Sofitel Philippine Plaza Manila ushers in the Year of the Fire Monkey with a bountiful feast of sumptuous culinary offerings. Featuring Spiral’s Chinese Culinary Artisan, Chef Michael Tai, Sofitel brings the 10 secrets to happiness in a culinary interpretation of prosperity, longevity, friends, faith and fortune. The Lunar New Year culinary offer is available from February 1 – 10, 2016 and features a grandiose runway collection by renowned fashion designer, Albert Andrada on the 3rd of February 2016. Showcasing a jewel-toned collection weaving through the multi-awarded Spiral restaurant, the evening is a celebration of inspired runway pieces and culinary treasures in a haven of luxury and taste.
10 Secrets to Happiness by Chef Michael Tai of Spiral:
Slow-Cooked Abalone served with Money Bag and Supreme Sauce
Abalone or ‘bao yu’ is a popular dish served during Chinese New Year. It is a dish that depicts luxury on a Chinese banquet. ‘Bao’ and ‘yu’ translates to assurance and surplus respectively. It signifies the well wishes for abundance in wealth.
Stuffed Sea Cucumber with Minced Pork “Szechuan Style”
Sea cucumbers or ‘haishen’ with ‘shen’ similar to ‘sheng’ meaning to give birth are among the most difficult and time-consuming ingredients to prepare in a feast for the Lunar New Year. It represents the gift of life.
Poached Dried Scallop Coated with Winter Melon in Dried Scallop Sauce
Scallops symbolize the opening of new horizons and opportunities and are among the signature dishes served in gourmet or luxurious Lunar New Year feasts.
Baked Lobster with Butter and Fried Garlic Hong Kong Style
Regarded as the ‘Dragon of the Sea’, the lobster represents energy and spirit. Among the key ingredients that embody a lavish celebration, lobster is also a popular dish for weddings together with chicken as they represent the dragon and the phoenix which nurtures a good marriage.
Deep Fried Crab Claw “Pi Pa” Style
A favorite in bountiful feasts, the crab symbolizes key benefits, prosperity and prestige and business and social standing. It also represents resoluteness similar to the hard-shelled crustacean.
Wok Fried King Prawn with Golden Pumpkin Egg Yolk Paste
The prawn is among the auspicious dishes served during festive occasions. It symbolizes liveliness and joy. Locally known as ‘har’, its Chinese pronunciation sounds like ‘ha’ referring to the sound of laughter.
Steamed Whole Fish with Red Date Cantonese Style
Fish plays a large role in Chinese festive celebrations. Its Chinese translation is pronounced similarly as the Chinese word for surplus or abundance thus symbolizing prosperity. It is important to cook and eat fish as a whole to signify a good ending and promising new beginnings to the New Year.
Braised Fish Maw and Broccoli in Oyster Sauce
Fish maw is considered one of the most valued Chinese ingredients given its nutritional value. The Chinese believe that drinking fish maw soup and eating it will improve their skin.
Stir Fried Japanese Scallop with Sweet Walnut in XO Chili Sauce
Symbolizing the opening of new horizons, scallops are shaped similarly to that of a coin which signifies wealth and prosperity.
Dried Oyster with Black Moss
Dried oyster represents good business as its Cantonese translation, ‘ho si’ is pronounced similarly to the Cantonese term for good business. It embodies receptivity to good fortune, much like Black Moss or ‘fat choi’ in Cantonese which means ‘strike rich.’
Yusheng (Raw Fish Salad)
In Cantonese, ‘Yusheng’ or ‘yoo sang’ symbolizes abundance. This dish is usually served on ‘ren ri’ or the seventh day of the new year. The combination of condiments such as plum sauce and sesame oil with shredded fresh vegetables and raw strips of fish or seafood has become popular that it has become among the signature dishes served during festive celebrations.
Nian Gao (Year Cake)
Mandarin for ‘year cake’, Nian gao is a glutinous, rice-based cake that is available year-round but is traditionally served during Chinese New Year for good luck. Nian gao sounds similar to the Mandarin translation to ‘higher year’ thus signifying one’s status in the coming year. It is also a popular gift during New Year typically presented in the shape of a pair of carps representing surplus or ingots to represent wealth.
Chang Shou Mian (Longevity Noodles)
Chang shou mian also known as longevity noodles are available year-round however brings symbolic relevance when served during birthdays and the celebration of the Lunar New Year. Tradition notes that the longer the noodle, the longer the wish for a long and healthy life.
Jiao Zi (Dumplings)
Dumplings traditionally resemble ingots or money. Eating dumplings is believed to usher in wealth. Sometimes a gold coin may be hidden in one of the dumplings to bring extra luck to the one fortunate enough to eat the said dumpling.
Chûnjuăn / chwnn – jwen (Spring Rolls)
Spring rolls are called as such because they are traditionally served during the Spring Festival. Filled with vegetables, meat or a sweet ingredient, this Cantonese dim sum is wrapped in thin dough wrappers and then fried. Spring rolls signify prosperity as they are akin to gold bars.
Braised Pork Knuckles
The Chinese translation for knuckles has a similar pronunciation to the term for convenient, handy or easily obtainable. In Chinese culture, it symbolizes good gambling fortune after a feast of knuckles during the Lunar New Year.
For inquiries and reservations, please call +63 2 832 6988 or email [email protected].