Say 'Kung Hei Fat Choi!' with a feast for joy and prosperity

For Pinoys, New Year's Eve feasts are almost always a test. Resolutions to eat in moderation dissolve at the stroke of midnight, when the whole family indulges in dishes like ham, chicken, and of course, lechon. 

 

For those trying to eat less meat, it's almost impossible to survive such occasions. A few years ago, I found myself with only bread to eat for Christmas dinner, because my family forgot I was vegetarian. I eventually included seafood in my diet, but big celebrations are still a challenge.

 

When it comes to the Chinese New Year, the feast is also abundant, but the dishes are noticeably healthier. This is, of course, good news for pescetarians, but even meat eaters can appreciate a feast that won't make you worry too much about your cholesterol after.   

It makes sense to begin the year by eating well, and Chinese custom serves as the guide for the celebratory menu. While taste is important, the dishes that make up a proper Chinese New Year feast are not only delicious, but meaningful. 

 

Meaningful and tasty dishes at Tin Hau 

 

A traditional feast consists of dishes that symbolize all good things for the coming year. At Tin Hau kitchen in Mandarin Oriental, the meal begins with "The New Year's Five Happiness Combination Platter," a nicely arranged appetizer with tasty treats. 

 

If a Pinoy feast has the whole pig, the Chinese version is small portions of barbecue suckling pig — making it easier to avoid overindulging. We sampled the Peking duck rolls, jellyfish, and crab meat spring rolls at a press conference last January 8. The Peking duck rolls were a favorite, because they were easy to eat, "like mini shawarma, but much better," as I was told.

 

As we ate, it was explained that the platter symbolizes a bountiful harvest for the coming year. "The arrangement of different ingredients also symbolizes unity and the gathering of friends and relatives for the occasion of Chinese New Year," said Isabel Cang, marketing communications officer of Mandarin Oriental, Manila.

 

The starter is followed by a thick soup of Braised Assorted Seafood with Crab Roe and Tofu, a warm, filling dish. Any worries that you'll miss meat will disappear with just a few spoonfuls of the soup. In fact, you may begin to feel a bit full, but the feast is far from over. 

 

Seafood dishes are the highlight of this festive celebration. On the menu are Stewed Abalone; Sea Cucumber and Bailing Mushrooms with Vegetables, Beijing Style; Steamed Live Garoupa with Superior Homemade Soy Sauce; and Wok-fried Prawns with XO Sauce.

 

Cang explained that the abalone represents good fortune, while shrimps represent liveliness, happiness and well-being. "In the Chinese language, the words “fish” and “profit” are homophonic to each other — they sound the same, and so eating steamed fish during Chinese New Year means more profit for the coming year," she said.

 

Chicken is considered healthy 

 

Another important dish for Chinese New Year is Braised Chicken with Dried Oyster and Black Moss. Eating chicken is considered healthy, and symbolizes prosperity and completeness, Cang explained. Also, black moss in Chinese translates to "fat choy," which sounds like the Chinese New Year greeting that means "be prosperous."   

The feast is heavy, but you may not feel too bloated since rice is only served at the end of the meal, signifying fertility, luck, and abundance in wealth.

 

The meal ends on a sweet note with Tin Hau's homemade tikoy, which signifies prosperity and improvements in one’s life. The tikoy is served with Warm Sweetened Pumpkin, and Glutinous Rice Dumpling with Sesame Paste. The sticky desserts melt in the mouth, and the sesame paste gives the dumplings a subtle nutty flavor.

 

Prosperity dishes galore

 

These prosperity dishes that will be served at the hotel's Grand Midnight Countdown on February 9, but you could also create your own feast at home. You can also prepare for the Chinese New Year by placing assorted fruits on your dining table. 

 

Geomancer Joseph Chau said there should be five kinds of fruit, symbolizing a good harvest. Chau suggested pomelo, pineapple, apple, banana and orange. He added that it is also good to have Chinese celery and spring onion, which symbolize intelligence and hard work. "You put it there, that means they will work hard," Chau said.

 

Chau also gave some Feng Shui health advice for the Year of the Water Snake. According to Chau, women in particular must be careful with their diet and hygiene. 

 

"Don't overeat, because it is easy to get abdomen problems and digestive problems. . .For ladies in the year 2013, the big enemy is the 'sickness star.' So you have to pay attention to what you eat," Chau said. 

 

Not overeating is easier said than done, especially during a New Year's feast. Fortunately, the dishes are mostly healthy, and full of lucky symbolism, too. Aside from the midnight Lauriat dinner, the Grand Midnight Countdown celebrations will include an outdoor show with a grand eye-dotting ceremony, a dragon and lion dance, and an auspicious Paai-Shan ceremony and energizing rituals conducted by Master Chau. At midnight, a dazzling fireworks display welcomes the lunar New Year.

 

From February 9 to 17, festive Chinese New Year specialties will be offered in set and a la carte menus at Tin Hau.  – KDM, GMA News  For more information and reservations, log on to Mandarin Oriental's website. Photos from Mandarin Oriental, Manila