! Then I’d rather (I mean rather Sally) end up on the serving plate (I guess), at least people can appreciate the taste….but again, it may be painful to be eaten…..gross…..all also sad ending one 🙁 lol
Gosh I hope them crabs are still hairy when we get there… The Devil loves his hairy crabs and then some… 😛
i never knew of animals that could adapt to both fresh and sea water. so interesting lah!
nice combo of love story and food porn. write one about salmon next time, ya! 😀
Lisa: You’re so giving, that’s why we all love you. Now let us eat you.
Life for Beginners: Oh wow, what an honour to have you visit us. 😛 hehe. Yes, bring Devil along for this once in a year meal.
HairyBerry: Yar, it’s amazing what you can learn about the food you eat. Salmon story? Go read the National Geographic lah.
oh i love hairy crabs! u lucky ppl of KL!
For a bit of Crustacean love life – read The Secret Life of Lobsters. A really good read ! BTW, the crab dinner sure looks delicious. Must give it a try if I make it to KL in time for the season.
i like your old fashioned love story! is there a part II modern love story coming up? 😀
i love the last pic of the chef. looks like a portrait of some legendary kung fu master
terri: Can’t you get it in KK?
Borneoboy: I’ll check out the book. Thanks!
ladyironchef: Part II? Hahaha. I suggest your read lifeforbeginners.com. 😀
kampungboycitygal: He’s quite handsome, isn’t he? Not a sharp pic, but I like his face, so I put it up anyway!
I want all those drooling looking foods! Can’t wait to sample when I am down. Don’t laugh Meena, but the fried rice is calling my name 😀
I wonder if hairy crab is still in season when I go HK next week.
Great story with typically awesome pics, Meena! Glad you enjoyed it!