Media Invite

Chinese New Year is here again. This means that it’s time to feast on delicious and auspicious dishes for a prosperous year ahead and take a holiday over the long weekend. What do you look forward to indulging your favourite dishes in Chinese New Year? From poon choi, yusheng, suckling pig, golden fish, pineapple tarts to cookies, we’ve got you covered in this blog post. We have a list of the recommended restaurants here in Singapore, if you can’t decide where to eat, here’s what we enjoyed personally! The list below is not in chronological order.

Sky22, Courtyard by Marriott Singapore Novena

Helmed by Executive Chef John Chye, Sky22 in Courtyard Singapore Novena Marriott serves locally inspired and innovative dishes that aims to satisfy the most discerning palates. The Chinese New Year menu is culturally inspired and offers many alternatives, from sumptuous delicacies to all-time favourites like Singapore Laksa. You can expect lo hei, salad bar, cold sides, soups, cold cuts, cheese, dressings to desserts. Enjoy exclusive dinner buffet selection from seafood on the ice including poached prawns, crayfish, mussels. mains including red wine braised beef cheeks, pan-seared sea bass with sambal olek to all-time favourite Singapore Laksa Station. The buffet spread comes with a complimentary prosperity lo hei platter with a minimum of two diners.

Chinese New Year Buffet from 5 February to 2 March 2018.

Lunch: 12PM to 2.30PM
Adult at S$38++ per pax | Child (age 6-12) at S$19++.

Dinner: 6PM – 10PM
Adult at S$48++ per pax | Cchild (age 6-12) at S$24++.

* This menu should only be used as a guide to daily offerings. The Chef reserves the right to make changes to the menu, depending on freshness and availability of ingredients.

Elemen

Dedicated to promoting natural and meat-free lifestyles, Elemen is a favourite among both our vegetarian and carnivorous friends with its innovative recipes. This Chinese New Year, they have launched a curated 8-course menu which promises a light and healthy reunion dinner. Here are some of our favourites from the menu:

Replacing the common salmon sashimi with Konnyaku, their Prosperity Truffle Yu Sheng might be easily one of the best Yu Sheng I had. Fresh vegetables elevated with the light fragrance of the truffle, the Yu Sheng was pleasant on the palate and not cloying.

Boiled for hours in a coconut shell along with the fresh coconut juice, the 5 Elements Soup is light and sweet. Along with the healthy ingredients, the coconut flesh can be easily scooped and eaten along with the comforting bowl of soup.

Akin to its bright red appearance, the Firecracker Nest is one smoking hot dish that captured all our hearts that night. Deep-fried monkey head mushrooms in a spicy red coating. There is nothing more addictive than these crunchy red bites. The texture was so similar to chicken that it blew my mind. Blind-folded and you will think you are devouring KFC spicy popcorn chicken.

To end off the meal, the tangy and sweet Strawberry w/ Plum Sauce drink is not only beautiful but also refreshing. A modern approach to a traditional favourite – Bubur Pulut Hitam, Elemen has nailed this delicious humble dessert and we are left craving for more.

Chinese New Year Menu (Meatfree) from 12 February to 02 March 2018, you can enjoy their Prosper-licious 8-course Menu at S$108.80++ (2 pax) or S$208.80++ (4 pax). Savour these dishes and kickstart your Chinese New Year on a healthy note!

Beast & Butterflies

Have a different dining experience with a beautiful ambience of chandeliers, lava lamps, table-top TV screens and even a wall lined with 40 tablets. Awaits fusion cuisine that combines elements of Asian and Western culinary traditions.

A bowl of hearty lobster porridge that features half lobster in a robust umami broth with baby abalone while leaving rice grains intact. It is comforting, good to have at any time of the day.

Lobster porridge at S$36.

This tasty scallion soy marinated barramundi is a great meal for hot summer! The Cantonese inspired dressing of soy, ginger and spring onion enhanced the enjoyment of the baked fish and not to overwhelm or mask its taste. It is accompanied by thick and juicy sauteed US asparagus, Hong Kong choy sum, shimejji mushrooms and carrots.

Scallion soy barramundi at S$26.

Nian Gao Cigars delivered a golden brown exterior with a substantially crisp spring roll crust with soft nian gao fillings inside. I think the nian gao cigars tasted as good as it is! Dip into the golden custard and salted egg yolk sauce for the extra flavour bomb.

Nian Gao Cigars (exclusive for CNY) at S$12 (Feb 12 – 2 Mar).

Xin Cuisine Chinese Restaurant at Holiday Inn Singapore Atrium

Heralding the year of the Dog with 8 special menus from Xin Cuisine Chinese Restaurant. Celebrate Lunar New Year with an auspicious reunion spread that features abundant feast and festive treats.

Diners can toss to a year of prosperity and good health with the new Salmon Yusheng with Fish Skin and Passion Fruit Yogurt Dressing (S$78 small, S$98 large). The obligatory Prosperity Yu Sheng filled with crunchy slithers of deep-fried fish skin in a healthy passion fruit yoghurt dressing that pretty much completes this Lunar New year tradition.

Xin Cuisine’s range of treasure pots that feature premium ingredients delicately and painstakingly prepared by Executive Chinese Chef Chan Shun Wong and his team of master chefs. Xin’s Signature Traditional Treasure Pot is packed with layers and layers of indulgent ingredients; 14-headed Whole Abalone, Scallops, Prawns, Dried Oyster, Soya Chicken, Roast Duck, Roast Pork, Pork Rind, Fish Ball, Dried Bean Curd Skin, Ling Zhi Mushroom, Lotus Root, Baby Corn, Flower Mushroom, Black Moss, Baby Chinese Cabbage and Radish. Just like a treasure cove, allowing everyone to unveil layers of goodness together.

Xin’s Signature Traditional Treasure Pot at S$248 onwards. Available for dine-in or takeaway.

8 Special Menu available from 12 January to 3 March 2018.

Simple yet comforting of having lunch celebrations with your family and friends. These dim sums are handcrafted by Chef Cheung Kin Nam. Some of the masterpieces which include Steamed Pork Dumplings with Truffle, Pan-fried morel mushroom and pork paste bun and deep fried crab claw dumpling with fish roe.

Lunar New Year Dim Sums (Lunch only) at S$21 per serving.

Made with real durian flesh, the right amount of durian to impart fragrance and taste without overpowering the dish.

D24 Durian Nian Gao at S$58 per box.

Lunar New Year takeaways are available now until 2 Mar 2018.

Available until 2 March 2018, order online now and receive up to 20% off!

Royale at Mercure Singapore Bugis

More than 40 festive dishes available at the buffet spread. Some of the festive dishes including DIY Prosperity Yu Sheng, Chili Crab with Mantou, Hong Kong Style Waxed Meat Rice wrapped in Lotus leaf, Assorted Sashimi, Sautéed Scallop and Asparagus in X.O Sauce, Peanut Butter Supreme Layer Cake. Having a buffet is always a good dining option when you want to try a bit of everything.

Exclusive on Lunar New Year’s Eve & Day, enjoy festive delights including Roasted Suckling Piglet, Crispy Pork Belly and Assorted Tempura. The whole suckling piglet is roasted into golden crispy.

It’s hard to say no when it comes to chilli crab. The sauce pairs beautifully with deep-fried Chinese mantou. The mantou sops up the scrumptious and tangy and sweet flavours sauce. Do note that the chilli crab sauce is mild-spicy.

Featuring my favourite dish from the Chinese New Year buffet spread; Sautéed Scallop and Asparagus in X.O Sauce. Simply loves the umami flavour in scallops and stir-fried with XO sauce, the whole dish is enriched with a kick of hot and sophisticated flavours that will surely make every taste bud dance.

Lunar New Year Festive Buffet from 9 February to 2 March 2018.

• S$58++ (Adult) S$29++ (Child 6-12 years)
• S$68++ for free flow juices & soft drinks
• S$88++ for free flow wines & beer
• Children under 6 years dine free

Lunar New Year Eve & Day Buffet for 15  & 16 February 2018.

• S$68++ (Adult) / S$34++ (Child 6-12 years)
• S$78++ for free flow juices & soft drinks
• S$98++ for free flow wines & beer
• Children under 6 years dine free

Peony Jade at Keppel Club – Michelin Bib Gourmand

Usher in the auspicious Year of the Dog with an exquisite Michelin Bib Gourmand-crowned dining experience at Peony Jade at Keppel Club. Restaurant jazzes festive up a notch with their regular dining repertoire, festive takeaway and handcrafted festive pastries.

‘Prosperity & Smooth Sailing’ with 18 Premium Ingredients Poon Choi.

1. 8-head Australian whole abalones
2. 1/2 roast goose
3. A whole pork knuckle
4. Golden oysters
5. Roast pork
6. South African spiked sea cucumber
7. Whole scallops
8. Pork tendons
9. Fatt choy
10. Fish maw
11. King-sized prawns
12. Shiitake mushrooms
13. Sea-grouper fish dace
14. Dried conpoy
15. Taro
16. Beancurd skin
17. Radish
18. Broccoli

And enjoy five prosperity blessings with every takeaway pot of poon choi including Norwegian Salmon Sashimi Yusheng with organic radish & golden roe, bird’s nest & premier fish maw stuffed with minced prawn in a rich chicken consommé and more!

Standard Premium Pot Package at S$518.88 NETT (serves 6, enjoy 30% off on the second pot)
Large Premium Pot Package at S$748.88 NETT (serves 8-10, enjoy 50% off on the second pot)

The plate of sticky and caramelized roasted char siu marries the deep-fried Australian oyster. Enjoyed the crispy crust crackling, our mouth is filled with the appetising home-blended vinegar and nostrils fill with the smell of a salty ocean breeze.

Priced at S$48.88++ (minimum of 3 guests is required), and is available for dine-in only at Peony Jade @ Keppel Club. A 1-day advance order is required.

“Reaping Prosperity’ Deep-fried Australian Fresh Oysters-on-shell with Jinhua Ham infused with Cha-siu.

The traditional nian gao is popular during Chinese New Year but this year I stumbled upon a MAO SHAN WANG Durian Layered Nian Gao. The durian nian gao is layered one on top of another that symbolise of raising oneself taller in each coming year. The texture of mao shan wang nian gao was rich and creamy and ended with a bitter-sweet note on the palate. Honestly, I am not a fan of nian gao, but I do enjoy this durian nian gao.

Peony Jade’s Signature ‘The Steps to HUAT! HUAT!’ Gift Set.
Prosperity Gold Bar 100% Pure Black Gold Mao Shan Wang Durian Layered Nian Gao at S$118.88 nett per order, serves 8-10 guests.

I’m getting excited ’cause there are 8 new types of cookies this year including Almond Hazelnut Butter Cookies (featured), Sambal Chilli Bak Kwa (featured), Champagne Raisins Cookies and also Walnut Cookies in limited quantities. These Nyonya cookies are homemade and each cookie has a very nice buttery flavoured bite! Another must-have for Chinese New Year will be Peony Jade’s Bestseller Nyonya Coconut Rich Love Letters. Each piece of love letter rolled crepes were very crispy and paper-thin with a fragrant eggy taste. The cookies smell amazing and make me want to eat them before this shot.  Grab yours before it’s sold out!

Priced at S$32.88 per jar.

Traditional New Year Homemade Prosperity Nyonya Cookies are available from now to 14 Feb 2018.