Chinese New Year is the best time of the year to pig out, and being the year of the pig, we have all the more reason to do so. Snacking is a huge part of the celebrations and often we find ourselves emptying entire boxes of pineapple tarts, bak kwa, love letters and cookies faster than our arteries can handle.

Sure, these classic favourites hold a special place in our hearts but perhaps it is time to step away from tradition and go for something a little more unconventional this upcoming Chinese New Year.

We explored the streets of Chinatown and found a couple of oddities—some are creative, while some are just plain exotic. Feeling ballsy? Here are 6 unconventional snacks to get this CNY.

UNIQUELY FLAVOURED JELLIES

Roam the streets of Chinatown and you’d find several stalls selling these individually packed jellies—a great substitute for the usual sweets we often see lying around in baskets. Coming in unique flavours such as Cherry Blossom and Coffee, these treats will definitely be a hit among children and adults alike!

GREEN BEAN PASTE PASTRY

Lunar New Year Snacks should not just stop at pineapple tarts and almond cookies. The aforementioned snacks are definitely must-haves in a Chinese household during the festive period, but do also make it a point to try out other pastries such as Green Bean Paste Pastry! Some may shun the idea of it, but we’re sure that this might become a new-found favourite amongst many.

PEANUT PUFF

Also known as Kok Chai, peanut puffs are actually traditional Malaysian snacks that are essentially made with sweet ground peanut encased within a crisp, buttery shell. Shaped like mini curry puffs, these goodies symbolizes abundant wealth for the year ahead and are extremely popular in Malaysia. Try these out this coming New Year!

DURIAN KUEH LAPIS

Love the pungent smell of the King of Fruits and the buttery textures of the various layers of kueh lapis? Imagine the two combined! It may sound like just another a calorie-loaded snack, but this sinful yet decadent cake might just be worth it!

LOBSTER BAK KWA

Feeling like a king? Ditch the pork slices and opt for something more premium to treat both yourself and your guests. There are several stalls serving Lobster Bak Kwa, and while the slices bear a huge resemblance to the usual pork slices, the prices sure speak for the difference in ingredients. 500 grams of Lobster Bak Kwa can set you back by S$40.

EXOTIC FLAVOURED BAK KWA

Yes, our foodie nation is always bursting with creativity when it comes to food trends, but to come up with Crocodile Meat Bak Kwa and Coffee Fusion Meat Bak Kwa is truly #nextlevel.

For the adventurous who are constantly on a lookout for something unconventional to try (or to prank someone), these would be it. To say that these flavours are exotic is truly an understatement!

Feeling a little down because the Christmas feasting has come to an end? Fret not as Chinese New Year is just around the corner, giving us even more reason to put our diets on hold.

As food and reunion dinners are one of the most important aspects of Chinese New Year, it is absolutely crucial that your family and guests are served with the very best. Therefore, we have compiled here a list of 9 caterers who will definitely not disappoint this Chinese New Year.

BELLYGOOD BY TUNGLOK 

Bellygood is established by the TungLok Group and is a reputable catering company that is halal certified, so it’s great for if you happen to have some Muslim guests over. They serve up a wide range of scrumptious Asian eats that will definitely satisfy your guests. Their buffet spreads start from just S$22++ per pax.

For more information, visit them here. 

Photo Credit: Four Seasons Catering 

FOUR SEASONS 

Not to be mistaken for the hotel, Four Seasons is a renowned catering company that never fails to serve up a sumptuous feast for every occasion. Their Chinese New Year buffet prices start from S$13.90++ per pax, making it incredibly affordable, especially if you are expecting a lot of people!

For more information, visit them here. 

Photo Credit: Neo Garden Catering 

NEO GARDEN 

Neo Garden has always been one of the more popular catering companies out there and it is no surprise as they never fail to deliver a stellar buffet spread that leaves everyone full and satisfied. Their Chinese New Year Buffet prices start from S$23.88++ per pax.

For more information, visit them here. 

Photo Credit: Orange Clove 

ORANGE CLOVE 

In all 7 years of its operation, Orange Clove has bagged numerous awards for its stellar food. Yet despite that, their prices are still kept affordable, so you won’t break the bank when you order from them. They are also Halal certified. Their Chinese New Year buffet spread starts from S$23.88++ per pax. 

For more information, visit them here.

Photo Credit: Select

SELECT Catering

Select is well known for offering affordable high-quality buffet spreads that are great for special occasions such as Chinese New Year. Their Chinese New Year buffets start at just S$16.80++ per pax.

For more information, visit them here. 

STAMFORD CATERING

Stamford catering is a halal-certified catering company that serves up a sumptuous array of eats that will definitely leave your guests with happy and full bellies. Their Chinese New Year buffet spread starts from just S$16.80++ per pax.

For more information, visit them here.

Photo Credit: Foodline

THE ORANGE LANTERN 

The Orange Lantern never fails to deliver affordable top-notch food. Their reunion buffets even come with complimentary Yusheng. Their Chinese New Year buffet prices start from just S$19.80++ per pax.

For more information, visit them here. 

Photo Credit: Foodline 

XIN YI PIN 

Xin Yi Pin specialises in local Asian and contemporary regional delicacies that are affordable for all. All orders for their Mini CNY Buffet come with free house deliveries on the eve of Chinese New Year! Prices start from just S$16.80++ per pax.

For more information, visit them here. 

Photo Credit: Yeh Lai Siang 

YEH LAI SIANG 

Yeh Lai Siang has over 30 years of experience in the food catering industry, so you know that you can trust them with something as important as your Chinese New Year buffet spread. For your vegetarian friends, fret not as they also have a special Prosperity Vegetarian Buffet set just for them! Buffet prices start from just S$15.80++ per pax.

For more information, visit them here. 

We were feeling a tad bit sad that Christmas has come to an end but then we remembered that the Chinese New Year is just around the corner. We are excited to usher in the year of Pig and for us foodies, Chinese New Year means one crucial thing: another round of intense feasting!

Food and reunion meals are an absolute must for Chinese New Year. While many people prefer to whip up a reunion meal by themselves, sometimes it is almost impossible to feed the sheer number of guests you have.

But there are plenty of reputable and reliable catering companies out there that can do the job for you. One of these companies is Stamford Catering, and they are a common name when you need suggestions for stellar buffet line-ups to satisfy the masses.

This Lunar New Year, book your CNY Feast with Stamford Catering and the first 300 Plus! Members will receive 888 (HUAT HUAT HUAT) BONUS LinkPoints with a minimum spending of S$600 between 21 Jan to 24 Feb 2019. If you are not yet a Plus! Member, sign up for one via plus.com.sg/apply to participate and be blessed with tons of HUATs. Terms and conditions apply. Visit www.stamfordcs.com.sg for details.Over the years, Stamford Catering has bagged numerous awards such as the Singapore Quality Award and Foodlines Most Popular Caterer, which reiterates how good the quality of their food has been over the years. 

What we love most about Stamford Catering is their reasonable prices despite the high-quality food. Prices start from as low as S$17.98 per pax for their Lunar New Year Buffet, making it one of the more affordable catering buffets out there.

What makes them even better is that they are Halal-certified, so you don’t have to worry about leaving your Muslim friends out from the festivities.

Each buffet set up consists of a complete professional table setting with Chinese New Year decorations, skirting, drink dispensers, warmers as well as silk floral arrangements. Stamford Catering will also provide a full set of environmentally-friendly disposable dining ware.

All of Stamford Catering’s menus will be available for events from 14 January to 24 February 2019 and only Chinese New Year menus are available for events from 4th February to 8th February 2019.

BLOSSOM FEAST BUFFET 

If you’re looking for an all-rounded menu to suit the needs of your various guests, we highly recommend their Blossom Feast Buffet (S$23.33 per Pax, min. 30 Pax) that comes with an array of delectable dishes that are sure to keep everyone’s bellies full and happy.

For the carbs, you can expect delicious platters of Braised Ee Fu Noodles with White Shimeiji Mushroom as well as Wok-Fried Rice with Smoked Duck.

We especially enjoyed their Wok-Fried Rice with Smoked Duck where the rice was cooked to just the right texture; the wok hei was perfect for us. The duck also added a nice, smokey taste to the overall dish which left us begging for seconds.

Everyone at our office party was a fan of the Ginseng Double-Boiled Chicken in Superior Broth. Chicken wings, as much as we love them are a common item in buffet lines but are often messy to eat. This whole chicken dish is definitely a healthier option and one that doesn’t require you to dirty your hands!

Ours came with three fleshy, full-sized chickens that were double-boiled to perfect tenderness in a divine superior broth. Every part of the chicken was soaked in the tasty broth, giving it an aromatic herbal fragrance. The older folks would really appreciate this dish!

Other dishes to expect in the line-up are Fortune Royal Thai Pacific Dory Fillet, Sautéed Sliced Mutton with Capsicum, Pandan Prawn Cake with Thai Dip as well as Assorted Vegetables with Abalone Sauce and ‘Fatt Choy’.

The Pandan Prawn Cakes with Thai Dip deserves a special mention. These little chunks of prawn cakes swaddled in pandan leaves feature sweet prawn bits, making each bite springy and incredibly addictive. The accompanying Thai dipping sauce also complemented the flavours of the prawn cake and the overall taste profile is that of sweet and sour notes.

Beef lovers can also expect to indulge in some Cantonese Style Bean Paste Sliced Beef, which, by the way, is best eaten with the Wok-Fried Rice with Smoked Duck for the ultimate flavour explosion.

If you’re still riding on the salted egg trend, you’d be thrilled to know that the Blossom Feast Set comes with delicious Prosperous Salted Egg Yolk Prawns. These succulent prawns are fried to a golden crisp in a decadent amount of thick, rich salted egg sauce, making it perfect for anyone who is obsessed with salted egg.

End off the feasting by indulging in their cooling desserts. This time around, we were served their very refreshing Chilled Sea Coconut with Aloe Vera and Nata De Coco. The concoction had just the right amount of sweetness to it and the bowl was swimming with generous amounts of white fungus, sea coconut, aloe vera chunks and nata de coco.

PROSPERITY IMPERIAL ABALONE PLATTER “YU SHENG”

It would be a crime to omit yu sheng at a Chinese New Year feast and Stamford Catering is well aware of that. Therefore, each of their Blossom Feast Buffet sets also come with the popular Prosperity Imperial Abalone Yu Sheng platters.

If your guests prefer to have smoked salmon you can always top up S$6 for an additional portion. Value for money, right?

Stamford Catering’s yu sheng has all the works of a good yu sheng platter; the vegetables were fresh and incredibly crunchy, the abalone slices were of just the right amount of thickness and delightfully chewy and the sauce added all the right flavours and bound the whole dish together.

So, this Lunar New Year, instead of slogging it out in the kitchen, why not just relax, put your pots and pans down and allow yourself to bask in the festivities while Stamford Catering does the hard labour for you! The amount of convenience it brings is definitely worth it and you get to properly enjoy the New Year surrounded by delectable food as well as your loved ones.

Stamford Catering
24 Senoko S Rd
Singapore 758098
Tel: +65 6852 3338

https://www.stamfordcs.com.sg/

This post is brought to you by Stamford Catering and NTUC Link. 

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We’ve just finished celebrating Christmas and the New Year, yet we are already stoked to start our annual preparations for the next big exciting thing: Chinese New Year! There are lots to do leading up to the Lunar New Year celebrations, and what better place to soak in the festivities as well as to get all your Chinese New Year necessities than at Chinatown’s annual CNY night market?

The colourful streets of Chinatown are lined with a variety of stalls that sells everything you’ll need for the New Year. From shops that sell an assortment of traditional and contemporary snacks, ornaments and decorative pieces to roadside stalls that sell interesting knick-knacks and trinkets, we can foresee ourselves spending a very long time here over the next few weeks!

CHINESE NEW YEAR GOODIES GALORE  

Undoubtedly, our favourite part of Chinese New Year has to be all those festive goodies! While some prefer to stick to tradition and sell the usual snacks such as love letters and bak kwa, while others choose to be more innovative by coming up with interesting new snacks that no one has ever seen or heard of before.

Many of the traditional snacks hold very auspicious meanings. For instance, peanuts symbolise vitality, longevity and riches while nian gao is usually eaten for prosperity and promotion. If you’re curious about the meaning of other Chinese New Year traditions, you can read all about them here. 

Chinatown is also the place to be at if you need to stock up on your favourite thematic cookies such as almond cookies and pineapple tarts. Look at all these colourful jars of snacks! Time to put all your diet plans on hold.

If you are a fan of dried meats like lup cheong, waxed duck, liver sausage and other cured delights, you’d be thrilled to know that there is a massive stall with walls that are lined with every kind of cured meat you could name.

GORGEOUS FESTIVE PLANTS 

If you are someone who appreciates exotic plants, you’ll be glad to know that you can find plenty of such plants in the market. Besides traditional favourites such as tangerine plants and pussy willows, feast your eyes on a wide range of other exotic plants that are only available during the Lunar New Year.

INTERESTING TRINKETS AND DECORATIVE ITEMS 

You can’t invite people over to your house for visitations if it isn’t decorated, can you? Fret not though, as the Chinatown market overflows with beautiful decorative items to jazz up your home.

Amidst all the pretty lights and decorations, this man caught our eye. In the middle of a crowded street, he was patiently painting the lively scene of the night market and it was simply mesmerising to watch him at work. It definitely isn’t something that you see every day!

MESMERISING CHINESE NEW YEAR DECORATIONS 

What is a trip to Chinatown without admiring the gorgeous new year decorations that have been painstakingly done up? When it comes to festive decorations, Singapore is known to go all out in terms of the extravagance and sheer size of their displays.

This year is no different and along New Bridge Road at the outskirts of the Chinatown district, you can expect to see a display of two adorable, giant pig lanterns that are surrounded by plenty of small piglet lanterns. It is definitely a sight to behold and makes for a great #OOTD spot for the gram!

The Chinese  Lunar New Year sees a culmination of many things. Family gatherings, thematic costumes, lion dance displays, feasting and so much more. As millennials, we go through the motion of things year after year but has anyone actually stopped to understand why certain traditions and practices even exist in the first place?

Take the iconic yu sheng toss for example. It’s more than just a group of rowdy folks screaming and tossing food in the air in a barbaric fit. In fact, it is a tradition with so much meaning and positivity around it.

To ensure traditions live on, here is our guide to 8 Chinese New Year traditions that every millennial should know.

CHINESE NEW YEAR SNACKS 

What Millennials think: Time to put my diet aside to get fat on all these new year goodies!

What it actually represents: Each Chinese New Year snack has its own symbolic meaning which brings about well wishes for the upcoming year. For instance, watermelon seeds represent vitality and longevity while pineapple tarts are thought of to bring good luck and prosperity to the house.

EATING DUMPLINGS 

What Millennials think: Just another dish that’s served during a reunion meal.

What it actually represents: Dumplings are actually eaten for good fortune as they resemble ingots which were an ancient currency used by the Chinese in the past. Therefore, based on that, the more dumplings you eat, the more wealth you will accumulate for yourself!

FIREWORKS AND FIRECRACKERS

What Millennials think: Perfect photo opportunity for Instagram! It’ll make a pretty aesthetic Boomerang shot.

What it actually represents: Fireworks and firecrackers symbolise good luck for the rest of the year and also is a way to drive away evil spirits. This is based on the ancient story of a mystical beast called Nian who liked to feed on livestock on the eve of Chinese New Year. In order to chase Nian away, the people lit firecrackers to scare it off.

LION DANCE 

What Millennials think: Noisy repetitive beats and a furry lion high on ecstasy.

What it actually represents: People, especially businesses, hire lion dancers to welcome in good luck as well as to drive away evil spirits. The lion itself is a symbol of power, wisdom and good fortune. So, if the lion happens to bite you on the head during one of these performances, lucky you!

NEW YEAR’S EVE REUNION DINNER 

What Millennials think: Time for another round of feasting and have relatives ask about our lives as if they genuinely care.

What it actually represents: New Year’s Eve reunion dinners are considered to be one of the most important dinners for Chinese families, especially for those families who spend very little time together or have family members overseas. During such dinners, family members gather around to catch up as well as spend much-needed quality time with their loved ones over a sumptuous meal.

RED PACKETS 

What Millennials think: Huat ah, free money! I can use this to buy a new iPhone (or gamble at my friend’s place later on).

What it actually represents: Red packets are a channel for sending good luck and wishes to the person on the receiving end.

Photo Credit: Clean My Space 

SPRING CLEANING 

What Millennials think: Time to revamp my wardrobe and bedroom! Guests are coming, better not let them see what kind of a horrible pig I am.

What it actually represents: Spring cleaning is regarded as a way of sweeping away the bad luck to welcome in all the good luck. However, be sure not to let your spring cleaning session drag into the new year — that would mean that you’ll be sweeping all the new year luck away!

STAYING UP PAST MIDNIGHT 

What Millennials think: Tomorrow is a public holiday, I can sleep in. No work, no school, no problem!

What it actually represents: People believe that by staying up past midnight after the reunion dinner, they will be able to properly send off the old and welcome in the new. When it comes to children, it is said that the longer the child stays awake at night, the longer their parents will live. So if your kid manages to stay awake for 24-hours, you’re going to be one old, happy parent.

When it comes to Chinese New Year, there are a few things that immediately spring to mind: Family reunions, hot pot dinners, red packets (ang pao) and of course, the green light to snack non-stop.

Filled with a multitude of pastries, cookies and sweet treats galore, no Chinese New Year celebration is complete without festive goodies. Period. Time to start stocking up, but in case you don’t know where to start, here is our list of 10 Chinese New Year Snacks that every Chinese household should have in 2019.

BAK KWA

Commonly known as rou gan or barbecued pork jerky, bak kwa is a must-have of any Lunar New Year celebration and a treat that can easily be found in most Chinese households during the festive season.

The barbecued snack stands out for its intense smoky flavours that are derived upon barbecuing the meat over charcoal and the sweet-savoury flavours that melts on the tongue.

PINEAPPLE TARTS

Made of rich, buttery, melt-in-your-mouth pastry, these bite-sized delights are topped with pineapple jam and baked. Some prefer the pineapple to be encased within the buttery pastry while others prefer the two separated, but what we can all agree upon is that this delight is addictive as heck.

Photo Credit: eatwhattonight

LOVE LETTERS

No, we aren’t referring to those romantic love letters in literature. Here, we’re talking about egg roll biscuits, which are also better known as love letters.

Made using wheat flour, sugar, butter, egg and some vanilla flavouring, love letters are extremely thin, crispy biscuit sheets that symbolise good fortune for the year ahead.

Photo Credit: AliExpress

BLACK MELON SEEDS

Though not the most convenient to eat, black melon seeds are one of the most addictive goodies to snack on especially when you chatting with relatives.

The Chinese character for seed also means children in Mandarin, so black melon seeds (or any other seed) typically signifies having lots of sons and grandsons in the year ahead.

Photo Credit: healthynibblesandbits

ALMOND COOKIES (OR ANY NUT COOKIE)

As do many treats that originate from China, almond cookies (or any other nut cookies) symbolise good luck and fortune. The nut, which is often found in the centre of the cookie, represents luck while the circular pastry beneath represents coins.

Well-loved for their melt-on-your-tongue pastry and the crunchy texture of the nut atop, a container of these in your house will surely bring a smile to your guests, kids and adults alike!

Photo Credit: liebherr

CASHEW NUTS

The Chinese believe that Cashew nuts would help one’s family prosper financially, as these nuts take on the shape of gold ingots from the olden days and hence represent wealth.

Packed with multiple health benefits such as boosting your immune system and lowering the risks of cardiovascular disease, it sure is easy to munch away and finish an entire bottle of cashew nuts in one sitting.

Photo Credit: savouriesandsweets

SPICY DRIED SHRIMP ROLLS

Also known as hae bee hiam, spicy dried shrimp rolls are one of those snacks that you either love or hate. Spicy dried shrimps are wrapped in a crisp, crunchy, golden-brown crust, bringing out a good bite which then reveals an aromatic fragrance from the dried shrimps within.

KUEH LAPIS

Originating from Indonesia, Kueh Lapis is essentially a multi-layered steamed butter cake. Though jam-packed with tons of calories, we reckon that this sweet treat is worth the exercise after. 

Photo Credit: bakeking

KUEH BANGKIT

A Chinese New Year favourite in both Singapore and Malaysia, kueh bangkit are also known to many as tapioca cookies or coconut cream cookies.

Made with tapioca flour and coconut cream, these cookies are light, airy, smooth and so addictive.

NIAN GAO

Sometimes directly translated to ‘Chinese New Year’s Cake’, nian gao is a glutinous rice cake and is a popular gift during the Lunar New Year due to its significance and meaning behind.

In Mandarin, the Chinese word nián is identical in sound to “year”, while the word ‘gao’ is identical in sound to “tall”. As such, eating nian gao symbolises raising oneself to greater heights year after year.

The Chinese Lunar New Year is an annual festival where many traditions culminate from exchanging of oranges to the receiving of red packets and more. Still, as far as the Chinese New Year goes, the iconic yu sheng toss remains at the helm of all things festive.

Yu Sheng, otherwise known as lo-hei or prosperity toss, is something that we’ve grown terribly fond of. A vibrant centrepiece dish comprising various elements, each boasting its own unique flavour and meaning behind it, the yu sheng is always the first order of business at any family gathering.

Yet, as we find ourselves going through the motion of this tradition year in year out, how many of us millennials can actually say that we truly understand this practice and its significance? To a season dedicated to good fortune, family reunion and feasting, here is our guide on lo hei, what it is and what it represents.

HOW THE MODERN INTERPRETATION CAME TO BE

Since its origins as a simple raw fish dish back in the 1930s, the recipe has undergone a series of transformations, and even until today, people are still finding innovative ways to present this dish. The dish was brought to Singapore in the late 19th century by the migration of Cantonese and Teochew migrants from China.

“Lo Hei”, in Cantonese literally translates to “tossing up good fortune”, and it refers to the ritual adopted in Singapore that involves a group of people gathered around a massive plate, tossing its contents violently while saying out auspicious phrases before eating it—it is popularly believed that the higher the toss, the better your prospects and fortune in the year ahead.

At the very beginning, the salad itself consisted merely of raw fish slices, some vegetables and seasoning to taste. It was only much later on in 1964, where a quartet of chefs—known affectionately as the ‘Four Heavenly Kings’—reinvented the dish and served it at the then, newly opened Lai Wah restaurant. The new salad saw an improvement in texture, colour, and flavour.

KEY INGREDIENTS & WHAT THEY REPRESENT

• Carrots – Represents good luck.
• Green Radish – Represents eternal youth.
• White Radish – Represents good job opportunities in the coming year.
• Raw Fish – symbolises abundance and prosperity.
• Pomelo – Represents luck.
• Crushed Peanuts – Is a sign that your home will be filled with many valuable possessions.
• Sesame Seeds – Represent the hope that your business will flourish.
• Golden Crackers – Symbolises wealth.
• Plum Sauce – A key component that binds the salad together, it represents stronger ties among family and friends.
• Pepper & Cinnamon Powder – signify the wish for wealth
• Oil – Often drizzled onto the salad in a circular motion rather than poured over. This is to symbolise that money will come from all directions.

WHAT COMES NEXT?

Before the tossing begins, the dish needs to be prepared, usually by one individual who adds the ingredients one by one in a specific order, while the reciting wishes of luck and prosperity at the same time.

With the plate placed in the middle, friends and family members stand around the table to toss the ingredients whilst exchanging blessings and words of prosperity—although, more often than not, people tend to just shout them out.

9 INTEGRAL STEPS & WHAT TO SAY

Step: Yu Sheng platter is placed at the centre of the dining table.
What To Say: “Gong Xi Fa Cai” meaning, “Congratulations for your wealth”.

Step: Raw sliced fish is added.
What To Say: “Nian Nian You Yu” meaning, “Abundance throughout the year”.

Step: Pomelo or lime is added.
What To Say: “Da Ji Da Li” meaning, “good luck and great prosperity”.

Step: Spice sachets are sprinkled over.
What To Say: “Zhao Cai Jin Bao” meaning, “May you attract wealth and treasures”.

Step: Oil and plum sauce are poured over ingredients.
What To Say: “Yi Ben Wan Li” meaning “Make 10,000 times of profit with your capital”

Step: Peanut crumbs are poured over.
What To Say: “Jin Yin Man Wu” meaning, “May your home be filled with lots of gold and silver.”

Step: Sesame seeds sprinkled over.
What To Say: “Sheng Yi Xing Long” meaning, “Wishing you prosperity for the business.”

Step: Deep-fried flour crisps in the shape of golden pillows are then added.
What To Say: “Man Di Huang Jin” literally translating to, “May the whole floor be filled with gold.”

Step: The toss commences.
What To Say: “Lo Hei” literally translating to tossing luck.

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