This time of the year, it’s a date with hairy. No no, not any tom, but it’s a dark-green crustacean with wispy brown “fur” on their claws. That’s right, it’s a peak season for a quintessentially Chinese delicacy: the hairy crab.

Yan Ting at The St. Regis Singapore celebrates the return of delectable seasonal delicacy, renowned for its luscious meat and flavourful roe. Exclusively from now till 15th December, indulge in a medly of heavenly hairy crab dishes especially created by Executie Chinese Chef Tony Wun Shun Kong and his team of master chefs.

I had the Hairy Crab Luxury Set Menu (SGD180++ per person, minimum 2 pax to dine), first featuring a trio of appetizers such as green papaya crab meat salad, roasted duck and marinated jellyfish with crab oil. Double-boiled Homemade Meat Ball with Crab Meat was a hit. It consisted of ta light, airy pork meatballs filled with crab meat in a superior broth filled with cabbage. Yes the meatball is not in good shape but you will be amazed by the juiciness of this meatballs.

I have eaten quite a few hairy crab set menus for the past few years, but I don’t think I have came across any restaurant that have combined fish maw and crab meat in this manner. Silvers of fish maw is drizzled with thick and flavourful hairy creab sauce full of roe and paired with bak choy.

Here comes the star – Steamed Whole Hairy Crab. We were provided scissors, a spoon and a stick. The waitress first “dissect” the crab and place it back neatly onto the plate. The glory of it is in the roe, not the meat, and you can choose to dip the meat into black vinegar. If it is your first time eating hairy, let me give you a crash course. Cut off each end of the leg with the scissors, and push the meat out with a skinner leg. What should I say, this little bundle is fresh and tasty, especially and rich golden roe. Hmmmm…

Your crabby experience do not just end here as there were more dishes to come such as the stir fried crab claw with asparagus and steamed amoy vermicelli in Chinese wine and egg White. Nothing fantastic about the asparagus in my opinion, but I enjoyed the later dish because it was the egg white with rich crab roe sauce is a great combination. Ending off, don’t forget to have a bowl of ginger tea with glutinous rice ball with deep-fried sesame seed ball. To enhance your gourmet dining experience, Yan Ting has also crafted an exquisite medley of à la carte dishes featuring the decadent hairy crab.

Yan Ting Restaurant

Address: 29 Tanglin Rd, The St. Regis Singapore Level 1U
Tel: 6506 6887
Opening Hours: 12pm – 3pm, 630pm – 10pm daily
Website: http://www.yantingrestaurant.com/