Auspicious treats at Crowne Plaza Galleria Manila
Crowne Plaza Galleria Manila welcomes the Year of the Ox with a 15-day celebration slated from Jan. 26 to Feb. 9.
Celebrate the loudest and most important of the Chinese holidays with firecrackers, dragon and lion dance, colorful lanterns, money tree, and a superb dining experience at the hotel’s Chinese restaurant Xin Tian Di.
On Jan. 26 at 11 a.m., witness the traditional fireworks display at the hotel’s driveway to be followed by the symbolic painting of the dragon at the hotel lobby to attract luck.
Family set menus are available at Xin Tian Di Restaurant. Each menu is designed in accordance with Chinese New Year beliefs and traditions.
Auspicious ingredients such as black moss, oysters and prawns are lavishly used in dishes such as steamed prawns with garlic, braised pata tim with sea moss, whole dried scallops with sea moss, braised dried oysters with sea moss and vegetables, fried whole taro basket with fresh scallops and prawns, and the Chef’s Divine Platter.
Another distinctive way to start a Chinese New Year feast is the tossing of the yu sheng salad, a colorful Chinese-style salad composed of raw fish slices, shredded fresh and candied fruits and vegetables tossed in plum sauce. Each ingredient symbolizes long life and prosperity. Traditionally, friends and family gather around the table and toss the salad while chanting lo hei to encourage the start of a prosperous new year. Customarily, the higher you toss, the more the fortune you are bound to receive.
Known in Chinese as nian gao, tikoy is a staple during Chinese New Year because it represents family togetherness and good fortune.
At Xin Tian Di, both traditional nian gao and the especial fish-shaped tikoy or nian nian you yuu are available for dine-in or take- out until Feb. 9.
There will be oriental arts and crafts demonstrations for children on Jan. 31 also at Xin Tian Di. Learn how to make Chinese decorations such as plum blossoms, paper lanterns, crepe paper dragons, red envelopes, and Chinese orange trays.
For inquiries, call 635-5114 or e-mail f&b.reservations@ihg.com.
