Chinese New Year treats

Gather family and friends as Sofitel Philippine Plaza welcomes the Year of the Earth Ox. A lively traditional dragon dance kicks off the festivities today, along with the performance of the Kim Hwa Musical Ensemble, for luck and prosperity.

Discover the richness and diversity of modern Chinese cuisine at Spiral and Sunset Bar. The spread includes Feng Sheng Shui Qi (Salmon Fish with Abalone Salad) to bring prosperity in business and Hong Yun Dang Tou (Suckling Pig) to bring in good fortune, for appetizer; Bao Lo Wan Yu (Dried Oyster and Abalone with Lotus Root Clear Soup) to attract good energy and well-being and Wu Fu Ling Men (Five-Treasure Shark’s Fin Soup) to bring in more wealth and fortune, for soup; Ha Ha Ta Shiao (Traditional Steamed Prawns) to be always happy, Chin Yin Man Wu (Stuffed Mushroom in Dried Scallop Sauce) to always have money and good fortune at home, Chia Fei Wu Yun (Braised Pork Knuckles in Abalone Sauce) to always keep the family members safe and healthy, and Ho Pao Tsang Wan Chin (Fried Rice with Duck Breast and Dried Scallop in Lotus Leaves) to always have a great amount of money in the wallet, for hot dishes.

Diners also get the chance to pick out Chinese proverbs and have their name written down by a calligrapher.

For reservations, call Sofitel Philippine Plaza Manila at 551-5555, Spiral at local 1086 or 6988, Sunset Barbecue for the poolside dinner and room reservations at 551-5555 local 6991, or log on to www.sofitel.com.

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Crowne Plaza Galleria Manila welcomes the Year of the Ox with a 15-day celebration 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 an outstanding dining experience at the hotel’s Chinese restaurant Xin Tian Di.

At 11 a.m. tomorrow, bring in the new and get rid of the old with the traditional lighting of firecrackers at the hotel’s front driveway, followed by the symbolic painting of the dragon at the hotel lobby to attract luck. The dragon and lion dance performance will start at the lobby, making its way to various areas in the hotel.

A delectable selection of family set menus will be available at Crowne Plaza’s Xin Tian Di. Each menu is designed in accordance with Chinese beliefs and traditions when celebrating the New Year. Auspicious ingredients (or ingredients that are believed to bring in good luck) 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 sala consisting of raw fish slices and shredded fresh and candied fruits and vegetables tossed in a delicious plum sauce. The salad is not only colorful and delicious, but 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 fortune you are bound to receive.

What is the Chinese New Year without tikoy? Known in Chinese as nian gao, it is considered good luck to eat this Chinese rice cake on this day because it represents family togetherness and good fortune. At Crowne Plaza’s Xin Tian Di, both traditional nian gao and the more special fish-shaped tikoy or nian nian you yuu are available for dine-in or take-out until Feb. 9.

Crowne Plaza’s celebration of the centuries-old festivities does not exclude the young generation. The hotel will help them unleash their creativity and imagination with Oriental arts and crafts demonstrations at Xin Tian Di on Jan. 31 and Feb. 1, 7 and 8. Children will be taught how to make Chinese decorations such as plum blossoms, paper lantern, crepe paper dragon, red envelope and Chinese orange tray.

For inquiries, call Xin Tian Di at 635-5114 or contact F&B reservations at 633-7222 local 7223 or 395-2690 or e-mail at f&[email protected].

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Get to know what lies ahead for you on the Year of the Ox. Astoria Plaza has invited veteran mystic Judy Lou de Pio to give expert advice on feng shui and to do some palm reading, numerology and tarot card reading for free exclusively for those who will avail themselves of the hotel’s Chinese New Year buffet lunch at Café Astoria tomorrow.

The sumptuous buffet lunch consists of a suckling pig (roasted to perfection for really tender meat and crispy skin) and a mouthwatering array of dimsum and other all-time favorite Chinese dishes.

Known as the “mystic to the stars,” De Pio has been giving advices to some of the country’s most popular movie personalities. Her predictions are heard over Monster Radio RX 93.1 where she is the resident psychic. She has also anchored “Conversations with Angels,” a radio program which lasted for three years in the former 1026khz AM station. She is a regular guest of TV shows like Unang Hirit and Sis, among others.

Aside from feng shui, palm/tarot card reading and numerology, De Pio also does healing being a “certified advanced pranic healer.”

The Chinese buffet lunch is offered until Jan. 27 and is priced at P850++. Upon presentation of your receipt, De Pio will do her reading tomorrow, 12 noon to 3 p.m. only. For reservations, call Astoria Plaza at 687-1111 extension 8064 or 8065 or log on to www.astoriaplaza.com.  

Astoria Plaza is located at 15 J. Escriva Drive, Ortigas Business District, Pasig City. Astoria Plaza is managed by Genesis Hotels and Resorts Corp.