Since young, I have been looking forward to Chinese New Year as it is the time to gather with friends and family. As a kid, I was looking forward to receiving Ang Bao and eating all the new year goodies, but as I grow up, I look forward to the interesting sweets, snacks and cocktails that are only offered during this joyous festive period. Here are a list of sweets, snacks, cocktails as well as gifting ideas that you should check it out.
If you are into desserts but would want to enjoy a good variety of Lunar New Year items as well as International spread, Sky22 at Courtyard by Marriott Singapore Novena is where you should be. A beautifully crafted dessert collection by Courtyard by Marriott Singapore Novena’s pastry chef, AC Lee who has graduated from Le Cordon Bleu London, will be available on a rotating basis from from January 12 to February 9, 2020 on the buffet line. Unlike many other desserts on the buffetline, a lot of thinking have gone into every dessert. Some of my fav include the Green Tea Sake Tiramisu which is so light yet you can taste the slight bitterness from green tea which is just nice and not overwhelming and the Yuzu and Cream, a well balanced and refreshing Yuzu curd with light mousse and white chocolate pearls. Oh yes, don’t miss the Pu-erh and Chrysanthemum Cream Brulee with Tea crumble as well as Yuzu Rum Chocolate Crunch Cake too. The Harmony Semi-buffet will be from $28 while the Prosperity Weekend Buffet will be at $68 per pax. You can also opt to toss the Luck Crispy Soft Shell Crab Nyonya Lo Hei at $8 per person when you dine in for the Prosperity Weekend Buffet.
Courtyard by Marriott Singapore Novena
99 Irrawaddy Road Singapore 329568
Tel: +65 6378 2040
Email: fnb.courtyardsg@marriott.com
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If you think that only the western desserts can be pretty and yummy, check out the dessserts on Crystal Jade’s set menus which are starting at $8 onwards with minimum two to dine. Oh yes, vegetarian set menu is also available. One of the desserts that one can find in selected set menus is the Crispy Brown Sugar and Coconut Glutinous Rice Cake ‘nian gao’ (脆皮鸳鸯年糕), an inventive sweet with alternating coconut and brown sugar glutinous rice cake layers wrapped in spring roll skin dotted with black and white sesame seeds.
Crystal Jade
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Jade at Fullerton Hotel is one of the few Chinese restaurants that I would bring my folks to as my parents really enjoy the food served here. Ushering into the year of Rat, Chef Leong has created the housemade pineapple cookies in the shape of the Zodiac animal. Not only is it cute to look at, it is buttery and has a good balance of both pastry and jam. You can get it at $8 for
a pair if you are dining in or get a box of 9 at $38.
The Fullerton Hotel
1 Fullerton Square Singapore 049178
Tel: +65 6877 8911/8912
Email: dining-rsvp@fullertonhotels.com
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Walking into Madame Fan is like taking a walk back to the old Shanghai with live band singing and vintage furniture, elegant yet exuding a nostalgic vibes. Needless to say, dining at Madame Fan is a pure gastronomical experience with authentic, classic Cantonese cuisine executed with a modern touch. Starting from $138 per person with minimal 2 persons to dine in, Madame Fan offers 3 exquisite Lunar New Year set menus. However, if you are willing to spurge, do not miss the Lucky Fortune (凤來吉祥) from the $188/ pax menu which is actually a pineapple white chocolate mousse dessert. Not only is it pretty, it is not overwhelmingly sweet and has a molten pineapple innard with a lovely coconut aroma. This is definitely a beautiful way to wrap up the luxurious cny meal on an auspicious note to welcome a year of prosperity ahead. Oh yes, not to forget Madame Fan’s signature Yu Sheng which is available in two flavours – Prosperity Salmon Yu Sheng (Regular $88++, Large $128++) and Abundant Eight Treasures Yu Sheng ($208++ each), that are available for dine-in only. The addition of the crispy silver fish, mandarin orange peel as well as the green mango give the yusheng different layers of taste and texture. If you ask me, this is one of my top 5 fav yusheng for cny 2020.
Madame Fan
Level 2 The NCO Club, 32 Beach Road, Singapore 189764
Tel: +65 6818 1921
Email: dining.reservations@theNCOclub.com
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When it comes to durian desserts, Goodwood Park Hotel is always the first one that comes to my mind. But do you know that Goodwood Park Hotel has so much more to offer? Besides the Duo of Prosperity Fish (Mango with Pomelo & Sago and Durian Pudding, $128 nett), one can also order the Prosperity Marble Cake, Spring Blossom Cake, Gula Melaka Festive Cookies or even the Chiku Chips (Arrowhead) from the Deli. Best of all, there is a 15% off takeways for Chinese New Year takeaways from now to 3 Feb 2020.
Goodwood Park Hotel
22 Scotts Road, Singapore 228221
Tel: +65 6730 1786
Email: deli@goodwoodparkhotel.com
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They said that what you eat during Chinese New Year determines how the year will be. So if you have such a belief too, do check out the Steamed Custard Bun with Sweet Corn (3 pieces, $9) at Shang Palace with a very propitious name in Chinese 财源滚滚 which literally means wealth pouring in from everywhere. Besides ala carte menu, Lunar New Year Set Menus are also available from 2 January 2020 to 8 February 2020, from $168++ per person.
Shang Palace
22 Orange Grove Rd, Singapore 258350
Tel: +65 6213 4398
Email: dinng.sls@shangri-la.com
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There are a few Chinese restaurants that I really like and one of them is Yan at National Gallery. On top of the Hot Purple Sweet Potato Cream with Bird’s Nest, Ginkgo and Mini Glutinous Rice Balls and Pan-fried Nian Gao, Yan has also introduced a good selection of items for takeaways which includes Pineapple Tarts, Almond Sugee Cookies, Caramelised Walnuts and even the XO sauce. As they are made with no preservatives, I am very sure that your health conscious relatives would be pleased to reach out for a second serving.
Yan
1 St. Andrew’s Road #05-02 National Gallery Singapore 178957
Tel: +65 6384 5585
Email: reserve@yan.com.sg
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If you are one person who likes variety when it comes to food, perhaps Pattiserie G is where you should should for your CNY cookies. Besides having Red dates cookies, egg yolk cookies, truffle cheese cookies and salted egg yolk pineapple cookies, I think the best part is the price tag is only $12 per bottle. Although they are in small containers, I think it is good to keep smaller quantity but with more selections so that both you and the guests can enjoy many different cny goodies without spending a lot of money.
Pattiserie G
9 Raffles Boulevard, #01-40 Millenia Walk, Singapore 039596
Tel: +65 6338 7578
6A Shenton Way, #01-30/34 Downtown Gallery, Singapore 068815
Tel: +65 6222 0390
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Ushering into the year of Rat, Proofer Boulangerie has also introduced 2 Pizzas, Let’s Bakkwa (Zhao Cai Jin Bao) and Bring You Prosperity (Cai Yuan Gun Gun) which will be available til 31st January 2020 at $14.90 each. While the Let’s Bakkwa pizza is peppered with chicken ham, shredded chicken, chicken bakkwa, capsicum, pineapple, and topped with creamy, milky cheese, roasted sesame sauce and chicken floss, the Bring Yu Prosperity pizza features flecks of tuna, kanifumi (crabstick meat), onions , capsicum, and infused with the same creamy cheese and fresh tomato sauce. Other than that, Proofer Boulangerie has also launched 4 CNY buns which you can purchase at $2 each or 4 buns at $6.
Proofer Boulangerie
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When I first heard of Niao Gao tart a couple of years back, I was like ‘what!?’. But I never regret having any of these. With different layer of textures from the pastry and the niao gao (rice cake), can I just say that it was a brilliant creation. Fast forward, Marriott Tang Plaza Hotel has launched 4 different niao gao tart flavours! Yam, Green Tea, Cempedaka and the latest red dates ones to woo different individuals. Among them, yam and red dates are my favourites. They are like egg tarts but slightly more chewy (in a good way) and packed with flavours which are not too sweet and dainty enough for one to finish one by yourself. Garnished with some gold leaves, I thought they are presentable to be a CNY gift too. Do note that a minimum of 3-day advance order is required.
Marriott Tang Plaza Hotel
320 Orchard Road Singapore 238865
Tel: +65 6831 4708
Email: singaporemarriott.festive@marriott.com
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Pineapple tarts symbolise wealth and prosperity. Hence, during Chinese New Year, Pineapple Tarts is almost an ubiquitous cny goodies that you can find in every Chinese household as everyone would wish to have the year ahead to be filled with good luck and success. If you are looking at doing some CNY gifting, the pineapple tarts from Four Season Hotel can be one of the option as the golden golf ball sized tarts come with a beautiful golden box which look really good as a gift. Best of all, from now till 22 January 2020, you can also enjoy 10% off festive takeaways at Four Season Hotel if you pay with HSBC, Citibank, BOC, UOB or Maybank cards.
Four Seasons Hotel Singapore
190 Orchard Boulevard Singapore 248646
Tel: +65 67341110
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What!? PAUL Bakery has launched CNY limited edition Mandarin Orange Butter Cake ($10.80)! Yes, to celebrate Chinese New Year, this limited edition Mandarin Orange Butter Cake will be available from now till 25th Jan 2020. If fruit cake is a Christmas representation, this is like a rendition for Chinese New Year, moist, buttery, rich and with bits of mandarin orange. You will also receive a Limited edition Ang Pow Set with a minimum spending of S$80 in a single receipt from now to to 23 Jan 2020 (whilst stocks last).
PAUL Bakery
Tel: +65 6836 1914
Email: catering@paul-singapore.com
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To be honest, I am a huge huge fan of Mdm Ling Bakery’s cookies. I like how the cookies are so buttery and some of them literally melt in the mouth. Hence, I have actually bought quite a lot as CNY gifts to my fellow foodie friends. Best of all, some of Mdm Ling Bakery’s cookies are halal certified so our muslim friends can enjoy the Chinese New Year goodies from Mdm Ling Bakery too. You can either get your hands on them online or at Takashimaya B2 Atrium Booth A7.
Mdm Ling Bakery
Tel: +65 8468 0201
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What used to be a snack to have while watching movie in the cinema has evolved to something that we have on a day to day basis. But made MyEureka Popcorn so special is that they use Mushroom Popcorn instead of Butterfly Popcorn. Mushroom popcorn is ball-shaped and bigger which made it more ideal to have it with coating which is why MyEureka Popcorn is so addictive. With more than 20 different flavours to choose from, sometimes it can be hard to make a choice on what to get. This Chinese New Year, MyEureka Popcorn has launched a special limited-edition gift box featuring their 10 best-selling flavours (BBQ, cheese, caramel, dark chocolate, original, sour cream and onion, seaweed, tomato and white chocolate) in 35g can packaging! Priced at $30, I think it is a great gift if you are looking at letting your friends or guests to try the different flavours.
MyEureka Popcorn
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From the same people behind Ah Tan Wings which is famed as one of the best chicken wing in Singapore, Cereal Prawn Potato Chips is first introduced under Wok Wok after after numerous R&D. Following the success of the Cereal Prawn Potato Chips which are highly irresistable, Wok Wok has launched a new flavour this CNY, the new Truffle Seaweed Chips. Made using Black Italian Truffle from France and Seaweed from Japan on crinkle-cut chips, Wok Wok’s new snack is retailing at etailing at 3 packets for $27. Perhaps, it is time to try something new?
Wok Wok
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There is no doubt about it that Chilli Crab is a national favourite dish. This Chinese New Year, the popular PRETZ X JUMBO Seafood Singapore Chilli Crab biscuit sticks that was previously sold out, will re-hit the shelves on 21 January 2020 at most JUMBO Group of Restaurants’ brands and outlets including JUMBO Seafood, NG AH SIO Bak Kut Teh, Zui Teochew Cuisine, and Singapore Seafood Republic.
JUMBO Seafood
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Living in a country with tropical climate, I like to have ice cream every once in a while. This Chinese New Year, if there is one ice cream you must try, it got to be the BAK KWA ice cream from Fatcat.
This is a special collaboration with Bee Cheng Hiang where one would find best of the both world, ice cream and bak kwa. Yes, some of you must be wondering, nice meh. I kid you not, it is REALLY good, sweet yet savoury with generous bak kwa bits. So much so I don’t want to share. Available in pints, the Bak Kwa ice cream is going at $20 per pint and $58 for 3 pints. I would strongly suggest you to pre-order to avoid disappointment.
FatCat
Blk 416 Bedok North Avenue 2 #01-25 Singapore 460416
Tel: +65 6241 0830
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With Chinese New Year around the corner, 7-Eleven has also rolled out a new range of ready-to-eat Chinese New Year onigiris which are inspired by steamboat and the auspicious yusheng. The 3 new flavours, the Prosperous Grilled Mentaiko Salmon Onigiri, the Fortune XO Fried Rice Onigiri and the Abundance Wasabi Tako Onigiri will be available at $2.50 for one and $4.50 for two in selected 7-Eleven stores till 29 Feb 2020 or while stocks last.
7-Eleven
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Selling only during the Chinese New Year season, Yang Yang cookies are made from family recipes that are passed down for more than 50 years with no preservatives added. So if you are looking at sampling the cookies instead of purchasing online, you can head down to Suntec City’s east atrium (between Towers 3 and 4, level 1) or VivoCity’s ground floor atrium from now to 23 January 2020 to try the cookies before getting your hands on them. There are also gift sets available from $88 if you are looking at getting something for your business associates.
Yang Yang
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As someone who loves dim sum, I was elated when I get to know about SMH Food dim sum cos I can have dim sum any time at the convenience of my house. The prepacked dim sum from SMH can be found in Fairprice and I really like their Chilli Crab Paus and the Loh Mai Kai with purple rice. This CNY, SMH has introduced the SMH Celebrations Pack with different items that includes a 8 Treasures Lotus Leaf Rice (with Purple Rice) that can feed up to 4 pax. Although it is priced at $38.80, the dim sum is worth $60. It also come with complimentary SMH limited additional 2020 calendar and red packets! You can order online if you are looking at having a dim sum party and if you spend above $100, you get to enjoy free delivery.
SMH Food
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To be honest, with Fairprice located near home, it is one of the supermarket that I frequent the most. This CNY, I have decided to make my own Peng Cai and I managed to get Golden Chef Royal Abalone Treasure Pot (1.8kg, $99) which comes with a free HappyCall 24cm Brillo Pure Ceramic Stockpot. After adding in my own fish slices, prawns, wongbok and raddish, I think it was quite legit and can easily passed off as one from the restaurant.
Fairprice
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Since young, I looked forward to Chinese New Year as it was the only time that I get to drink the carbonated drinks from F&N (Fraser and Neave, Limited). This year, F&N has introduced the limited edition 五福临门 (Wu Fu Lin Men, the arrival of the Five Abundances) festive Variety Pack in the form of five all-time favourite flavours from the Sparkling Drinks range – Outrageous Orange, Groovy Grape, Cheeky Cherryade, Cool Ice Cream Soda, and Sarsi at a recommended selling price of $12.95 at all leading supermarkets, hypermarkets and convenience stores. Time to rekindle some childhood happiness.
F&N (Fraser and Neave, Limited)
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With Chinese New Year coming, Carlsberg is also running a string of promotions from now to 8 February 2020 which include instant cash redemption of $138 for collecting 58 tabs with ‘SG’ on Carlsberg Red Tabs to top collector of Carlsberg Red Tabs to win $6888 as well as redemption of exclusive Carlsberg luggage with minimum purchase of 96 cans (4 cartons of 24 cans) of Carlsberg Pilsner or Smooth Draught.
Carlsberg
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For those who are into wines, why not try pairing Wolf Blass wines with steamboat or even our Chinese New Year Cookies. You can now purchase the wines on RedMart, Cold Storage and Fairprice.
Wolf Blass wines
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Living in Singapore is actually one of the biggest blessing in my life cos Singapore is one of the country in Asia that is packed with talented bartenders. This Chinese New Year, Alkaff Mansion has introduced 1 mocktail and 1 cocktail so that your friend who is driving can enjoy the night with you too. The Orange Oasis mocktail ($8) is made with clementine juice, strawberry syrup, lime and sparkling water while the zingy Orange Blossom cocktail ($16) is concocted with vodka, orange liqueur, lemon and mandarin juice. Who says mandarins are only meant to be used to greet elders during visits?
The Alkaff Mansion
10 Telok Blangah Green, Singapore 109178
Tel: +65 8123 8484 [TXA]|+65 8126 8844 [UNA] | +65 8126 8484 [Wildseed]
Email: enquiry@thealkaffmansion.sg
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If you are along Orchard Road and looking to get a drink, Bar Intermezzo at Orchard Hotel has also launched the Golden Orange Mojito ($18) and the Hong Bao Mocktail ($12). The Golden Orange Mojito is cocncocted with white rum, spearmint, calamansi juice, sugar syrup and dash of aromotic bitters. While it taste really refreshing, beware, it can be a relatively potent drink too. The Hong Bao Mocktail on the other hand is made with Dragonfruit, strawberry, passionfruit puree, raspberry and red currant preserve and pu er tea so it is quite a good thirst-quencher.
Bar Intermezzo
442 Orchard Road Singapore 238879 Singapore
Tel:+65 6739 6577
Email: fnbreservation.ohs@millenniumhotels.com
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Located at Suntec City, Fat Chap has also launched 2 cocktails and 1 mocktails. The Golden dream is made of Cointreau, Galliano, orange juice and cream while the Sake blossom is Gin based with Yuzu Sake foam, egg white and sugar, vanilla de Madagascar, lime juice and garnish with orange bitter. As a gin lover, I like the Sake blossom better as it is refreshing with a subtle vanilla note at the end. For the mocktail, Agave Lemon, uses agave syrup with a squeeze of lemon, top up with bitter lemon.
Fat Chap
Suntec City East Wing, 3 Temasek Boulevard #01-643 Singapore 038983
Tel: +65 6836 5994
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The number 8 has a very special meaning to Chinese. It sounded like ‘發’ which means prosperity. Hence, it is deemed as a lucky number. So if you want to have a lucky cocktail this Chinese New Year, it is time to make your way down to Mitzo to enjoy the #888 cocktail ($18) from now to 8 February 2020. It is a mix of Milagro Tequila, Campari and sweet vermouth that has been infused with longan and red dates, orange flower water, goji berry syrup and lemon juice before being topped with ginger beer. SO let’s drink to a huat huat year ahead!
Mitzo
Grand Park Orchard, Level 4 270 Orchard Road Singapore 238857
Tel: +65 6603 8855
Email: rsvn@mitzo.sg
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