With new (or not) restrictions for the upcoming celebrations, we are settling on the one constant that has been with us throughout the pandemic: food.
Whether your approach is more traditional with classic dishes like longevity noodles and dumplings, or more adventurous with creative yu shengs and pastries, it is a bona fide celebration of food in abundance so our list spans three different categories, ranging from family friendly picks, intimate groups, or the one who is always on the go. Here’s to 15 days of extreme feasting, drinking, and laughing towards a better year for all.
FAMILY FRIENDLY
Neo Garden
With one of the most eye-catching yu sheng designs for the auspicious season, Neo Garden’s selection of classic and latest dishes delights with equal attention to detail and proportion. For Chinese New Year, they have launched more than 15 different yu sheng choices, 11 set menus catering all the way to families of 15, and over 50 dishes.
The Golden Tiger Yu Sheng is vibrantly constructed with vegetables and lifted with their house sauces, making it a treat as an appetiser and a highlight for the camera. Highlights that make fantastic reunion dinner additions include the Chicken Katsu with Mantou DIY as crispy chicken patties slathered in their house yuzu mayo and soft steamed buns can never go wrong; the classic Truffle Roast Duck; and the new spicy trio Sambal Abacus Seed of yam, purple sweet potato, and pumpkin—each spoonful introduces these warm pillows coated with the fragrance of hae bee hiam.
When? Now till 20 Feb
Available on their website
Din Tai Fung
What better way to roar into the new year than with Din Tai Fung’s signature Prosperity Smoked Salmon Yu Sheng and a side of xiao long baos?
Two often overlooked factors make their yu sheng stand apart from the rest, with the first being their carefully selected ingredients, from the Norwegian smoked salmon to the in-house signature auspicious plum dressing that is delicately balanced with just the right perfect amount of sweetness. The second? They use Crispy Yam Strips in place of the traditional golden crackers, and these add a nice subtle fragrance to everything. You can also top up for the Fried Salmon Skin for additional crunch or, for those just coming off Veganuary, turn the yu sheng into a vegetarian one, served without pickled scallions and smoked salmon.
When? Now till 15 Feb
Available at their outlets islandwide
YUN NANS
Known for their distinct edge to the usual Chinese fare, YUN NANS add a nutritious twist to the celebrations by spotlighting the delicacies of Yunnan Solo Black Garlic and Hakka Preserved Vegetables.
For those dining in, there are up to 6 different set menus catering for up to families of 8, with 7 to 9 dishes each that range from their classic selection to seasonal exclusives. There is also a special takeaway set designed for 4 to 6 pax, with four highlights from the other sets: the Prosperity Abalone Yu Sheng, Prosperity Treasure Hotpot, Steamed Glutinous Rice, and Traditional Salt baked Chicken. The second is their version of pen cai in a bubbling hot pot, where the usual suspects of pork belly, abalone, mushrooms, yam, and more are cooked in a drinkable golden broth base of Jinhua ham, old hens, carrots, and other porky goodness.
Save room for the Black Garlic Kampong Chicken Soup as each sip is testament to the restaurant’s mastery in teasing out flavours for excellent soups. The fermented black garlic is served as a solo clove for each individual portion and pairs excellent with the light and clear flavours of the kampong chicken, dried scallop, cordyceps flower, and bamboo pith. The other highlight is their Steamed Glutinous Rice as it uses the best Hakka preserved vegetables from Dabu County and balances out the richness of the other accompaniments.
When? Now till 15 Feb
Available at their outlets islandwide
Golden Pillow 933
There is nothing as nostalgic as breaking open the iconic Golden Pillow 633 buns and finding rich, golden curry housed inside the fluffy bread. Fresh from the oven this year, the Golden Dusted Charcoal Pillow Bun with Curry Abalone Chicken is a people-pleaser as it adds five juicy pieces of abalone into the signature gravy. Add on their Prosperity Yuzu Plum Sauce Abalone Yusheng with Curry Pok Chui Biscuit for the full experience—their homemade crackers is only subtly spiced but goes well with their tart yuzu plum sauce.
When? Now till 28 Feb
Available on their website
Springtime Bazaar
Not strictly a restaurant but even better as the Springtime Bazaar by The Refectory and Angliss Marketplace is a week-long event featuring some of the best gourmet products for bountiful and prosperous celebrations ahead.
Designed as a one-stop consumer event for one’s shopping needs throughout the season, expect a wide selection of food, snacks, and beverages that hail from Japan, France, Australia, and more, along with our homegrown brands. Some items we are already adding to our wishlist are the decadent Abundance Pencai from The Refectory, REGALO’s bundles with Sachi Soy wine and Iberico Bak Kwa, and Dessert Story’s Carrot Cake.
When? 23 to 30 Jan
The Refectory, 351 Braddell Rd, #01-01, S579713
WITH A BANG
CÉ LA VI
Usher in the new year with flair over at CÉ LA VI as their exclusive six-course menu is designed for maximum decadence. Each dish is named after auspicious Chinese wishes: the Prosperity calls for abundance with the yu sheng of fresh salmon, honey plum sauce and lotus chips; the Longevity promotes good health with the exquisite Hokkadio Scallop Ceviche & Clam with Baeri Oscietra Caviar, seasoned in yuzu koshu for a nice contrast.
These are followed by Luck, which comes in the form of Coconut Saffron Mussel Cappuccino, Harmony in grilled King Prawns, Wealth captured by tender A5 Kagoshima Wagyu Beef, and Love when the tiger-inspired dessert comes out, made with jasmine tea cremeux, orange pineapple marmalade and biscuit sponge. For extra drama, opt for the extra Black Winter Truffle top up to elevate all the dishes.
When? Now till 6 Feb
Only available for dine-in
1 Bayfront Avenue, Marina Bay Sands, Hotel, Tower 3, S018971
MO Bar
Afternoon teas are underrated as a meal genre so take a moment from the upcoming celebrations to check in with MO Bar’s Oriental Afternoon Tea Experience. Renowned for their unique cocktails, their afternoon tea sets provide the perfect balance of elegance and tranquillity from the wide range of teas, the gorgeous space, and delicious nibbles.
With a mix of local flavours, expect an array of scrumptious bites such as the Crispy Prawn Ball generously coated with cereal egg floss and drizzled with salted egg mayonnaise, along with Mala Toast and creamy chicken mousseline topped with scallions. For a zesty and spicy punch, delight in the Honey-Glazed Chicken Wrap with Asian pickles and sriracha, and aromatic Char Siew Pork on brioche with cucumber and glazed pineapple. Save room for the Mandarin Orange Marmalade with citrus mousse; Ong Lai Crunchy Choux jazzed up with pineapple compote and delectable Bak Kwa Floss Scone as well!
When? Now till 2 Feb
Available for dine-in or takeaway
Mandarin Oriental, 5 Raffles Ave, S039797
15 Stamford by Alvin Leung
If you have been a guest of the stunning Capitol Kempinski Hotel, you would have no doubt dined at 15 Stamford by Alvin Leung and experienced its well-rounded excellence. The restaurant recently launched two exclusive menus: for lunch, the Mandarin Orange Cured Salmon and Bak Kwa Toast set things off on a high, while the mains of Wild Atlantic Sardine with Pat Chun chicory or Braised Angus Beef Neck drives home the message of abundance. There are three more courses for the dinner menu, with treasures like the Alaskan King Crab, Scottish Lobster Dumpling, and a Pandan Nian Gao to wrap things up.
When? Now till 15 Feb
Available for dine-in & takeaway
The Capitol Kempinski Hotel, 15 Stamford Rd, S178906
PATH Restaurant
Modern Asian dining is taken on a meandering journey by Chef Marvas Ng of PATH Restaurant who combines the rich heritage of East Asian cuisine with his French techniques that he has accumulated through his time at Ocean Restaurant in the S.E.A Aquarium and Wah Lok Cantonese Restaurant.
Specialty items on the menu include the Hand-Dived Hokkaido Scallops dished with seaweed truffle sauce, as well as the Chargrilled Giant Spanish Octopus Tentacle which is served with a delightful plum marinated guava sauce. A surprising favourite of ours is the Okinawa Brown Sugar Madeleine “XL” that has a crusty exterior and is presented warmed up fresh out from the oven. The extensive wine list is also worth checking out.
When? The restaurant will be officially launched in the coming weeks, stay tuned for updates here.
12 Marina Boulevard, Tower 3, 01-05/06 Marina Bay Financial Centre, 018982
SIRI HOUSE
In the mood for supper? SIRI HOUSE‘s Supper Club is back at the end of this month, pairing highlights such as Pork Ribeye Katsu Curry Rice and Pan-fried Gyozas with their well-constructed 0% cocktails and more. The lush setting of Dempsey aside, the restaurant is here to make sure you to relax with a range of comfort food and an even more comfortable environment to kick back with drinks. They even have a new selection of sober-curious tipples for those who are looking to outlast everyone else into the new day.
When? 29 Jan, 11.30pm onwards
Available for dine-in only, reservations here
SIRI HOUSE, Blk 8D #01-02 Dempsey Road, Dempsey Hill, S249672
FOR THE GANG
Long Da Ge
Mark the name Long Da Ge because it will soon be as ubiquitous as its founding brand, Golden Moments, is to the local durian season. Taking a different route from the sweet, rich, and pungent delights of the fruit, Long Da Ge introduces a masterful recipe of fire and spice that is dangerously addictive.
The newly launched line of Mala Xiao Long Xia brings together the national love for mala and childhood prawn crackers. The recipe takes a leaf from an authentic Sichuan Mala recipe originating from China in the 19th century, and the tantalising cracker is made with fresh small lobster that accentuates the rich lobster flavour of the classic Singaporean snack. Each bite packs a significant amount of heat but it is certainly tasty with the intricate spices used and the conveniently sized crackers—perfect for film evenings or as alternative door gifts!
When? Now till otherwise specified
Available on their website and FairPrice Finest Exclusive
Jim Beam
Spruce up house parties with your own take on the Highball cocktails by using Jim Beam’s new Highball Home Kit! The versatile drink is a party favourite as it goes with almost everything and the concoction process is even simpler now with all the ingredients bundled together. The kit comes with a bottle of Jim Beam, the classic mug, and soda; for extra love, throw in fresh fruits so that there’s an additional reason to enjoy more drinks throughout the night.
When? Now till otherwise specified
Available on LazMall, Panda Mart, or Cold Storage, NTUC Fairprice & Don Don Donki
Mr Holmes Bakehouse
Mr Holmes Bakehouse, the iconic cruffin makers from San Francisco has recently revamped their menu, which now features the first-ever savoury cruffin and brioche donut, along with three sweet variants. Also in the line-up are a twice-baked croissant, dishes, buns, cookies, muffins, and sandwiches.
The new mainstay of their signature bake is the Sundried Tomato & Bacon Jam cruffin, where bits of gruyere are layered into the dough to achieve crispy cheese skirts after baking. The centre is then filled with a sundried tomato and chive cream cheese filling with bacon jam and drizzled with balsamic glaze. Local fans will be pleased with the Speculoos, Milk Chocolate Earl Grey, and the Mango Chili Lime weekend-exclusive donuts, but for those who prefer it savoury, go for the Everything Donut filled with chive and caper cream cheese and then dressed with Sriracha honey and Everything seasoning.
When? Now till otherwise specified
Available on their website or Pacific Plaza
Love, Afare
There is something immensely satisfying about finding your favourite dishes turned into snacks. Love, Afare does this incredibly well as their new line celebrates the best of JUMBO Seafood’s classic flavours.
Curated for all who love life, food, and the sentiment of sharing goodies with others, there are also premix sauces and condiments, tea, and merchandise under the brand. You’ll be starting a love affair with the snacks: Black Pepper Crab Sticks, perfect for those who love the sauce but not the mess; the Cereal Prawn Chins, which are dangerously easy to eat with the curry leaves; and our favourite, the Baby Squid with Crispy Fried Fritters as they are covered in roasted sesame seeds for the additional crunch.
When? Now till otherwise specified
Available at all JUMBO Seafood, Zui Teochew Cuisine, NG AH SIO Bak Kut Teh restaurants & their website
Monga
Dig into a bowl of Taiwanese braised pork rice (lu rou fan) and it is an explosion of fatty, savoury, hearty goodness each time. Monga is expanding from their excellent fried chicken options and heading into the braised territory this month with five new set options! Choose from a range from sides, such as chicken wings to cutlets, to go with the new Taiwanese Braised Pork Rice and Egg-drop soup. The rice itself is beautifully coated with the tender pork belly pieces, plus generously paired with sour and spicy chilli sauce, onsen egg, crunchy lettuce and housemade preserved vegetables.
When? Now till otherwise specified
Available at JEM, SingPost Centre & ION Orchard
Mrs Pho House
Hot pot remains a popular choice for gatherings as it only gets more creative and convenient each year. Mrs Pho House recently debuted several hotpot and takeaway sets that have bundled the soup bases with ingredients for ease of ordering. The two signature soup bases are the Crab Bisque Soup, made with Chef Linh’s mother’s crab noodle recipe in Saigon from over 30 years ago, and the Pork Collagen Soup, a robust peppery pork broth spiced with the Phu Quoc peppercorn. These sets come with an assortment of ingredients, like seafood, sliced iberico meats, mushrooms, vegetables, and more.
When? Now till 18 Feb
Available on their website
Archisen
With an aim to bring us closer to the 30 by 30 goal, local agritech company Archisen employs a blend of engineering, design and farming to change the way we approach urban farming and local produce.
Their wide range of organic salads and specialty herbs, housed under the brand Just Produce, shows their efforts to transform previously inaccessible produce—for example, mustard greens and ice plant—to something accessible, healthy, and undoubtedly premium. Using highly controlled environments to organically enhance the natural and rich flavours of the plants, they are also able to cater to bold flavour palettes by growing salad leaves bursting with unique flavours such as Wasabi, Lemon and Himalayan Pink Salt.
Experience the full range of their produce with the limited yu sheng, where Just Produce’s vegetables are tossed with the smoked barramundi by Ace Fish Market and other ingredients with the homemade plum sauce by Kian Seng Culinary.
When? Now till 7 Feb
Available on their website
