We picked out some udderly tasty treats for you this Lunar New Year!
For those of us celebrating the Lunar New Year, the festivities this year will be rather different, what with Covid-19 still looming and safe distancing measures still in place. As we usher in the Year of the Ox, let us be thankful for our loved ones and show our love and appreciation. And what better way to do so than over a hearty meal?
As Singapore enters Phase Three of reopening of the economy, things are looking up for the city state. Now, we’re able to dine out in groups of eight. But restaurants are still not operating at full capacity, so make sure to call ahead and place reservations for your reunion meals.
Here are some restaurants that Options has shortlisted for this year.
Yàn
#05-02 National Gallery Singapore
1 St Andrew’s Road
Start the new year by tossing to new heights with Yàn’s elegant Abalone & Yellowtail with Gold Foil Lo Hei in “Shun De” Style (main image) ($92++), available a la carte or as part of the eightcourse Chinese New Year set menu ($228++ per person).
Prepared in Yàn’s signature savoury Shunde-style, the lou hei features a mountain of crispy vermicelli that alludes to soaring achievements and success ahead. The lofty centrepiece is then surrounded by a stunning ring of vibrant vegetables and sesame seeds, and adorned with gold flakes. Opt for the set menu and follow up your lou hei with several dishes featuring premium ingredients, such as the Double-boiled Fish Maw, Chicken with Cordyceps Flower, Signature Roast Crispy Suckling Pig, Wok-fried Local Lobster with Superior Sauce and Shrimp Egg and Ee Fu Noodles, and more.
The Capitol Kempinski Hotel
15 Stamford Road
Be spoilt for choice at Capitol Kempinski’s range of Chinese New Year set menus across all its dining establishments. Be adventurous and try out 15 Stamford by Alvin Leung’s Six-Course Prosperity Chinese New Year Set Dinner ($168++ per person) that comes brimming with both classic and modern takes on the traditional Chinese New Year dinner. It features dishes, such as Australian Abalone, Guinea Fowl with foie gras foam and five spice jus, Wagyu Beef Cheeks, Atlantic Cod; and Chrysanthemum Mousse for dessert. For those looking for something contemporary, there is Berthold Delikatessen and its egg-and-ebiko mayo-laden Bak Kwa Bagel ($8.80) and decadent Bak Kwa Dark Chocolate Mousse Cake ($88++). Don’t forget to also try out the festive treats from Frieda Restaurant, La Scala Ristorante and Broadway American Diner.
YUN NANS
#02-217 Jewel Changi Airport
#03-07 Westgate
#B1-15 Nex
Here in Singapore, hot pot is a common reunion dinner meal as it gives time for conversations to happen around the table as the food cooks. This Lunar New Year, up your hot pot game with YUN NANS Prosperity Treasure Hot Pot ($288++ for 4 to 6 pax; $438++ for 8 to10 pax). The golden broth for the hot pot is painstakingly brewed for six hours and includes a medley of high-grade ingredients, such as jinhua ham, old hens, chicken feet, pork bones, lean pork, pork trotters, dried scallops and wild morel. Before you start your meal, toss up to a prosperous new year with YU NANS Yusheng, featuring succulent whole abalones (from $58.80++).
Si Chuan Dou Hua
#60-01 UOB Plaza
Parkroyal on Beach Road
Parkroyal on Kitchener Road
This year marks a proud milestone for Si Chuan Dou Hua Restaurant at Parkroyal on Kitchener Road as it reveals the first grand makeover since its establishment in 2011. And to usher in a new year, along with a fresh look, Executive Cantonese Master Chef Leung Wing Chung has created an array of exquisite culinary treasures to partake in your celebrations. From just $88 onwards per person, enjoy Si Chuan Dou Hua’s set menu featuring specials such as the Exotic Garden with Black Truffle in Osmanthus Sauce and the Crispy Brown Rice with Two-Head Abalone in Superior Stock. Before digging into the feast, toss to prosperity with exclusive yusheng offered at each outlet: Prosperity Pufferfish Yusheng with Bitter Gourd and Fresh Greens ($198 at the UOB Plaza outlet), Prosperity Beef Tongue Yusheng ($98 at Parkroyal on Beach Road) and Prosperity Exotic Garden with Bolete Mushroom in Homemade Bolete Mushroom and Osmanthus Sauce ($98 at Parkroyal on Kitchener Road).
Jumbo Seafood
#01-07/08 East Cost Food Centre
#01-01/02 Riverside Point #B1-46/47/48 The Riverwalk
#01-16 Dempsey Hill
#04-09/10 ION Orchard
#03-202/203/204 Jewel Changi Airport
The Lunar New Year is not complete without a steaming bowl of luxurious premium ingredients. Jumbo Seafood’s Festive “Pen Cai” (from $288) features the best of the best ingredients slow-braised to perfection in a large pot. Expect goodies such as 10-head abalone, fish maw, sea cucumber, live prawns, fresh scallops, conpoy, premium shiitake mushrooms, fatt choy and roasted duck cooked in superior broth and combined with sweet tianjin cabbage. Don’t forget to preorder this at least one day in advance as it requires intricate preparation. Also, available only on Feb 11, or Lunar New Year’s eve, the Reunion Sets are available for dine-in and takeaway (from $298 for four pax), They include festive staples such as Prosperity Salmon Yusheng, Live “Soon Hock” (Marble Goby) Steamed with Soya, 5-Head Abalone and Shiitake Mushroom Braised with Spinach and “Fa Cai” in Oyster Sauce and more.
Tablescape
Level 3, Grand Park City Hall
Tablescape’s luxe and modern Foie Gras Yu Sheng (from $88++) is back by popular demand. Featuring housemade foie gras terrine accompanied by crispy fish skin and yuzu peel, it comes with daikon, cucumber, pickled red yams, wakame, pomelo, ginger, carrots, roasted sunflower seeds and golden crackers. This is then tossed together with a fruity sauce comprising apple, passionfruit, plum and sesame to bring that sweet-sour complexity to the platter. For the purists, fret not, Tablescape also serves its traditional Prosperity Yu Sheng Platter (from $88++).
Yusheng aside, take a break from visiting this Lunar New Year and enjoy an Afternoon Tea Set ($58++ for 2 pax) from Tablescape, featuring festive treats such as the Mandarin Almond Cake and the Sable Breton, Foie Gras and Mandarin Orange Compote.
Yi by Jereme Leung
Raffles Hotel Singapore
There is a reason why Yi is considered one of the best modern Chinese cuisine restaurants in the country, and their Lunar New Year offering is a testament to that accolade. Celebrity masterchef Jereme Leung dazzles with three different set menus for the upcoming Chinese New Year: Prosperous ($168++ per pax), Abundance ($188++ per pax) and Opulence ($208++ per pax). Savour amazing dishes such as the “Buddha Jumps Over the Wall” and Baked Lobster with XO Sauce and Cheese, Steamed Cod Fillet with Fermented Black Bean and Olives, Slow Cooked Sweet and Sour Pork Ribs; and not forgetting Chef Leung’s Prosperity Yusheng, dressed with a Yunnan rose speciality sauce.
Mandarin Orchard Singapore
333 Orchard Road
Pamper yourself and your loved ones with a sumptuous spread of Lunar New Year specialties at two Michelin-star Shisen Hanten by Chen Kentaro in Mandarin Orchard. Choose from any bespoke, auspiciously themed menu ranging from the eightcourse Prosperity menu ($138++ per person) to the nine-course Majestic menu ($298++ per person). Some notable highlights featured in the set menus include Braised Bird’s Nest with Crab Meat and Crab Roe in Superior Broth, Barbecued Boneless Suckling Pig and Sautéed Half-Lobster in Yuzu Butter Sauce.
Meanwhile, Mandarin Orchard’s award-winning, Japanese-inspired Triple Three is also presenting an extensive selection of festive specials such as Braised Mini Abalone, Fish Maw, and Sea Cucumber; Wok-fried Slipper Lobster in Fragrant Spicy and Sweet Sauce; and Glutinous Rice wrapped in Lotus Leaf.
