Hainanese Chicken
QUITE a number of Filipinos have Chinese ancestry. But Chinese-Filipino or not, Chinese influences on Filipino culture is evident, and so we partake in the celebration of the Chinese New Year with auspicious foods and consulting feng shui experts for good luck.
Red lanterns, the dragon and the lion dance, firecrackers, red money envelopes (hong bao), and of course, Chinese food—all these are part of Chinese New Year traditions all over the world.
Also called the Spring Festival, it is the biggest and the most important annual event among the Chinese people when family reunions and big dinners are held.
As the Chinese New Year is another occasion to celebrate, the city’s hotels too are spreading their finest Chinese fare.
Feasts are traditionally opened with a Yee Sang ceremony—a prosperity toss—to bring in good fortune and good health for the coming year.
Let’s welcome the Year of the Red Fire Monkey on Feb. 8. Kung hei fat choi!
MARCO POLO PLAZA CEBU
On Feb 5 to 8, the Culinary Impressions of China will highlight authentic Chinese dishes, assuring guests of an enjoyable dining experience. On top of the Chinese buffet spread, Café Marco continues to offer a variety of local, Asian and Western cuisines from its show kitchens.
On Feb 7, the eve of the Chinese New Year, Marco Polo Plaza will begin the celebration with the annual Yee Sang Tossing Ceremony using the hotel’s giant chopsticks. It is said that the higher you toss it, the better luck you will have.
Peking Duck
Other highlights: a lion and dragon dance, traditional tossing of coins, eye dotting ceremony and a firecrackers display.
Another ceremony will be held in the morning of Feb 8.
For more information, call 253-1111 or email mpplaza@marcopolohotels.com.
QUEST HOTEL AND CONFERENCECENTER-CEBU
Have a taste of Peking duck in authentic hoisin sauce, which is available only on Feb 7 and 8. But the Chinese buffet, on top of the regular buffet, runs from Feb 5 to 10. And because it’s Chinese New Year, there are more dimsum choices. Other favorites include lemon chicken and Patatim.
Lunch buffet is at P599 net per person while dinner buffet is P699 for dinner net per person.
Call 402-5999 or 230-5888 for inquiries or reservations.
RADISSON BLU CEBU
Savor time-honored cuisines with fiery dishes crafted by Chinese Master Chef Aik Liang Tan at Feria as Radisson Blu welcomes the Year of the Fire Monkey.
On Feb. 7 and 8, enjoy a dinner buffet at P1,650 net per person. Usher the auspicious year with a traditional Yu-Sheng toss on Feb. 7.
The extensive Chinese buffet features favorites such as steamed grouper fish with silver golden garlic, steamed chicken with Chinese herb, poached drunken prawn with ginger and black fungus, fried blue crab with coconut cream and fragrant yam rice with dried chicken and Chinese sausage wrapped in lotus leaves. Along with the varied spread is the Chinese noodle station, roasted suckling pig, Peking duck, assorted dim sum, among others.
For inquiries and reservations, call 402-9900 or email reservations.cebu@radisson.com
SHANGRI-LA’S MACTAN RESORT AND SPA
In a feast of traditions, Tea of Spring, the resort’s Chinese restaurant, will be offering an indulgent selection of Chef Bun Boon Hoe’s specialties like the wok-fried skewered prawn with baby abalone and broccoli, and deep-fried boneless chicken stuffed with minced tangigue and almond flakes among others.
The offerings include pears and salmon yee sang and deep-fried tikoy. To complement these culinary delights, Tea of Spring serves frozen Chinese iced tea that comes in two variants, Memories of Spring and Colors of Spring. These specials will be available on Feb 7 and 8.
At Tides Restaurant, a hearty lunch buffet will feature a special Yee Sang station on Feb. 8. At P2,800, the buffet includes free-flowing softdrinks, iced tea, canned juices and local beer.
Also on Feb 8, guests will witness the eye-dotting ceremony as well as the lion and dragon dance and the Yee Sang toss.
For inquiries, call 231-0288 or email fbreservations.mac@shangri-la.com .