Auspicious offerings at City of Dreams Manila
City of Dreams Manila rings in the Year of the Wood Dragon, considered the luckiest sign in Chinese Zodiac. The integrated resort’s signature restaurants Crystal Dragon and Red Ginger showcase auspicious offerings to welcome the lunar year.
Enjoy a prosperous meal at Crystal Dragon, which specializes in Cantonese and regional Chinese specialties. From January 25 to February 12, the restaurant highlights its Lunar New Year specialties from lunch to dinner, including the signature Lunar Year Prosperity Abalone Yu Sheng.
Crystal Dragon’s version of the symbolic yu sheng salad consists of sliced abalone, papaya, pomelo, carrots, radish, onion leeks, chopped peanuts, and deep-fried flour crisps drizzled with oil and sweet plum dressing. The abalone symbolizes abundance, while the oil represents a wish for a smooth-sailing year. The chopped peanuts and deep-fried flour crisps signify prosperity, and the sweet plum sauce denotes a sweet and harmonious family relationship. The green papaya carries the auspicious meaning of youthfulness, the radish stands for progression at a quick pace, the leeks for cleverness, and the pomelo and carrots for good luck.
Other culinary delights offered in an a la carte menu for lunch and dinner this season augur harmony and good fortune: Sea Treasures Broth with sea cucumber, crab meat and crispy dried scallop; Slow-braised Pork Knuckle with 10-head abalone, conpoy (dried scallop), and sea cucumber; Steamed Star Grouper with aromatic coriander and yellow chili paste; Slow-Poached Yellow Skin Chicken (whole); Wok-Fried Prawn in fragrant oat with pomelo fruit salad and roasted sesame dressing; and Wok-Fried Fragrant Rice with Chinese liver sausage, lap cheong (Chinese sausage), and mushroom. For luck and togetherness, Crystal Dragon also offers Deep-Fried Nian Gao (tikoy or sticky rice cake) with cheese.
A pineapple pastry caps the meal for guests dining on the eve of the occasion and on the day of Lunar New Year for good fortune.
City of Dreams Manila’s Asian bar and bistro gives a Southeast Asian twist to yu sheng salad with its Prosperity Prawn and Pomelo Salad, featuring sustainable prawns, local pomelo, hydroponic-grown lettuce, and Vietnamese Nước chấm dressing. The restaurant also offers Deep-Fried Whole Tilapia with calamansi, ginger, and steamed bok choy; Crispy Orange Chicken with toasted sesame seeds; and Red Ginger’s rendition of the ubiquitous Nian Gao consisting of custard-filled glutinous rice cake and fish-shaped tikoy. Red Ginger’s menu for the Lunar New Year is available from February 8 to 18 for lunch and dinner.
Other activities that bring good fortune and delight include an eye-dotting ceremony and a lion and dragon dance on February 10, 5 pm, at the main casino entrance. Following Chinese mythology, the god of fortune is set to make appearances around the property to wish guests abundance and good luck. From February 8 to 11, from 1 pm to 10 pm at The Shops at the Boulevard, a pop-up bazaar of jewelry and charms from Alfredulla and Charming Lady adds to the festivities, while tarot and palm readers hold court to help guests find out what’s in store for 2024.
For inquiries and reservations, call tel. no. 8800-8080 or e-mail guestservices@cod-manila.com. For more information, visit www.cityofdreamsmanila.com.
New Year celebration at Edsa Shangri-La, Manila
As the Year of the Wood Dragon approaches, Summer Palace offers an array of signature dishes to elevate the spirit at Edsa Shangri-La, Manila.
With Chefs Andy Liew and Boonhoe Bun at the helm, guests can choose from the rich selection of culinary options: Wealth Set Menu at P25,388 net per table of 10, Prosperity Set Menu at P27,688 net per table of 10, and Longevity Menu at P38,888 net per table of 10, available from January 15 to February 12, 2024. Savor sumptuous dishes such as Braised Supreme Seafood Soup and Pan-fried Codfish Fillet in Apple Fruit Sauce.
Welcome the Year of the Wood Dragon with the special Summer Palace Nian Gao collection,
available at the restaurant on the mezzanine floor or at the Lunar New Year counter in the hotel lobby from January 16 to February 25. You may also shop now via our Shangri-La eBoutique through https://bit.ly/esllunarnewyeartreats.
These indulgent offerings from The Bakeshop bring abundance and good fortune to your festivities.
For inquiries, visit the Lunar New Year counter at the main lobby of Edsa Shangri-La, Manila; call tel. no. 8633-8888 local 8803, or e-mail restaurantrsvns.esl@shangri-la.com.
Visit www.shangri-la.com/manila/edsashangrila or like and follow us on their social media pages facebook.com/edsashangrila and @edsashangrila on Instagram.
A grand start for the Lunar New Year at Grand Hyatt Manila
Grand Hyatt Manila invites guests to partake of the grandeur of the Year of the Wood Dragon with a delightful array of offers, experiences, and gifts for this auspicious time.
Immerse in an exceptional Chinese feast curated by Chinese master chefs. The celebration will feature a live cooking show, a prosperity toss, and a lion dance performance. A Chinese New Year set menu starts at P26,888 net for six persons.
The Grand Kitchen prepares a Chinese New Year buffet to indulge in at P3,400 net per person for dinner on 9 February, and lunch and dinner on 10 February. A grand Filipino-inspired afternoon tea gets some Chinese flair at the Merienda Cena for P2,200 net per person, inclusive of free-flowing food and rosé wine. Toast to prosperity and abundance with No. 8 China House’s special set menus beginning at P24,880 net for a table of six.
Share the gift of good fortune with a Chinese New Year specialty cake and signature Nian Gao in traditional brown sugar and the new flavor, osmanthus, which come in exquisite gift boxes. These sweet confections start at P1,788 net, available in Florentine and through Dine at Home from 15 January to 10 February 2024.
For inquiries and reservations, call tel. no. 8838 1234 or email manila.grand@hyatt.com. Follow Grand Hyatt Manila on Instagram @grandhyattmanilaph and on Facebook, www.facebook.com/GrandHyattManilaPh.
Here’s to prosperity at Marco Polo Ortigas Manila
Marco Polo Ortigas Manila prepares a magnificent welcome for the year of the Wood Dragon. Renowned Chinese Executive Chef Waai Hoi Yeung prepares well-loved dishes at award-winning Cantonese restaurant Lung Hin for the Lunar New Year from February 5 to 11. Featured are eight curated a la carte selections with nine flavorful courses in one set menu.
Attract luck with the yu sheng of buttery abalone, fresh salmon, and jelly fish tossed in decadent plum sauce. Fork-tender braised pork knuckle and sea moss with garden greens complement the savory fried rice of taro and Chinese sausage, while the wok-fried prawn and sea conch married in XO sauce bring harmony to every plate.
Whether at a table for five or 10, enjoy the live annual Feng Shui forecast of Master Chau Kam Shing over a grand luncheon on Saturday, February 10. Celebrate with Lung Hin’s signature Nian Gao, available in Double Gold Bars, Double Flavored Muscovado Red Dates, Ginger and Osmanthus Water Chestnut, Muscovado Red Dates, Ginger Round, and Osmanthus Water Chestnut Round, finely packaged in decorative gift boxes.
For information and reservations, call tel. no. 7720-7777 or email lunghin.mnl@marcopolohotels.com. Follow Marco Polo Ortigas Manila on Facebook, Instagram, and LinkedIn.
Celebrate the Year of the Dragon with a roar at The Peninsula Manila
Embrace the spirit of the Chinese Lunar New Year at The Peninsula Manila from February 7 to 14, 2024. Celebrate together with friends and family at The Lobby, Escolta, and The Peninsula Boutique to usher in the Year of the Dragon.
On February 10, the traditional Peninsula Lion and Dragon Dance will take center stage at the porte-cochère and The Lobby from 9:08 to 11 am. This lively performance, open to the public, is believed to dispel evil spirits and usher in luck
The Peninsula Boutique unveils a limited-edition line of edible fine chocolate trees as auspicious gifts for family and friends. Pastry Chef Annalyn Solano and her team have created a Mandarin Orange Tree filled with an intense mandarin-flavored ganache, and a Golden Fortune Money Tree with gold-dusted coins made of dark chocolate. Large trees are available at The Peninsula Boutique for P3,888, while small trees are P2,888 (inclusive of taxes). Also available are mandarin orange, green tea and lemon, mango jasmine, rum, and strawberry Chinese New Year chocolate pralines for P88 each (inclusive of taxes).
A big and delicious platter will be waiting on The Lobby’s dining tables on February 9 and 10 for guests to welcome the Year of the Dragon with a lo hei ritual. First to be tossed into the platter are slices of smoked salmon, with everyone cheering nin nin yau yu (“Let there be abundance every year”). Then the carrots go in, followed by a roar of hong wen dong tau (“good luck”). Then everyone puts in their chopsticks and mixes the ingredients together, tossing them as high as they can. This goes on as various components of the traditional Chinese New Year lo hei or prosperity toss are thrown in, and the higher they are mixed and lifted, the more good luck there will be in the new year.
The Peninsula Chinese New Year lo hei is available for lunch and dinner at The Lobby on February 9 and 10 for P 5,888 (exclusive of taxes).
Meanwhile, on Feb. 10, Escolta will be open for lunch at P 2,600 (adults) and P1,300 (children 6 to 12 years old) and dinner at P 3,000 (adults) and P 1,500 (children 6 to 12 years old).
For inquiries or more information, call The Peninsula Manila at tel. no. 8887 2888 ext. 6694 (Restaurant Reservations), email diningPMN@peninsula.com, or visit peninsula.com.
Swarovski launches new collections for the Year of the Dragon
In celebration of the Year of the Dragon, Swarovski launches new collections with colorful glittering Swarovski Crystal for a prosperous and colorful new year.
The Zodiac Dragon Collection brings joy with the dynamic mini dragon and the fortune and prosperity lucky coins. Sparkling Swarovski Crystals are delicately set to create eye-catching necklaces, earrings, and bracelets. The lucky coin and white Crystal Pearls symbolize long-lasting luck and fulfillment, while asymmetrical earrings express delight in the spirit of the season. The gold-tone plating and colorful crystal are designed to make the dragon look alive.
Swarovski’s Crystal Rock Oval watch features a special design with a brilliant red color palette, signifying well-being and good fortune.
The playful dragon figurine and ornament are crafted from auspicious colors of red and yellow, and the cute Pixiu holding a coin represents the joy and wealth of the new year. The delicate facets of the crystals sparkle, and the soaring golden dragon with a red bead in its mouth is a symbol of power, glory, and good fortune.
The Year of the Dragon jewelry and home collections are now available in selected Swarovski offline and online stores. In the Philippines, Swarovski is available at Rustan’s Alabang, Rustan’s Makati, Rustan’s Shangri-La, and Rustan’s Ayala Cebu. Swarovski is also available through boutiques owned and operated by Stores Specialists, Inc. located at Alabang Town Center, Glorietta, Newport Mall, TriNoma Mall, Power Plant Mall, and SM Mall of Asia.
Follow @ssilifeph and @rustansph on Instagram for more information.
