Usher in the Lunar New Year with a bountiful feast prepared by Manila’s top hotels. Indulge in a gastronomic journey featuring specialties that celebrate felicity and great happiness as we celebrate the Year of the Dog.
Dinner with family is one common thing that we do in the new year. For all our Chinese friends, we have some of the best Chinese new year dinner ideas that will make the night memorable.
#1 SHANGRI-LA AT THE FORT
To celebrate the Lunar New Year, Shangri-La at the Fort is delighted to present a sumptuous spread featuring regional Chinese specialties prepared by Executive Chinese Chef Wang Wei Qing.
Such as the traditional Norweigan salmon “Yee Sang”, Ming dynasty roasted Peking duck and Canton Road’s original roasted suckling pig, to name a few. The Spring menu is priced at Php 29,888 nett, Php 32,888 nett for theLongevity menu and Php 38,888 nett for the Prosperity, these special menus are for a table of 10 persons and are inclusive of a non- alcoholic beverage package.
Learn how to make Dim Sum- Canton Road stages 2-hour dim sum making classes on January 30, February 6 and 13 from 10:00 am to 12nn. Learn the secret behind Canton Road’s dim sum and play chef for the session.
The class includes a dim sum feast at one of the restaurant’s private dining room. The dim sum experience is priced at Php 2,988 nett for adults ages 18 years old and above, Php 1,888 nett for kids, ages 8 to 17 years old.
SHANGRI-LA AT THE FORT
30th Street corner 5th Avenue, Bonifacio Global City, Taguig
Telephone: +632 820-0888
Instagram: @shangrilafort
Twitter: @ShangriLaFort
Facebook: Shangri-La at the Fort, BGC
Website: www.shangri-la.com
#2 MARIOTT MANILA: Man Ho
Marriott Manila celebrates the most important festivity in the Chinese calendar, the Lunar New Year, by bringing traditional feasts to its Chinese restaurant, Man Ho. Since this is the best time for reunions, they created a lavish 10-course set menu fitting for 10 persons at Php 33,880++.
Man Ho is the signature Chinese fine dining outlet of Marriott International. It came to Manila last November 2016 bringing authentic flavors and ingredients from Hong Kong and China.
Some of their highly favored dishes come together in this special set menu that are said to attract luck and abundance. Top of the list is Barbecue Combination that is already lavish on its own. It has roast duck, barbecue pork, soya chicken and century egg. Other light choices for appetizers are Fresh Scallop Salad and Celery with Prawn X.O sauce – that still remains to be a heavenly secret recipe.
Pan Fried Beef Fillet with black pepper sauce really does melt in your mouth and will keep one speechless. But the sounds of crisp bites can be heard from the Hong Kong-style Fried Chicken. Indulge also in luxe plates like Braised Bai Ling Mushroom, labeled as “prince of edible mushrooms” for its very tender quality, with assorted fresh vegetables. Speaking of fresh, Lapu-lapu cooked fresh from their aquarium is steamed in light sauce, and served straight to you.
Aside from the set menu, Man Ho also offers a Lunar New Year trademark, Poon Choi. Literally means, “Chinese casserole in a basin”, Poon Choi is a one-pot communal dish good for at least 10 persons signifies prosperity and affluence with over 8 items in it. An elaborate dish like this is made to order at least 2 days before. For only Php 15,888++, sink your fork into abalone, prawns, sea cucumber, dried fish maw, sea moss, marinated duck, dried scallops, taro and assorted vegetables. It also goes best with a whole lobster (cost of which varies depends on its seasonal price).
Furthermore, more auspicious Cantonese dishes are available in a la carte like the very rare Roasted Goose. There are also good fortune givers are luxe items like abalone, peking duck and variety of dumplings or dim sum
These auspicious treats are now available at Man Ho until February 16, 2018. Marriott Manila also invites you to join their Lion and Dragon Dance ceremony on February 17 to close the festivities on a high note.
MANILA MARRIOTT HOTEL
2 Resorts Drive, Pasay City, 1309 Metro Manila
Telephone: (02) 988 9999
Facebook: Manila Marriott Hotel
Instagram:@manilamarriott
Website: www.marriott.com
#3 SOFITEL MANILA
Sofitel Philippine Plaza Manila ushers in the Lunar New Year with a bountiful feast prepared by Spiral’s resident Chinese Chef, Chef Michael Tai. Indulge in a gastronomic journey featuring specialties that celebrate felicity and great happiness as Spiral celebrates the Year of the Dog.
The featured menu showcases recipes popular in China, Malaysia and Singapore and have been served to royalty in Imperial China. Enjoy dishes for overflowing felicity with the Double-Boiled Mini Buddha Soup, a shark’s fin soup of Chinese Fujian cuisine; Manchu Hot Pot popular in Mainland China and composed of pork, mutton, dried chilli and pink peppercorn; the luxurious Braised Abalone with Goose Web, a popular dish served during Chinese New Year and signifies abundance and wealth; Beijing-style Peking Duck Wrap served to the Mongol emperor of the Imperial Yuan Dynasty; Dezhou Braised Chicken, a traditional delicacy from China’s Shandong Province created during the reign of Emperor Guangxu of the Qing Dynasty; Sha Qui Ma, a meticulously-made delicacy of Manchu cuisine popular in mainland China and rarely available in the Philippines; and the Double Boiled Bird’s Nest with Rock Sugar made with premium sweetened bird saliva sourced from Indonesian wild edible-nest swiftlets and considered the “Caviar of the East.”
Spiral welcomes the Year of the Dog in festive style with a traditional Dragon Dance and breathtaking performances from featured Chinese acrobats. Get a glimpse of what the future has in store for you with Spiral’s special fortune cookies.
Celebrate Chinese New Year with family, friends and loved ones at Spiral available at the following rates:
February 15 – 16, 2018: Php2,850 nett per person for lunch and Php3,450 nett per person for dinner
February 17, 2018: Php3,600 nett per person for lunch and Php3,900 nett per person for dinner
February 18, 2018: Php4,650 nett per person for lunch and Php3,500 nett per person for dinner
Sofitel Philippine Plaza Manila
CCP Complex, Roxas Boulevard 1300 Pasay City
Landline:++63 (02) 832.6988
Email: H6308-FB12@sofitel.com
Website: http://www.sofitelmanila.com/
#4 CITY OF DREAMS: Crystal Dragon
Crystal Dragon’s Lunar Chinese New Year a la carte menu highlights the Prosperity Abalone and Salmon “Yu Sheng” salad and a unique variation: Shredded Roasted Duck with Fresh Fruit Salad in Sesame Dressing.
For the prosperity toss, guests gather before the table, use their chopsticks to mix the ingredients together and then toss them up while saying “Lo Hei!” and well-wishes out loud to bring in good luck.
For groups of four to six, the “Happiness” and “Abundance” set menus at Crystal Dragon are ideal for celebrating with family and friends. The “Happiness” menu includes Prosperity Salmon “Yu Sheng” with Fruit Salad; Braised Eight Sea Treasure with Shredded Abalone Broth; Steamed Hong Kong Style Cod Fish with Baby Cabbage in Supreme Soy Wok-fried King Prawns with Supreme Soy Sauce Reduction; Wok-fried Cantonese Rice Cake Sliced with Air-dried Preserved Meat; Chilled Mango Pudding with Vanilla Ice Cream; and Pan-fried Crispy Nian Gao with Kumquat Compote.
The “Abundance” menu starts with Prosperity Abalone & Salmon “Yu Sheng” with Rock Melon Salad followed by Double-boiled Sea Treasure with Baby Abalone in Cordycep Flower Soup; Steamed Sea Grouper with Shredded Ginger in Homemade Soy Sauce; Oven-roasted Manuka Honey Marinated Kurobota Pork Slice with Pork Liver; Stewed Pork Belly with Sea Cucumber, Bean Curd and Green Vegetables; Wok-fried Cantonese Rice Cake with Air-dried Preserved Meat; Warm Sweetened Eight Treasures Tea with Ginseng and Honey; and Double-flavor Chinese New Year Nian Gao Platter.
The “Happiness” and “Abundance” set menus are at P3,680++ and P6,680++, respectively. Crystal Dragon’s Chinese New Year a la carte and set menus are available for lunch and dinner from February 5 to 20.
CITY OF DREAMS MANILA
Asean Avenue corner Roxas Boulevard,
Entertainment City, Parañaque 1701, Manila, Philippines
Email: guestservices@cod-manila.com
Telephone: 800 8080
Website: http://www.cityofdreams.com.ph
#5 RESORTS WORLD MANILA
After welcoming 2018 with the grandest party at the Marriott Grand Ballroom on New Year’s Eve, the country’s premier entertainment and tourism destination Resorts World Manila (RWM) now gears up for its annual Imperial Festival celebrations to usher in the Year of the Earth Dog.
Highlights lined up for this year’s festivities include the traditional Lunar New Year Lion Dance on February 16 at the Newport Mall, and a Feng Shui and Chinese Metaphysics seminar by one of the authorities in the field, Dato’ Joey Yap on February 7, 8:30 a.m. at the Manila Ballroom of Marriott Hotel Manila.
Joey Yap is a best-selling author of 162 books and is chief consultant of the Joey Yap Consulting Group, which is the world’s largest and most successful Feng Shui consulting firm that works in partnership with Fortune 500 companies and A-list clientele.
Get the Year of the Earth Dog off to a good start by treating yourself and your loved ones to a taste of Oriental paradise with Passion, Resorts World Manila’s (RWM) signature Chinese fine-dining restaurant.
Widely regarded as one of the best authentic Cantonese restaurants in Metro Manila, Passion at Maxim’s Hotel brings luck to the table with its Lunar New Year Set Menu, available for the whole month of February as part of RWM’s Imperial Festival 2018.
For only Php1860 nett per person, diners will be treated to an eight-course meal, starting off with a ceremonial Prosperity Toss or Yee Sang Lo Hei – a traditional Cantonese-style salad that is known as a symbol of abundance, prosperity and vigor.
Passion’s Lunar New Year Set Menu also features its signature Lucky Five Blessings (Wufu Lin Men), Braised Crabstick with Gold Soup, Wok-fried US Scallops with XO Sauce, Steamed Garlic Prawns with Rice in a Bamboo Basket, and its signature Steamed Live Garoupa with Sour Plum Sauce. Dessert is a double delight with Passion’s House-made Masachi and Steamed Mini Fish Tikoy.
For more on RWM’s Imperial Festival celebrations, visit www.rwmanila.com or call the Tourist/Visitor Hotline at (632) 908-8833.
#6 MAKATI SHANGRI-LA
Makati Shangri-La, ushers in the Year of the Dog with exciting festivities, exquisite dining offers and treats and a Wonderful Weekend staycation for the family.
The hotel welcomes the Chinese New Year with a traditional lion and dragon dance on February 16, 2018. Guests can witness a breath-taking performance and an outstanding firecracker display in the lobby driveway. The performance will starts at 12:30 p.m.
Guests can gather their family and friends at Shang Palace for a luxurious festive lunch or dinner menu to celebrate the occasion. Diners can indulge in Garoupa Fillet with White Peppercorn and Salted Vegetable in a Clay Pot, Deep-Fried Shrimp Patties with Thai Sauce, Crispy Fried Nian Gao and other traditional dishes. A special set menu is available on Chinese New Year’s Eve at P2,588++ per person for the Gold menu, P3,888++ per person for the Jade Menu and P6,688++ per person for the Diamond menu.
Guests may also enjoy the auspicious season with a perfect family staycation with the hotel’s Wonderful Weekends room offer. The package includes a delightful breakfast feast at Circles Event Café for two adults and two kids below 12 years old, P1,200 dining credit, a tipi tent setup, complimentary kids’ mini bar and more.
Makati Shangri-La, Manila
Tel: (63 2) 813 8888 extension 7022
Fax: (63 2) 814 2534
Website: shangri-la.com/manila/makatishangrila/
#7 MARCO POLO ORTIGAS
Discover the excellent Cantonese cuisine as you experience new possibilities this Lunar New Year, with fine and exclusive dishes for the season, from Hong Kong native, Chinese Executive Chef Terry Lai.
With the coming of the Year of the Earth Dog, the award-winning Cantonese restaurant, Lung Hin, is bringing special dishes to the table, available only for the season. Experience the restaurant’s fine flavours that make each celebration worthwhile starting with the Prosperity Toss with Salmon Yu Sheng for an abundant year. The traditional salad is available for take away, for small and large orders. Season exclusive dishes such as Poached Hong Kong Sesame Chicken, Sautéed Imperial Tiger Prawn with Supreme Stock, Signature Marinated Pork Knuckles, and Poached Yellow Croaker Fish with Tofu, can be enjoyed, together with the classic dishes from Lung Hin’s well-curated and new a la carte menu.
Have a feast with the family with special set menus to indulge in. Choose between Double Prosperity, which includes the classic Barbecued Roasted Pork, Crispy Roasted Hong Kong Chicken, and Sauteed Fresh Scallops with Fresh Squids and Broccoli; and the Endless Fortune, featuring Steamed Fresh Lobster with Glutinous Rice in Bamboo Basket, Half Crispy Roasted Suckling Pig, and Steamed Live Abalone with Minced Garlic.
The exclusive dishes and set menus are available from the 8th to the 21st of February.
Marco Polo Ortigas Manila
Meralco Avenue and Sapphire Street, Ortigas Center, Pasig City 1600
Website: www.marcopolohotels.com
Tel: (632) 720 7777
Email: manila@marcopolohotels.com
#8 CONRAD HOTEL: China Blue
The iconic Conrad Manila ushers in the Lunar New Year with a fiery lion and dragon dance performance auspiciously paired with a mouth-watering selection of authentic Chinese delicacies at the multi- award-winning China Blue by Jereme Leung for the special date on February 16 for lunch and dinner.
In celebration of the momentous occasion, Executive Chinese Chef, Eng Yew Khor presents specially-crafted premium set and a la carte menus, highlighted by an array of propitious entrées such as the steamed stuffed crab claw and dried oyster money bag in crab roe sauce to welcome “money in the bag”; wok-fried king prawn and mini abalone sea treasure in an imperial hot pot for financial prosperity and business success; stir-fried king prawn with crispy oat flakes and salted egg to attract wealth and happiness among others.
This highly-anticipated feast is made extra special with live musical entertainment and a modern take on the traditional Yee Sang toss, a customary practice also known as the ‘Prosperity Toss’. China Blue by Jereme Leung’s version includes a myriad of symbolic Chinese ingredients of the highest quality and is considered to be a must-have dish in celebration of the Chinese New Year festivities. Diners may choose from the ala carte signature dishes, but the showcase Chinese New Year set menu is a must for a group of ten
diners for P29,888+++.
For reservations and inquiries, please email conradmanila@conradhotels.com or kindly call +632 833 9999. To learn more about Conrad Manila’s promotions and offers follow us on Facebook (ConradManilaPH) and on Instagram (@conradmanila).
Live an Awesome Life,
ABI of Team Our Awesome Planet
Disclosure: We were media guests of the hotels. I wrote this article with my biases, opinions, and insights.
