MANILA, Philippines -Dishes symbolic of wealth, good fortune and family unity are prepared in millions of homes and hotels around the world to usher in the Chinese New Year.
Seafood items such as shrimp, abalone and fish play a big role in festive celebrations. In the Chinese language, the words “fish†and “profit†are homophonic (they sound the same) to each other, and so eating steamed fish during Chinese New Year means more profit for the coming year.
A chicken dish is likewise important as eating chicken symbolizes prosperity and completeness. Also considered lucky are dishes that are golden or reddish in color. Though not considered healthy, deep-frying symbolizes gold among the Chinese and serving a golden, deep-fried dish represents abundance in wealth.
At Manila Hotel’s Mabuhay Palace, executive chef Sun Bing and sous chef Joy Candelaria have created a 10-course meal that exemplifies the best of Chinese cultural and culinary traditions.
We started off with the ceremonial tossing of the Yu Sheng Prosperity Salad. Once the base ingredients — shredded vegetables like cabbage, turnip, carrots, red bell pepper — are served we were encouraged by Candelaria to mix the fish (salmon) and sauces while saying auspicious wishes. We then tossed the shredded ingredients into the air with chopsticks.
“The height of the toss reflects the height of the diner’s growth in fortunes,†explains Candelaria.
The salad is followed by the Seafood Supreme Broth with Dry Scallop and Crabmeat. The soup not only bursts with flavors but meanings as well. Scallops are symbolic of new opportunities for the coming year.
Happiness is what the Sauteed Fresh Scallops with Crisp Honey Walnuts represents; while the Deep-fried Shrimp Balls with Glazed Almonds equates to good fortune.
The Fatt Choy Assorted Seafood Hot Pot tops the menu. The fresh scallops, fish, prawns and whole abalone are smothered with black hair moss, which provided texture and thickness to the broth.
“The dish required hours of simmering to tenderize the whole fresh abalone, which by the way, represents good fortune,†notes sous chef Candelaria. There’s also steamed live flambeed garoupa with Chinese rose wine.
Rice is served at the end of the meal to signify fertility, luck, and abundance in wealth. Executive chef Sun Bing puts a new twist to his rice dish by adding mozzarella cheese, which melted into the grains and the assorted seafood. To cap off the first lucky meal of the New Year, a goldfish tikoy is served, which signifies prosperity and improvements in one’s life.
With all these lucky dishes, may we all have good health, good fortune and a good life in the Year of the Water Snake.
The Chinese New Year set menu is offered until Feb. 12.
For reservations, call 527-0011 local 1344.
CHINESE FAN PAINTING EXHIBIT
Aside from partaking of prosperity dishes, Manila Hotel also lets diners experience the pleasure of seeing Chinese artwork crafted using ancient hand-painting techniques with a fan painting exhibit by the Chan Lim Family of Artists.
Titled “Nature,†the show will run from Feb. 10 to 24 at the Mabuhay Palace Hallway, which is beautifully adorned with plum blossoms in time for the celebration.
Guests dining at Mabuhay Palace can also participate in the Chinese painting workshop conducted by Dr. Alex Chan Lim on Feb. 10 at 2 p.m. The workshop is open to all guests of Mabuhay Palace dining from Jan. 2 to Feb. 9, with minimum food and beverage purchase of P3,500 in a single receipt. Guest who will avail of the Chinese New Year set menu for P3,000 per person can also register.
Guests staying at the hotel can also join the workshop for free. The Chinese New Year room package starts at P7,500.
The Chan Lim family is one of the few remaining notable Chinese brush painting artists in the country today. Art classes are conducted in the family studio located in Pasig City.
For inquiries, e-mail chanlim@yahoo.com or visit www.chanlim.com.