MANILA, Philippines - Customs and traditions concerning the celebration of the Chinese New Year vary widely across the globe. Some pour out their money to buy presents, food, and clothing while other families thoroughly clean the house to sweep away any ill-fortune in hopes to attract luck instead.
At BASIX, Dusit Thani Manila’s all-day dining restaurant, a toss to happiness, wealth and good fortune takes center stage through the auspicious ceremonial tossing of the Yu Sheng prosperity salad and delectable Chinese specialties amid a tasteful fare of international dishes.
Yu Sheng, an auspicious salad dish made of thin slices of symbolic raw fish and various spices, is ideally tossed by diners for good fortune, prosperity and longevity, all adding to the good wishes for the Year of the Tiger.
Today, usher in good health, wealth and luck with the traditional lion dance at the lobby where auspicious red packets will be given away to dining guests.
Auspicious must-try dishes include Spicy Chicken Wings, Spicy Beef Shin, Deep-fried Tofu with Soya Sauce, Roast Porkloin with Hoisin Sauce and Dried Prunes Stuffing, Century Egg Platter, Crispy Shrimps in Sesame Seed with Sweet and Sour Sauce, Baked Salmon with Seafood, Jellyfish Salad, Sea Cucumber with Mandarin Orange Sauce, Squash Flower with Shrimp Mousse, Peppered Beef with Sesame Oil and Coriander Sauce, Glass Noodles with Chinese Longganisa and Plum Sauce, Grilled Pumpkin and Capsicum in Balsamic Reduction, Steamed Vegetables with Seafood in Spicy Sauce, Grilled Cuttlefish, Steamed Lapu-Lapu with Rainbow Dressing, Chinese Style Spareribs, Braised Tofu with Bamboo Shoot and Black Mushroom, Sliced Pork with Black Beans Sauce, Sauteed Prawns with Orange Sauce, Yang Chow Fried Rice, Scallop with Broccoli and X O Sauce, Golden Fried Shrimp Ball with Sweet and Sour Sauce, Braised Sliced Abalon with Sea Cucumber, Sesame, Oyster Sauce and Red and Green Pepper, and Steamed Lapu-Lapu with Sesame Ginger Sauce.
For meat lovers, Chinese duck, lechon and prime ribs are up for grabs at the carving station.
For dessert, don’t miss the Chilled Coconut Cream Sago, Buchi, Mango Sago, Seasonal Fruits, Charlotte Cake, Egg and Orange Caramel Custard, and Mango Crepes Samurai, plus other international choices to choose from.
To fully satiate your Chinese cravings, guests may also indulge in a selection of Chinese petits fours, including moon cake, peanut cake, Taiwan cake, tikoy, pandan roll tikoy, sesame tikoy, roll ube tikoy and assorted flavors of hopia such as monggo, pandan, ube, and ube quezo.
The auspicious Yu Sheng buffet is available until Feb. 21, inclusive of overflowing sodas, juices, wines and local beers. Buffet at BASIX is priced only at P1,150 net per person for lunch (except on Sundays) and P1,299 net per person for dinner (except today).
For inquiries or reservations, call 867-3333 or e-mail at dtmnfb@dusit.com.