City of Dreams Manila begins its Year of the Wood Snake festivities with auspicious Lunar New Year rituals, and dining offers that symbolize prosperity and good fortune in restaurants Crystal Dragon, Nobu Manila, and Red Ginger.
To usher in good fortune and to highlight an eye-dotting ceremony on January 29, revelers will witness a lion and 70 ft-long dragon dance performance in Chinese New Year tradition, performed by skilled artists from Ling Nam Athletic Association, in front of the main casino entrance at 5 pm. In the main casino lobby, an installation of this year’s Chinese zodiac is on display.
For ceremonial toss to good luck and abundance, Crystal Dragon’s iconic Lunar New Year dish, Prosperity Abalone Yee Sang.
Crystal Dragon, City of Dreams Manila’s award-winning Cantonese restaurant, presents its curated specialties that reflect the significant culinary traditions of the Lunar New Year. The festive a la carte menu, available from January 27 to February 12, begins with Crystal Dragon’s traditional prosperity toss salad, Prosperity Abalone Yee Sang (P2,388++, good for three to four persons per serving), with sliced abalone (for abundance), colorful julienned papaya (evoking youthfulness), pomelo and carrots (for good luck), radish (or swift progress), onion leeks (for wisdom), chopped peanuts, and deep-fried flour crisps (for prosperity) drizzled with oil (for smooth sailing), and sweet plum dressing (for sweet and harmonious family relationships).
The Yee Sang is integral celebratory fare shared by a group, gathered around the table, to mix and toss the ingredients high up with chopsticks while reciting auspicious phrases to bless all present. The ritual is believed to bring good fortune: the higher the toss, the better the prospects and the greater the wealth for the coming year. This Lunar New Year tradition is popular in Chinese communities in Southeast Asia, particularly in Malaysia and Singapore, where heritage Chinese restaurants introduced it in the 1960s.
Crystal Dragon’s Steamed Live Sea Grouper in Homemade Spicy Choi Hiong Sauce ushers in abundance and surplus in the Year of the Wood Snake.
Believed to bring wealth and resilience, the Poached Yellow Chicken with Chinese Spices and Szechuan Pepper Oil is a must on the Lunar New Year table.
Completing Crystal Dragon’s Chinese New Year symbolic specialties to usher in good fortune are Buddha Jumps Over the Wall in Rich Golden Broth; Poached Yellow Skin Chicken with Chinese Spices and Szechuan Pepper Oil; Steamed Live Sea Grouper in Homemade Spicy “Choi Hiong” Sauce; Live Green Lobster in two flavors: Wok-fried Green Lobster Meat in Fragrant Golden Garlic, and Crispy Salted Egg Lobster Ball; Braised Eight Treasures with Lo Han Vegetables in Golden Nest; Wok-fried Yam Rice with Braised Pork Trotter, Roasted Duck and Crispy Pork; Deep-fried Three Layered Salted Egg Yolk Nian Gao, and Chilled Peach Jelly, Snow Swallow, and Wolfberries with Citrusy Osmanthus Honey. Crystal Dragon is open daily from 12 noon to 11 pm.
The season’s flavors and traditions can be savored in the renowned Nobu Restaurant. From January 27 to February 2, Nobu Manila highlights its Chinese New Year a la carte dinner specials featuring premium turbot and rock lobster platters for up to four persons. The Whole Turbot Fish Sashimi and Sushi Platter consists of sashimi enhanced with matcha soy salt and dry miso in yuzu lemon juice; sushi, which comes with konbu in yuzu lemon juice and turbot liver; and a cut roll of turbot tempura with eel sauce.
A symbol of strength and good fortune in the Lunar New Year, Nobu Manila’s Australian Rock Lobster in Sweet Chili Cilantro is perfect for the occasion.
The Whole Rock Lobster Sashimi and Sushi Platter consists of sashimi of new-style lobster in yuzu soy sauce and dry miso in capsicum yuzu, and cut roll of lobster tempura, avocado, masago (fish roe), and chives, primed with steamed lobster roe. The prime dishes are also offered as hot entrées: the Whole Turbot Fish in Black Bean Sauce and Tempura with Amazu Ponzu, and the Whole Rock Lobster Tempura in Sweet Chili Cilantro Sauce. Alternatively, the season’s Nobu’s seven-course Omakase menu is also offered. Nobu Manila is open for dinner from 5 to 10 pm, Sunday to Thursday, and until 11 pm every Friday and Saturday.
Red Ginger’s “Wealthy” Braised Pork Belly with Asian Spices is a hearty and satisfying Chinese New Year dish.
The contemporary Asian bar and bistro Red Ginger infuses Southeast Asian flavors in its Lunar Festival menu available daily from January 15 to 31, 11 am to 1 am. The ala carte menu includes a “Prosperity” Salmon Curry Puff, “Longevity” Crispy Noodles with seafood and gravy, “Wealthy” Braised Pork Belly with Asia spices, “Lucky” Golden Crispy Chicken, and “Fortune” Nian Gao, served with vanilla ice cream and a fortune cookie.
For inquiries and reservations, call tel. no. 8800-8080 for e-mail guestservices@cod-manila.com, or visit www.cityofdreamsmanila.com. Explore more of City of Dreams Manila’s promotional offers, rewards, or instantly check Melco Club points with the new Melco Club App, available for free download on iOS and Android.
