Is it your turn to host lunar dinner this Chinese New year or are you thinking of bringing an auspicious gift along when you go for your house visits? While we prep for all the upcoming parties, the common “problem” is—what should we cook/ buy?

Well, not everyone is made for the kitchen and we know how much hassle it is to whip up an entire dinner or even just a dish for pot-luck. This is when takeaways save us.

Enjoy a fuss-free lunar celebration with Chinese New Year takeaways from Grand Hyatt Singapore’s shop at mezza9 from now until 11 Feb 2017. Toss to a greater year with yu sheng takeaways (S$51.35 nett) and munch on a wide array of homemade cookies, tarts and other festive delights. These lunar goodies are so beautifully packaged, they would surely be befitting for all your house parties.

If you are looking to get the ultimate gift for Chinese New Year, you will never go wrong with Grand Hyatt Singapore’s premium 100 Blessings of Good Fortune (S$288 nett)—a 100-piece chocolate praline set that is now an icon of Grand Hyatt Singapore.

It is an elegant Chinese calligraphy set featuring a hundred Chinese word characters for fortune, with some of the writing styles dating as far back as the early Qing dynasty. This beautiful gift set comes with dark, milk and white Swiss chocolates encased with interesting flavours such as cognac, earl grey, mint, mocha, orange, and peanut butter.

From now until 11 Feb 201, you can also dine in at mezza9 and toss to prosperity and success with the ‘Double Happiness and Good Luck’ yu sheng (S$48++). We’ve had many yusheng variations in our lives, but the mezza9′s yusheng is one that we always go back to for its variety of sustainable fishes.

Indulgence doesn’t mean we need to compromise on our marine life, which is why mezza9′s yusheng comes with certified-sustainable Norwegian Atlantic Salmon and New Zealand yellowtail kingfish.

Shop at mezza9
Grand Hyatt Singapore
10 Scotts Road
Singapore 228211
Tel: +65 6416 7322
Nearest Station: Orchard

This post is brought to you by Grand Hyatt Singapore.

With Christmas barely over, many of us are still feeling guilty about the Christmas feasts we had indulged in. It certainly doesn’t help that the Chinese New Year festivities are starting slightly earlier this year, with it being held at the end of January.

The first few days are usually celebrated with an endless amount of sinful, yet delicious food and snacks. However, it is still possible to maintain your waistline without going on an extreme diet.

Here are 7 Simple Ways To Survive Chinese New Year Feasting.

#1 TRY NOT TO VISIT ON AN EMPTY STOMACH

This is the same logic to why you should have a heavier breakfast to avoid having larger portions of lunch and dinner. Have a high protein breakfast which is likely to keep you feeling full longer.

You are less likely to be tempted by food if you are not feeling very hungry.

#2 USE SMALLER PLATES

There is a limit to how much you can pile your food up on a plate. Hence the smaller your plate is, the less food you can take—unless you cheat and go back for more servings. Which you know you shouldn’t be.

#3 PICK FOOD THAT ARE RICH IN FIBRE

Food rich in fibre takes longer to be fully digested, therefore keeping you fuller or a longer period of time. Choose your food wisely if you do not want to end up snacking every 30 minutes.

Vegetables, fruits and whole grains are great fillers that do not give you unnecessary calories!

#4 LIMIT YOUR ALCOHOL INTAKE

Alcohol is actually good for health when consumed moderately. It reduces the risk of heart diseases and may also reduce your chances of getting a stroke.

That being said, weight gain is just one of the few negative consequences should you over-consume alcoholic beverages. Try to limit yourself to only one glass for that night.

#5 SIT AWAY FROM THE FOOD

If you are one who is easily tempted, sit as far away as possible from the dining table or kitchen once you are done with dinner. This is especially important when there are so many traditional Chinese New Year snacks (which are loaded with calories) available.

You will find it a hassle to keep walking long distances to get the snack and may give up on snacking altogether.

#6 YOU DON’T HAVE TO FINISH EVERYTHING

Did you know the Chinese believe that abundance represents an excess of good fortune for the year? This is the reason why Chinese New Year feasts are always prepared so generously and in large portions.

The amount of food prepared by the host is usually more than enough!

#7 KNOW THE CALORIE COUNT OF YOUR SNACKS

Still want to eat? Go on, we won’t stop you.

But please take a look at this guide to the Calories in 12 Popular Chinese New Year Snacks.

The annual celebration of Chinese New Year sees endless baked treats and other savoury delights being sold, served and consumed by Chinese communities in Singapore throughout the 15-day festive period.

Ever wondered why the exchange of Mandarin Oranges is so important, and why there would always be pineapple tarts in each home?

The repetition of Chinese New Year Goodies is no random occurrence, as each snack is essentially symbolic of a meaningful purpose. The next time someone in the family asks, “Why do we always have to eat xxx during Chinese New Year?”, you will find the answer(s) to him/her here in our beginner’s guide to the Auspicious Meaning Behind 8 Chinese New Year Goodies.

Read: Chinatown’s Chinese New Year Market 2016 – Here’s What To Expect.

#1 BAK KWA

Bak Kwa, for the uninitiated, is a barbecued pork jerky that is extremely popular amongst Chinese ethnic communities; especially so during Lunar New Year. The dialect name Bak Kwa when translated means dried meat. The barbecued pork jerky’s deep red colour is considered auspicious in Chinese tradition, symbolising good luck and believed to ward off negative energies.

#2 JIAO ZI DUMPLINGS

Back in the olden days, ancient Chinese civilians used an age-old currency called Yuan Bao that are inherently dumpling-shaped ingots in silver or gold. Today, the Jiao Zi Dumplings we eat bear an uncanny resemblance to Yuan Bao, hence symbolising wealth and profit. The tasty appetisers are also commonly eaten on birthdays and even during a casual meal.

#3 MANDARIN ORANGES

Mandarin Oranges are believed to bring prosperity thanks to its Cantonese pronunciation, which sounds similar to gold. It is part of Chinese New Year tradition to offer a pair of Mandarin Oranges to respected seniors and hosts during house visiting. Note that you can only give a pair, nothing more or less; two pairs is a ultimate taboo. This is because the total number of four sounds like the Chinese word for death.

#4 NIAN GAO CAKES

Nian Gao is a sticky rice cake and the direct translation of it literally means “year cake”. However, the word ‘gao’ also sounds like ‘high’ in Mandarin, hence the Chinese believes in eating these sweet steamed glutinous rice cake for it is symbolic of going to greater heights each year.

#5 PINEAPPLE TARTS

We seem to take the presence of Pineapple Tarts at every household during Chinese New Year for granted. But besides the obvious fact that it tastes heavenly, this buttery treat is well-loved for its Hokkien pronunciation “Ong Lai” – which actually means prosperity is arriving. Clearly, puns are the inspiration behind all these Chinese New Year goodies.

#6 POMELO FRUIT

The huge Asian citrus’ Cantonese name is similar to words related to prosperity and status, hence thought as a fruit that takes one on a prosperous journey. It is also symbolic of good health, fertility and family unity.

#7 TRAY OF TOGETHERNESS

A Tray Of Togetherness refers to the snack platter laid out at homes for visitors to munch on. It is usually a pentagon-shaped container with eight compartments – though many different forms are available too. The tray is filled with an assortment of sweets and savouries such as red melon seeds, bite-size candies or even preserved dry fruits.

Eight is believed to be an auspicious number among the Chinese and each snack symbolises a different meaning, i.e. red melon seeds represent happiness and longans are believed to bring one many sons.

#8 YU SHENG

Yu Sheng, otherwise known as Lo Hei, is an extremely popular Chinese New Year dish in Singapore. The raw fish salad is typically set up on a communal table and each ingredient constituting the yusheng is symbolic of their respective meaning(s). For example, the fish is seen as abundance aka wealth while shredded green radish represent eternal youth.

Read: Guide to Calories in 12 Popular Chinese New Year Goodies.

We usually do not think much when it comes to snacking during Chinese New Year. Granted, there is nothing wrong with pigging out on snacks on the first couple of days of the Chinese New Year. After all, what is CNY without these liberated joys, right?

But can we just tell you how these processed cookies and snacks contain a lot of sugar and other potentially harmful ingredients? Sorry to burst your bubble but everyone should know how much calories you are taking in every time you pop a pineapple tart into your mouth.

This is a list of Calories in Popular Chinese New Year Snacks.

Summary:
#1 Bak Kwa – 179 calories per slice
#2 Cornflake Cookie – 82.8 calories per piece
#3 Green Pea Cookie – 53.33 calories per piece
#4 Kueh Bahulu -40 calories per piece
#5 Kueh Bangkit – 23 calories per piece
#6 Kueh Lapis – 157 calories per piece
#7 Love Letter – 112 calories per piece
#8 Mini Dried Shrimp Spring Roll – 22 calories per piece
#9 Nian Gao – 482 calories per serving
#10 Peanut & Almond Cookie – 72 calories per piece
#11 Pineapple Tart - 82 calories per piece
#12 Sugee  Cookie – 53 calories per piece

#1 BAK KWA

3 slices of Bak Kwa equates to 7 bowls of rice. We know how hard it is to resist these sweet pork jerky, but you should have no more than 1-2 regular slices in a day.

Average: 179 calories per slice

#2 CORNFLAKE COOKIE

These sweet treats are totally amazing to munch on, and we remember going crazy for these when we were kids. Unfortunately, all good things in life are fattening. We sure hate how these seemingly small and innocent cookies are so sinful.

Average: 82.8 calories per piece

#3 GREEN PEA COOKIE

You might think that green peas are healthy but since they are already processed and made into cookies, the calorie count for 3 small cookies is  a whopping 160. Lovely to much on indeed, but so very horribly bad for our waistline!

Average: 53.33 calories per piece

#4 KUEH BAHULU

This is a childhood favourite for many and it is something we must enjoy during the lunar festival. While no one is stopping you from treating yourselves to this Chinese New Year snack please note that it is not as innocent.

Average: 40 calories per piece

#5 KUEH BANGKIT

These melt-in-your-mouth coconut cookies are a definite crowd pleaser, and we love them too! Take no more than 5 in one day. Remember, you still have other Chinese New Year goodies to munch on too.

Average: 23 calories per piece

#6 KUEH LAPIS

We absolutely adore kueh lapis and it is something we have difficulties saying no to, but because of the amount of butter in it (that makes it so tasty), a slice of kueh lapis is a crazy 157 calories! Unfortunately, we love kueh lapis, but we do not enjoy running as much.

Average: 157 calories per piece

#7 LOVE LETTERS

Love letters are one of the most addictive Lunar New Year goodies; actually, any time of the year. It might interest you to know that  one love letter is 112 calories, making it a snack with one of the highest calorie counts.

Average: 112 calories per piece

#8 MINI DRIED SHRIMP SPRING ROLLS

These are really tiny and easy to forget how many you have already had. Always happens to us, so we feel you. But please read on to find out the calorie count per piece. Yes, it is very sickening.

Average: 22 calories per piece

#9 NIAN GAO

Nian Gao is a popular staple every Chinese New Year but the calorie count is too high a price to pay. We are definitely gonna cut a smaller slice for ourselves this year.

Average: 482 calories per serving

#10 PEANUT & ALMOND COOKIES

Peanut or almond – whatever the flavour, these can be very addictive. And each piece contains about 72 calories! You are welcome.

Average: 72 calories per piece

#11 PINEAPPLE TARTS

Our ultimate favourite, and sadly, the darnest thing to eat. We should be telling you to not eat more than 3 pieces, but we are finding it hard to practise what we preach ourselves.

Average: 82 calories per piece

#12 SUGEE COOKIES

Sugee cookies are the bomb! Another Chinese New Year snack that we love for the crunch and buttery taste, but the extra laps we have to jog for them… let’s just stick to 3 pieces.

Average: 53 calories per piece

*For our calorie calculations, we took an average from 5 different sources. It is important to note that our calculations are based on an average and will not be accurate for every single snack, as they all differ from each other, some more than others. Hence, our calculations provide you with the closest possible average to these popular Chinese New Year snacks, according to individual serving sizes and the most common way they are served.

Sources: My Fitness Pal, Fat Secret, Calorie Count, Calorie King, Spark People & USDA.

Illustrations for ladyironchef by Anna.

Tossing a raw fish salad called yu sheng with chopsticks whilst simultaneously shouting out well wishes is a customary tradition amongst Chinese communities in Singapore during Chinese New Year.

While similar takes on this festive delicacy made its appearance even before Singapore’s independence day, it was in the 1960s when the Asian dish got popularised.

More often than not, yu sheng is actually very costly if you were to buy them from hotels and restaurants. But preparing yu sheng is actually simple and very affordable too. Why not have a go at making your own yu sheng for the upcoming Chinese New Year?

Yu sheng aka Lo Hei is symbolic of prosperity and can be found across restaurants, supermarkets and even hawker centres in Singapore.

Variations are aplenty and everyone has their own interpretations and secret ingredients, but yu sheng ubiquitously comprises the following key ingredients – raw fish strips, crackers, shredded vegetables, five spice powder and a sweet plum sauce.

You can, too, come up with your own rendition – with your favourite fruits, fishes, vegetables… anything at all. But bear in mind to not steer too far off from traditions, else your folks might not be pleased!

Here is a simple one we have to get you started.

Recipe adapted from Health Promotion Board (Serves 6 to 8)

Ingredients:

2 cups carrot, julienned
1 red capsicum, thinly sliced
1 cup cucumber, thinly shredded
2 cups daikon radish, thinly shredded
100g fresh salmon/tuna sashimi, thinly sliced
¼ cup of chopped peanuts, roasted and unsalted
¼ cup whole-wheat crackers, crushed
1 tsp pickled ginger, thinly shredded
1 tbsp five spice powder
4 sprigs of fresh Chinese parsley
Toasted sesame seeds for garnish

Dressing (combine all ingredients and set aside):

1/8 tsp five spice powder
½ cup of plum sauce
¼ cup of water
1 tbsp lemon juice
1 tsp peanut/ corn oil
1 tsp sesame oil

Arrange the sashimi slices in the centre of a large platter.

Position each type of shredded vegetables neatly around the platter, surrounding the fish (which has to sit in the middle).

Sprinkle the crackers, parsley, peanut and picked ginger over the vegetables, before pouring the mixed dressing over it.

You can now start tossing your homemade yu sheng and exchanging auspicious Chinese phrases!

HOW TO LOHEI LIKE A BOSS [INFOGRAPHIC]

Chinese New Year hampers are one of those things we look forward to receiving every year! It is also the time for you to show appreciation to friends, family and clients!

This Chinese New Year 2016, Sinpopo Brand has one of the best hampers that includes their well-known pastry and cakes with local flavours.

From now till 22 January 2016, receive 10% off your total bill when you order the Prosperity Hamper Set (S$88).

Have you tried Sinpopo Brand’s sugee biscuits? The crumbly sugar cookies is their classic and one that they have also successfully incorporated into their desserts. The best taste, of course, still comes from the cookies itself, and they make great CNY table snacks for your guests.

But the star this year has to be salted egg yolk cookies. Damn, we are obsessed with salted egg yolk and yes, we’ve tried them; they are addictive.

Both cookies are available for takeaway at S$15 each.

Their signature Gula Melaka Cake (5×5″) retails at S$30 each and is an all-time favourite sweet treat if you are a fan of the local flavour. A little gift to your colleagues, maybe?

The Prosperity Hamper (S$88) will include 1 Gula Melaka Cake (5×5″), 2 bottles of Sinpopo Sugee Biscuit and 2 bottles of the Salted Egg Yolk Cookies - with 8 Mandarin oranges to complete, no less.

All orders must be made at least 4 days in advance. To order, you can go to www.sinpopo.com, email festive@sinpopo.com or call +65 6345 5034. Deliveries can also be arranged.

07 Feb 2016 (Sunday) – 12pm to 5pm for the hamper collection & orders.
08 Feb 2016 (CNY DAY 1) and 9th February 2016 (CNY DAY 2) – CLOSED
09 Feb 2016 – Business as per normal

Sinpopo Brand
458 Joo Chiat Rd
Singapore 427671
Tel: +65 6345 5034
Tue to Thu, Sun: 12pm – 10pm
Fri & Sat: 12pm – 12am
Nearest Station: Dakota

This post is brought to you by Sinpopo Brand.

How to ever get sick of Grand Hyatt Singapore when the many restaurants are ever competent and always delighting our taste buds with new creations?

It is no secret by now that mezza9 is among our all-time favourite restaurants list, and we can go there for lunch and dinners and still be wowed by the chefs for their outstanding culinary skills and understanding of food.

And then there is StraitsKitchen too, an evident crowd favourite with its impressive buffet line-up, featuring the heritage of Singapore and all our representative dishes. It is a halal outlet too, and one that our Muslim friends can head to for a trusty feast.

So what is Chinese New Year without a get-together at Grand Hyatt Singapore? Whether you are looking for a buffet, or a multi-course Chinese meal, you can find your answer(s) here. Something to take home too, perhaps? We will share with you our picks from their festive takeaways!

MEZZA9′S 4-COURSE CHINESE NEW YEAR SET MENU

Over at mezza9, it is always a pleasant experience. The exuberant staff are ever ready for a warm welcome, and stepping in to the restaurant brings about calmness to the soul. Always a familiar environment – like a second home – yet always with surprises that await. Special dishes-of-the-day, seasonal ingredients, promotional menus… the list goes on, and this Lunar festivity no less.

Celebrate a sustainable new year as spring awakens at mezza9, and they are one of the very few restaurants in Singapore that uses only sustainably sourced seafood products that are either wild-caught or farmed. This is one practice that we have always supported, and it is for a meaningful cause without compromising on our food quality and tastes.

mezza9′s 4-course Chinese New Year Set Menu (S$88++/pax) has the perfect balance – there is more than enough food for everyone and you won’t have to fret over what to order.

Start your reunion dinner with the Double Happiness and Good Luck Sustainable Yu Sheng. Topped with sustainable New Zealand red snapper and king salmon, the traditional dish is made even special with customisable add-ons – chilled Alaskan king crab (S$26++), sliced Hokkaido scallop (S$38++), and sliced Australian abalone (S$40++).

Succeeding the prosperous starter is the Double-boiled Winter Melon Soup. This is not your usual Cantonese-style soup. Think of a modern interpretation of the classic Cantonese favourite, and prepared with scallops, Spencer Gulf wild king prawns and abalone. Such a commendable rendition, one serving of this flavoursome soup is hardly enough!

The main is a Braised Naturland Organic Barramundi with fermented rice reduction and ginger paste. The beautiful white fish is flaky, and sustainable, of course. More popularly used in Thai cooking and Australian cuisine, the barramundis here at mezza9 are interpreted with similar influences, and the result is a smooth contrast of the mildly-sweet fish and a lightly spicy sauce.

Glutinous Sesame Rice Ball in almond soup with gingko nut and white fungus – that shall be your sweet ending. Nothing quite as comforting as a milky almond soup with sweet dumplings that we grew up eating. A taste of home indeed, and Chinese New Year cannot get any cosier here at mezza9, really.

The four dishes are also available individually on the a la carte menu. On top of that, there are two more dishes that you might fancy – the Chinese cabbage wrapped fragrant brown rice with waxed preserved duck, yams and conpoy (S$38++), and braised pig’s trotter with herbs and spinach (S$58++).

STRAITSKITCHEN’S CHINESE NEW YEAR BUFFET

StraitsKitchen is a perennial favourite for those who want to enjoy a mouthwatering buffet spread of the best local favourites in a comfortable air-conditioned setting. From 18 to 20 Feb 2015, StraitsKitchen’s halal-certified kitchen will be whipping up special dishes including mini Buddha jumps-over-the-wall, glutinous rice with crab meat, ee fu noodles with shredded duck, and deep-fried traditional prosperity rice cakes and yams.

StraitsKitchen’s sustainable yu sheng will also be available for a la carte orders from 15 February to 5 March 2015, at SGD 28++, SGD 48++ and SGD 68++ respectively for a small, medium and large portion.

Chinese New Year Reunion Buffet Dinner (18 Feb 2015)
(Inclusive of the sustainable yu sheng buffet, selected juices, coffee and tea)
Adult: S$98++, Child: S$48++

Chinese New Year Buffet Lunch (19 Feb 2015)
Adult: S$60++, Child: S$34++

Chinese New Year Buffet Dinner
(inclusive of the sustainable yu sheng buffet, selected juices, coffee and tea)
Adult: S$88++, Child: S$48++

GRAND HYATT SINGAPORE’S CHINESE NEW YEAR GOODIES TAKEAWAY

The highlight of Grand Hyatt Singapore’s Chinese New Year takeaway delights this year is the 100 Blessings of Good Fortune (S$288+) – a stunning box of 100 pieces of praline. Every piece of praline is carved individually with one out of a hundred character styles of “Fu”; some dating to the late Zhou and early Qing dynasty (221-206 BC).

This elegant Chinese graphology-inspired set includes dark, milk and white Swiss chocolates encasing six different flavours such as cognac, Earl Grey, mint, mocha, orange, and peanut butter. We cannot think of a better gift than this for your esteemed corporate clients! You can purchase the Bai Fu Tu at the shop – mezza9 starting from today.

Need more gift ideas? There are aplenty here at the Grand Hyatt’s takeaway racks! Everything is packaged so elegantly, they make great gifts for your loved ones. Pick from a selection of kueh bangkit (S$28+), Nian Gao (S$38+), and our favourite Mahjong Praline Set (S$168+) – as the saying goes, this is so “full of win”.

Click here to view the full list of mezza9 Shop’s Chinese New Year Delights.

For more information, please call +65 6887 5492, email singapore.grand@hyatt.com or go to www.singapore.grand.hyattrestaurants.com

This post is brought to you by Grand Hyatt Singapore.

One of the most underrated restaurants in town happens to be one that we really love for many reasons – Plaza Brasserie at PARKROYAL on Beach Road. For one, we grew up with the buffet spread that our parents have always loved, and every return brings about fond memories of the good times with our loved ones.

It may not be the sexiest place to date, but we still go back to Plaza Brasserie whenever we need a trusty option that will never fail us. The chefs are like good friends to us, and we share the same gourmet ideals and philosophies. Some days, you just need to do away with all frills and fads, and let the true essence of culinary blow you away.

We love to bring our families to Plaza Brasserie for a sense of familiarity, and celebrating Chinese New Year there sounds like an awesome idea. To rejoice in the festivity, the team at Plaza Brasserie is all ready to impress. With a determination to pamper their regulars with that coveted familiarity, the chefs are also introducing unique creations for some surprises, and it includes two lamb dishes in the Prosperity Feast. Well, it is the year of the Goat, right?

We had the privilege to have a preview of the feast, and here are some of the highlights of the Chinese New Year Buffet at Plaza Brasserie that you must not miss out on:

HAINANESE LAMB STEW WITH HERBS

Among the two lamb dishes that the chefs have come up with for Plaza Brasserie’s Prosperity Feast, the authentic Hainanese Lamb Stew with Herbs is a bowl of piping hot goodness that bubbles with flavours and textures. As Chinese, we love our soups, and there are endless possibilities as long as you have your hands on premium ingredients.

So at Plaza Brasserie, let’s go herbal. And lamb. Who would have thought that these two would go so well together? The blend of bitterness and fragrance from the herbs mixture masks the gaminess of the lamb, and the end result is a beautifully smooth soup that is best to whet your appetite and to kickstart your meal.

LAMB SIEW MAI

The Lamb Siew Mai is another standout dish. Once again, who would have thought that siew mai can be made with lamb meat? And that is precisely why we love the chefs at Plaza Brasserie. They love to reinvent familiar household dishes, without steering them too far away from their origins, yet still enough to surprise the taste buds.

Now, did we just hear ‘free flow lamb siew mai’?

BOSTON LOBSTER IN WHITE PEPPER SAUCE

Boston Lobster slathered with white pepper sauce is just about one of the best things we’ve tasted at Plaza Brasserie. We have been so hooked since, and never stopped thinking about it. Every paying adult diner will enjoy a half portion (about 250g) for dinner, and special guests who go for lunches on 19th and 20th Feb will get a half portion too.

MINI BROWN RICE BALLS WITH MINCED PORK FILLING

Not to worry if you are not a fan of lamb. Because we’ve got the highly addictive Mini Brown Rice Balls with minced pork filling. Sounds a little healthy at first, but we changed our minds when we popped the first rice ball in; the explosion of sweetness is our mouths was unbelievable and we could not stop eating. How can something so simple and unassuming taste so out of the world?!

FRUITFUL YUSHENG

Plaza Brasserie has given yusheng a twist. Instead of the usual yusheng ingredients, it has incorporated fruits – like tangerine, peach, rock melon, pineapple and green mango – to the popular Chinese New Year dish that will suit everyone in the family. Its sweet fruitiness is paired with the homemade plum sauce, and a toss would not only symbolise good luck and prosperity, but good health too!

By the way, we have affectionately nicknamed yusheng as the ‘Chinese salad’, but this version takes the cake. It is literally a pile of goodness!

EIGHT TREASURE DUCKS

A beautiful duck that comes complete with generous stuffing of chestnuts, ginko nuts and mushrooms. This may not be the most photogenic item, but it is surely a hearty dish and it is easy to eat. Yay to boneless ducks!

CHEF’S ‘LIVE’ COOKING STATION

One of the things that we always look forward to when dining at Plaza Brasserie is the Chef’s ‘live’ cooking stations. From local fare like Fried Oyster Omelette, Prawn Mee Soup, Laksa, to the Indian corner where the prata man flips your dough right before your eyes – there are lots of actions going on and all around you. The ‘live’ cooking stations rotate regularly, so there is always a surprise element, and definitely something to please.

FESTIVE SWEETS AND GOODIES

So we’ve got the pineapple tartlets, almond cookies, walnut cookies, love letters and lotus root candies. The usual suspects, of course, and what is Chinese New Year without them? All baked in-house, and we’d say to not miss out on the pineapple tartlets and almond cookies!

BEST OF ASIA BUFFET SPREAD

Plaza Brasserie is best known for its “Best of Asia” buffet lineup. There is no better time than the Chinese New Year period to treat yourself and your loved ones.

Prosperity Feast at Plaza Brasserie, PARKROYAL on Beach Road

6 Feb to 5 Mar 2015 (excluding 18 – 20 Feb 2015)
Lunch buffet: Adult S$48, Child S$29
Dinner buffet: Adult S$68, Child S$41

18 Feb 2015 (Lunar New Year Eve)
Lunch buffet: Adult S$58, Child S$35
Dinner buffet: Adult S$98, Child S$59

19 & 20 Feb 2015 (Lunar New Year)
Lunch buffet: Adult S$68, Child S$41
Dinner buffet: Adult S$68, Child S$41

Child pricing is applicable to children four to 12 years old.
Prices subject to 10% service charge and prevailing government taxes.

Plaza Brasserie
PARKROYAL on Beach Road
7500 Beach Road, Level One
Tel: +65 6505 5710
Daily: 12pm – 2.30pm, 6pm – 10pm
Email: dining.prsin@parkroyalhotels.com

This post is brought to you by PARKROYAL on Beach Road. 

Lunar New Year is the biggest and most important celebration for the Chinese community. Luxuriating and feasting on delicacies is also part of the tradition of the yearly affair, and every year, families get together for elaborate dinners as a symbol of harmony and reunion.

In the past, Lunar New Year was celebrated only at home, and hence it was a time to test the women’s culinary skills. But as times evolved, families start heading out to restaurants to celebrate, or even opt for convenient takeaways.

Takeaways are indeed time (and life) savers. The idea of feasting on premium cooking at the comfort of our own abodes cannot be better. This year, of the many tastings we’ve had, TungLok stood out for their family-friendly takeaway menu that is readily available at most of their outlets. They’ve got the classic dishes like yu sheng and poon choi all covered, and their competitive prices make them a distinguished option for all who are looking for quality takeaways to treat your family and friends.

We are giving away 3 X TungLok Group CNY Festive Goodies Sets (worth S$92.90 each). More details on how you can join the giveaway at the end of this post.

Here are the highlights from TungLok Group’s Chinese New Year Takeaway Goodies for your reunion dinner.

Let’s start with the Prosperity Salmon Yu Sheng. No one celebrates Chinese New Year without a bountiful toss. Otherwise known as lo hei, this dish of raw fish salad is essential during celebrations for it is a symbol of prosperity, abundance and good luck. TungLok’s version is a traditional one, with a medley of fresh vegetables, mushrooms, homemade yam, sweet potato shreds and fresh salmon sashimi slices.

Drizzle it with the TungLok’s signature plum sauce, a sweet one that symbolises a sweet life. Priced at S$48 (for 6 persons) and S$78 (for 10 persons), and there is also a vegetarian option exclusively available at LingZhi Vegetarian Restaurant.

Our all-time favourite is a good, hearty pot of poon choi, or pen cai. Traditionally a dish that is fit for the royalty in the Song dynasty, pen cai was once served in wooden washbasins and signifies abundance and richness. In modern times, it is a one-dish item served in claypots, with layers of delicacies immersed in a decadent braise sauce.

TungLok’s Treasure Bowl comes in different variations, but every one boasts only the finest ingredients and homemade abalone sauce. Expect nothing less than abalones, scallops, smoked duck breast, dried oysters, sweet cabbage, black moss and many more treasures of the ocean.

The Heavenly Treasure Bowl that contains 16 ingredients is the most luxurious treat, and comes in two different sizes – S$368 for 6 persons and S$568 for 10 persons. The Royal Treasure Bowl contains 13 ingredients, and is priced at S$268 for 6 persons and S$368 for 10 persons. The Longevity Bowl, a vegetarian option is also available at LingZhi Vegetarian Restaurant at S$188 for 6 persons and S$248 for 10 persons.

Something classic and will surely please the crowd is the Superior Herbal Chicken. It may sound predictable, but TungLok’s rendition is a superior one indeed. Prepared with many kinds of precious Chinese herbs and put to steam under very high heat, the chicken is succulent, tender and explodes with flavours. At just S$38 for a whole chicken, the Superior Herbal Chicken makes an affordable treat and add-on to your reunion dinner.

Chinese are always fond of glutinous rice, and TungLok has their version of Fried Glutinous Rice with Assorted Preserved Meat. It comes in two portions – S$28 for 6 persons and S$42 for 10 persons.

On to the festive gifts, we are huge fans of the TungLok Pork Jerky – in simpler words, strips of divine bak kwa. Many may not know, but TungLok flame-grill their own Pork Jerky (S$33.80 per 500g) and in very limited quantities, so it is the fastest fingers first. Losers weepers, really. The honey-glazed one is our favourite and once you start, you cannot help but reach out for more.

TungLok X.O. sauce (S$9.80) – made with a blend of dried canopy and silver bait using TungLok’s secret recipe – is also a nice gift for your family and relatives.

Nian Gao (Chinese New Year’s cake) is the festivity’s essential. It signifies a higher year ahead, and Chinese eat it for good luck. TungLok has created a few exhilarating flavours – traditional, pandan and black sesame at S$20 per box. And there is a special Red Dates Nian Gao – at S$28 per box, this 9-layer rendition is said to boost your immunity and lower your cholesterol.

Sets are also made available in the form of Take-home Feast, which comprises Pen Cai, Yu Sheng, Superior Herbal Chicken, Fried Glutinous Rice with Assorted Preserved Meat and Nian Gao. Prices start from S$238, and there are several combinations that are good for 6 to 10 persons. Perfect for your reunion dinners, or if you are hosting a small party.

We’ve got good news! Early birds who make their purchases before 06 February 2015 will enjoy 15% off – the offer applies to purchase of yu sheng, pen cai as well as the Take-home feast.

For dine-in guests, receive a S$20 dining voucher with every S$100 spent. You will also enjoy a complimentary rice pack* with a minimum spend of S$150. TungLok First members continue to enjoy 10% rebate* during festive period. * Terms and conditions apply.

TUNGLOK GROUP CHINESE NEW YEAR 2015 GIVEAWAY

1. TungLok Group is giving away 3 CNY Festive Goodies Sets which consists of a takeaway Prosperity Salmon Yusheng, Traditional Nian Gao, and one Twin Pack TungLok X.O. sauce (worth S$92.90).
2. Leave a comment in this post and tell us why you want to win TungLok Group’s Festive Gift Sets.
3. ‘Like’ TungLok Group on Facebook.
4. Share the link of this post on your Facebook timeline.
5. The contest starts from today till 3 Feb 2015, 2359 hrs.
6. Winners will be notified by email.

UPDATE: The three winners are Sarina Lim, May Neo, and Alexis Y.

This post is brought to you by TungLok Group.

Yusheng, or prosperity toss, is a teochew style raw fish salad which is usually eaten during Chinese New Year in Singapore and Malaysia. We have partnered Infographic.SG - a data visualisation and infographic design agency by Edge Media – to come up with this infographic guide on how to lo hei. Read more to see the full infographic.

If your brand/company would like to create infographics for a campaign, I highly recommend Infographic.SG. You can reach them at contact@infographics.sg

From a Lunar New Year high tea for a prosperous kick-start to the year, to the most luxurious reunion dinner with the best Chinese delicacies, as well as recommendations on yushengs that are worth looking out for this year, our guide to Chinese New Dinner 2014 has it all covered. We have included a list of restaurants that are perfect for your festive celebrations and indulgences with family and loved ones. There is no better way than to usher in the new year of the Horse with a pampering feast.

Man Fu Yuan

Man Fu Yuan at InterContinental Singapore is our to-go place when we need to host clients for a formal luncheon, or when we want to celebrate a happy occasion with our family. The emphasis at Man Fu Yuan has always been on classic and refined Cantonese cooking, and impeccable service that makes dining there such a pleasure.

This year, the Prosperous Yusheng (shown in the first picture) is arranged in the shape of a horse. This is one stunning yusheng that you will not want to miss for Lo Hei this Chinese New Year. And for the premium menus, you can enjoy your yusheng with a touch of resplendence in the form of rose-shaped sashimi slices.

The chefs have prepared an array of set menus that will please every palate. Anticipate tantalising dishes such as Stir-fried Lobster & Crab Roe, Double-boiled Superior Bird’s Nest, but the star of the menu this year is definitely the Double-boiled ‘Fu Zhou’ Buddha Jump Over The Wall. With delicacies like whole Mexican abalone, sea cucumber, fish maw, dried scallops and deer tendon, all cooked over a strict control of high and low heat for 3 days, what is left is the essence of the very best, and this is the ultimate indulgence. Quite simply, we call this the best way to celebrate the Lunar New Year.

One thing that is also worth mentioning is that Man Fu Yuan has only one seating for Lunar New Year’s Eve. If you want to enjoy the reunion dinner without being rushed to finish your food, and don’t mind paying a slight premium, book a table here.

Photo credit: Intercontinental Singapore

Man Fu Yuan’s wide range of festive dishes from the take-home set menus is perfect for those who are having your reunion dinner at home. Besides the aforementioned Double-boiled Fu Zhou Buddha Jump Over the Wall (S$688+), Man Fu Yuan’s signature Deluxe Treasure Pot (S$398+/5pax) comes with 25 premium ingredients, and while you can find the standard items abalone, sea cucumber, fish maw and goose web, the star ingredient is Boston lobster.

The Chinese New Year promotion is available from 17 Jan to 14 Feb 2014.

Man Fu Yuan
80 Middle Road
2F Intercontinental Hotel
Tel: +65 6825 1062
Nearest Station: Bugis
To purchase online – www.facebook.com/ICSingapore

Photo credit: Resorts World Sentosa

Feng Shui Inn

It is the combination of exquisite and authentic fine Cantonese cuisine and an elegant and luxurious ambience that contribute to the overall dining experience at Feng Shui Inn, at Resorts World Sentosa.

Meticulously plated to form the shape of a horse, Feng Shui Inn’s Salmon & Mackeral Lo Hei served with Italy Balsamic Vinegar is a masterpiece, and a feast for the senses. It combines flavours and textures by mixing salmon cubes, crispy-skinned mackerel and silver fish, and the bonus addition that completes the brilliant masterpiece is the sweet strips of bak gwa!

Other noteworthy dishes are the Sauteed Grouper Fillet with fish roe and asparagus shoots that combines the freshness with a natural hint of sweetness from the fish, and the Braised Oyster with Conpoy that is served with braised bai ling mushrooms – just like how the Chinese love it. They are available as ala carte dishes, as well as part of a lavish 8-course menu (S$1,118++/6pax, S$1688++/10pax).

The Chinese New Year promotion is available from 20 Jan to 14 Feb 2014.

Feng Shui Inn
8 Sentosa Gateway
Crockfords Tower Level G2
Resorts World Sentosa
Tel: +65 6577 6688
Nearest Station: Harbourfront

Forest

Over at Forest, look out for the Salmon Fruity Vegetable Yusheng (S$78++ for 2 to 4 pax) – filled with a variation of fruits like melon, pomelo chunks, strips of apple, seaweed, and carrot sticks, this dish is rich in colours and textures. Crispy silverfish, thinly sliced salmon, and a homemade yuzu honey lime dressing are added to jazz up the dish.

Forest has several set menus available for this Lunar New Year, starting from S$68++/pax for a 5-course lunch and S$178++/pax for a 6-course dinner. Dishes worth mentioning are the appetising and refreshing Vietnamese Roll with Lobster in X.O. Chili Sauce and topped with homemade sesame dressing, the rich and tender Stewed Pork Belly with Dried Scallop and Hairy melon, and the Japanese Fragrant Rice with XO sausage and pan-seared foie gras presented in steamed yellow pumpkin. As always, Forest promises an exhilarating palate experience.

The Chinese New Year promotion is available from 18 Jan to 14 Feb 2014.

Forest
8 Sentosa Gateway
Level 1 Equarius Hotel
Resorts World Sentosa
Tel: +65 6577 6688
Nearest Station: Harbourfront

Jade Restaurant

From the luxurious Braised Bird Nest’s with crab meat and roe in superior broth, to Sautéed Boston Lobster with a crazily addictive spicy cheese sauce, to the must-have Prosperity Seafood in Claypot – a pot of wonder filled with premium ingredients like abalone, fish maw, sea cucumber, and dried oysters – Chinese New Year dinner at The Fullerton Hotel’s Jade Restaurant is a feast fit for the royalty, and a splendid way to welcome the new year.

Another highlight is the Eight Happiness Gold Rush Salmon Yusheng (S$78/6pax, S$118 for 8/pax). What makes Jade’s Yusheng stand out is the choice of the healthier olive oil, a delightful and refreshing apple plum dressing, and chunks of luxurious champagne jelly with edible gold leaves. Toss to a great year with the yusheng which features Chef Leong’s beautiful calligraphic drawing of a horse.

To end your meal on a sweet note, indulge in their creative dessert options which includes nian gao tartlets, and rose-flavoured water chestnut cake.

The Chinese New Year promotion is available from 20 Jan to 14 Feb 2014.

Jade Restaurant
Ground Floor, Fullerton Hotel
1 Fullerton Square
Tel: +65 6877 8188
Nearest Station: Raffles Place

mezza9

mezza9 at Grand Hyatt Singapore is a chic concept restaurant which offers nine different dining experiences in one space.

mezza9′s Chinese New Year menu features several mouth-watering dishes. We love the Braised Spare Rib (S$48) that are so rich in flavour and accompanied with steamed buns so that we can savour every bit of the sauce. The Crispy Duck (S$38 for half, S$72 for whole) with yellow turmeric sauce is like a Chinese rendition of a duck confit, and equally satisfying.

For sharing, we recommend the Steamed New Zealand Snapper (S$88) that will complete your reunion dinner. And if you have a big family, go for the 6-course set dinner (S$118/pax, min of 6 pax), or the 8-course set dinner (S$168/pax, min of 8 pax).

In line with mezza9′s approach in providing sustainable seafood from independent eco labels, the restaurant presents its Double Happiness & Good Luck Yusheng with sustainable South Australian yellowtail kingfish and Irish organic atlantic salmon (S$48 for 2 pax, S$98 for 6 pax). No compromise on the tastes, and if any, the freshness had us longing for more.

The Chinese New Year promotion is available from 15 Jan to 14 Feb 2014.

Grand Hyatt Singapore
10 Scotts Road
Mezzanine Level
Tel: +65 6730 7188
Nearest Station: Orchard

Tian Fu Tea Room by Si Chuan Dou Hua

Tea lovers will love Tian Fu Tea Room by Si Chuan Dou Hua restaurant – a Chinese tea room concept that promotes the art of tea appreciation, and a sanctuary for all to indulge in the beautiful world of teas. This festive season, Tian Fu Tea Room presents the Reunion Imperial High Tea, a high tea to be enjoyed with your loved ones and business associates.

At S$32/pax, the high tea comes with a Prosperity Salmon Yusheng (customised accordingly to group size), two premium Chinese teas, eight dim sum and snacks – including Double-boiled Seafood Dumpling in Superior Soup, Camphor Tea Smoked Chicken, Steamed Abalone Dumpling with Wasabi Sauce, Steamed Fish Ball with Black Moss, Deep-fried Radish Puff, Fried Rice wrapped in Lotus Leaf, Glutinous Rice Balls in Chinese Rice Wine, and Pan-fried New Year Cake with Glutinous Pearls.

It is such a stunning display of the best of Chinese goodies to say the least, and with this value-for-money tea set, spend a leisure afternoon at this elegant Chinese tea room over Lo-Hei this Chinese New Year.

The Chinese New Year Promotion is available from 30 Jan to 14 Feb 2014.

Tian Fu Tea Room
80 Raffles Place
#60-01 UOB Plaza 1
Tel: +65 6535 6006
Nearest Station: Raffles Place

PARKROYAL ON Beach Road
7500 Beach Road
Tel: +65 6505 5724
Nearest Station: Bugis

PARKROYAL on Kitchener Road
181 Kitchener Road
Tel: +65 6428 3170
Nearest Station: Farrer Park

What is Chinese New Year without poon choi, yusheng and all the tempting goodies and snacks? Every year, we source for the best options for our family reunion dinner and house parties. This year, usher in the year of the horse with Carlton Hotel Singapore’s prosperous take-home goodies.

Choose from a range of yusheng (S$58+ to S$118+) with delicacies including Hokkaido scallops, wolf herring, hamachi, abalone, and salmon. The Longevity poon choi (S$388+ for 6pax, S$628+ for 10 pax) is also a great party addition – a pot of goodness with premium ingredients like baby abalone, scallops, sea cucumber, roasted duck, live prawns, and dried oysters.

Pineapple tarts are everyone’s favourite Chinese New Year goodies, and you must get your hands on Carlton’s super addictive premium pineapple tarts ($25.80+). Baked to the perfect shade of golden brown, the tarts are generously filled with fresh pineapple paste.

Rather than the usual love letters and peanut cookies, why not go for the special new creations by Carlton? The cocoa pops cookies – made of chocolate rice cereals – and the pecan cinnamon cookies are equally addictive. The new water chestnut cake also serves as a great dessert this festive season.

Whether you are buying them as gifts for your corporate partners or family, the Chinese New Year goodies from Carlton are your best bets because you get premium tastes and elegance all packaged together.

Photos credit: Carlton Hotel Singapore

For those of you who prefer to save the hassle of cooking at home and to dine out for the annual reunion dinner, Cafe Mosaic’s Lunar New Year buffet comes with a mouth-watering spread of braised Chinese herbal beef brisket, braised fish maw with crabmeat soup, freshly shucked live oysters, Peking duck, suckling pig, roasted crispy pork belly and much more. There is also a complimentary platter of yusheng.

Cafe Mosaic’s Lunar New Year’s Eve Dinner Buffet: S$98++/pax (30 Jan 2014, 6.30pm to 10.30pm). Lunar New Year Dinner Buffet: S$88++/pax (31 Jan & 1 Feb 2014).

Goodies: +65 6349 1292, or email restaurants@carltonhotel.sg
Café Mosaic: +65 6311 8195, or email cafe.mosaic@carltonhotel.sg

Visit www.facebook.com/CarltonHotelSG or www.carltonhotel.sg for more information.

This post is brought to you by Carlton Hotel Singapore.

I’m really excited that Chinese New Year is just less than two weeks away. It is the time where we get to catch up with our relatives and friends. And of course, the part that I’m looking forward to is eating lots of yummy food.

In recent years, more and more families are choosing to eat out because of convenience and ambience. There are also some that order Chinese New Year Takeaways from restaurants and hotels, to eat at the comfort of their homes. No matter where you are having your reunion dinner, I hope you will have a good time with your loved ones!

If you are still looking for a restaurant to celebrate the occasion, let me help you with some suggestions for Chinese New Year Dinner 2012.

Chin Huat Live Seafood

For a scrumptious seafood feast, go to Chin Huat at Sunset Way for their Chinese New Year Promotion. At $398++ for 10 persons, the set menu comes with Salmon Yu Sheng, Braised Shark’s Fin, Deep-fried Goby, Poached Live Prawns and Steamed Chicken.

105 Clementi Street 12
#01-30 Sunset Way Singapore
Tel: +65 6775 7348

Mandarin Court Chinese Restaurant

This Lunar New Year, Executive Chinese Chef Sunny Kong of Mandarin Court Chinese Restaurant has put together 10 different signature menus ranging from the $98++ per person menu (minimum 2 persons) – which features Salmon Yusheng, Braised Shark’s Fin, Steamed Sea Perch, and Braised Baby Abalone; to an extravagant $1,888++ meal for 10 persons, from 13 January to 6 February 2012.

From their Chinese New Year Takeaway menu, the prosperity Salmon Yusheng for 8-10 persons is available for $108, while the Pen Cai for 5-8 persons is $368.

333 Orchard Road Level 35
Orchard Wing Mandarin Orchard Singapore
Tel: +65 6831 6262

Man Fu Yuan

Over at Man Fu Yuan Intercontinental Hotel, there are 12 different options to cater to everyone’s tastes. The 6 course menu ($108++/pax) – with Yu Sheng, Shark’s Fin, Baby Abalone, Deep-Fried Sea Perch – is ideal for a family of 4.

Should you choose to celebrate your Chinese New Year Dinner Party at home, Man Fu Yuan also presents an attractive takeaway package which includes Pen Cai and Yu Sheng at $358 (DBS Credit Card promotion at $320).

80 Middle Road
2F Intercontinental Hotel
Tel: +65 6825 1062

Chinese New Year Eve, also known as Chu Xi: the day where families gather for reunion dinner.

Imperial treasure steamboat

What’s Chinese New Year’s Eve without steamboat?

On 22th Jan 2012, Imperial Treasure Steamboat at TripleOne Somerset has created special Chinese New Year set menus. For a family of 4, you can have the $328++ menu which comes with Lo Hei, Seafood, Prawns, Abalones, Scallops, Clams, and Desserts.

For those of you who are having an early reunion dinner celebration, the normal set menu for 4 persons is $168++.

111 Somerset Road, #02-21 TripleOne Somerset
Tel: +65 6732 8231

Keng Eng Kee Seafood

For a simple reunion dinner, head over to Keng Eng Kee Seafood Restaurant. There are two Chinese New Year Set Menus at $399 and $499 (for 10 pax). For smaller families, you can order from their Cze Char ala carte menu.

The last I checked, they are fully booked during Chinese New Year’s Eve.

Blk 124 Bukit Merah Lane 1
#01-136 Alexandra Village Singapore
Tel: +65 6272 1038

Paradise Inn

With 11 branches in Singapore, Paradise Inn is the ideal choice for your family reunion dinner. The casual dining restaurant serves good Chinese food at affordable prices.

23 Serangoon Central
#03-15 NEX Mall
Tel: +65 6634 4228

What’s there not to like about Chinese New Year when you get to eat traditional goodies like kueh bangkit, loveletters, pinapple tarts, peanut cookies, and bak kwa?

Yan Ting

One of my favourite Chinese restaurants in Singapore, Yan Ting at the St Regis is the place to go if money is no object.

Yan Ting presents several sumptuous set menus for Chinese New Year 2012. You can choose from the 8 course ($1088++/10pax) which has Salmon Yusheng, Braised Shark’s Fin Soup, Steamed Soon Hock, and Crispy Roasted Chicken; and the 9 course which has Double-boiled Shark’s Fin Soup, Pan-roasted Rack of Lamb, Crispy Peking Duck as the highlights.

There’s also the 6 course set menu at $98++/pax (min 2 persons) for smaller families. The Lunar New Year Dinner menus are available from 12th January to 6th February 2012.

29 Tanglin Road
The St Regis Singapore
Tel: +65 6506 6888

Singapore is a multicultural society, and one of the best things about living here is that we get to celebrate the different festivals like Deepavali, Hari Raya Haji, Christmas, and Chinese New Year.

Chinese New Year – the most important of the traditional Chinese holidays – falls on 23 and 24 January 2012. The main highlight of Chinese New Year in Singapore is the Chinatown Celebrations. Every year, many stalls will line up the streets of Chinatown, and visitors can soak in the festive mood at the market.

Here are some photos that I took at the Chinese New Year Market in Chinatown.

I like Chinese New Year. It is the time where we go shopping for decoration items, new clothes and Chinese New Year food. It is the time where families get together for the reunion dinner. And of course, it is the time for us to indulge in Chinese New Year traditional goodies like kueh bangkit, loveletters, pinapple tarts, peanut cookies, and bak kwa.

Chinatown Chinese New Year Night Market
Date: 31 December 2011 – 22 January 2012
Time: 6.00pm – 10.30pm
6.00pm – 1.00am (Chinese New Year Eve)
Venue: Pagoda Street, Smith Street, Sago Street, Temple Street, Trengganu Street.