Regale your loved ones and esteemed clients this Lunar New Year with a hamper unlike any other. Instead of sending over a towering basket mostly filled with unremarkable nonessentials, why not gift them a collection of thoughtfully curated items they’re bound to appreciate instead?

Pretty in pink and strikingly chic, have you ever seen such a stylish hamper in a tote bag? The Grandeur Collection from The Marmalade Pantry—which comes with goodies made in a halal-certified ktchen—is a unique gift perfect for the modern Singaporean.

Our readers can enjoy 15% off when you pay with Mastercard using our code “LICCNY15”. The discount is valid from now until 12 Jan 2020. Get the Lunar New Year hamper from The Marmalade Pantry’s e-shop here—http://bit.ly/TMPCNY2020.

PINEAPPLE TARTS (330g/16pcs)

Delicately crafted, each spherical tart hides within its golden crust a brimming core of pineapple jam. Holding a splendid balance of flavours, each bite brings about a lingering sweetness; one that is rich enough to excite the palate yet light enough to keep the flavour from saturating.

SAMBAL SHRIMP ROLLS (300g)

Welcomed for its textural and taste contrast against the other two treats, these crispy rolls are a wonderful addition to any Lunar New Year snack table. Past the initial crunch, these rolls break apart to reveal a fine, savoury stuffing of fried shrimps and chilli. Suitable for the spice-shy as well, the inherent spice is moderated by a dash of sweetness.

CASHEW NUTS COOKIES (380g)

Crumbly with an intense nutty profile, these buttery treats are a delight to pop, and pair even better with a cup of tea. Satisfying addictive in its duality, the bite from the roasted cashew allays the monotony of its soft base, and invites an additional dimension of saltiness against the predominantly sweet and nutty profile.

EMERI PINK MOSCATO (LIMITED EDITION PACKAGING BY DE BORTOLI)

A lush, fruity alcoholic number, this sparkling rosé wine is a fantastic accompaniment to your Lunar New Year celebrations. Captivating in its pale pink hue, the Moscata offers an equally refreshing and uplifting flavour profile. Expect each glass to be perfumed with vibrant notes of strawberries and musk.

GOLD MOSCATO TEA LEAVES BY GRYPHON (30g)

Sought after for its rarity, the leaves produce a medium-bodied bright copper brew speckled with gold dust. Complex in flavour and incredibly fragrant, this white tea is infused with a gentle floral note, within which the ripened muscat grapes add a bitter-sweet aromatic intensity to. A truly opulent taste experience.

PRESERVED DECORATIVE FLOWERS IN MINIATURE VASE (ONLY FOR THE FIRST 200 SETS)

Awash in the colours of spring, these flowers are a lively addition to any space. Preserved for longevity, place this vase within easy view for a beautiful centrepiece that brightens up not just the room, but the moods of those residing in it as well.

The flowers are in collaboration with FEO Grace – the social enterprise arm of Far East Organization.

SEASONAL EDITION CANVAS TOTE BAG BY THE MARMALADE PANTRY

PU-leather lined and finished with a graceful flourish, this bag can easily transform into a one suitable for daily use. Roomy, sturdy, and stylish, this ivory tote will ensure that you remain effortlessly in vogue in all seasons

Our readers can enjoy 15% off when you pay with Mastercard using our code “LICCNY15”. The discount is valid from now until 12 Jan 2020. Get the Lunar New Year hamper from The Marmalade Pantry’s e-shop here—http://bit.ly/TMPCNY2020.

Available from 8 January to 24 January 2020, you can purchase The Grandeur Collection at S$168+. For those wishing to procure the delectable treats on their own, look towards the Traditional Trio (S$60+) for a more streamlined offering instead.

You can choose to self-collect at any The Marmalade Pantry outlets or opt for delivery (S$20/location for standard, S$40 for express) during this period.

If you’re looking for a special way to show your appreciation, love or respect this Lunar New Year, The Marmalade Pantry’s contemporary spin on the classic hamper is a refreshing alternative that is certain to be a memorable gift.

The Grandeur Collection – S$168+
Pineapple Tarts (330g / 16pcs) – (S$22+)
Sambal Shrimp Rolls (300g) – (S$19+)
Cashew Nuts Cookies (380g) – (S$19+)
Emeri Pink Moscato (Limited Edition Packaging by De BORTOLI) ~ Australia region (750ml/ 8% alc) – (S$68+)
Gold Moscato Tea Leaves by GRYPHON (30g)
Preserved decorative flowers in miniature vase
Seasonal edition Canvas Tote Bag by The Marmalade Pantry – (S$38+)
Limited edition Red Packets by The Marmalade Pantry
Gift card by The Marmalade Pantry – (S$5+)

Traditional Trio – S$60+
Pineapple Tarts (330g / 16pcs) – (S$22+)
Sambal Shrimp Rolls (300g) – (S$19+)
Cashew Nuts Cookies (380g) – (S$19+)
Choice of Cup Cake voucher by The Marmalade Pantry
Limited edition Red Packets by The Marmalade Pantry
Gift bag with card by The Marmalade Pantry – (S$5+)

Outlets
The Marmalade Pantry ION Orchard
2 Orchard Turn
ION Orchard, #04-11a
Singapore 238801
Tel: +65 6734 2700
Daily: 10am – 10pm
Nearest Station: Orchard

The Marmalade Pantry Novena
8 Sinran Drive
Oasia Hotel Novena, #01-02/04
Singapore 307470
Tel: +65 6664 0348
Daily: 6.30am – 10.30am, 11.30am – 10.30pm
Nearest Station: Novena

The Marmalade Pantry Downtown
100 Peck Seah Street
Oasia Hotel Downtown, #01-01
Singapore 079333
Tel: +65 6385 0741
Daily: 6.30am – 10.30am, 11.30am – 10.30pm
Nearest Station: Tanjong Pagar

The Marmalade Pantry Petite
160 Robinson Road
SBF Centre, #01-02
Singapore 068914
Tel: +65 6581 0572
Mon to Fri: 9am – 6.30pm
(Closed on Saturdays & Sundays)
Nearest Station: Tanjong Pagar

This post was brought to you by The Marmalade Pantry.

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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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.