City of Dreams Manila’s signature restaurants Crystal Dragon, Nobu Manila and Red Ginger ring in the coming Lunar New Year with sumptuous feasts consisting of auspicious dishes meant for prosperity and good fortune.
To augur good fortune and highlight an eye-dotting ceremony on January 29, 5 p.m., revelers at City of Dreams Manila will witness a spectacular lion and 70-ft long dragon dance performed by artists from Ling Nam Athletic Association in front of the main casino entrance. Also on display at the main casino lobby is an installation of this year’s intriguing Chinese zodiac.
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.
Comprised of premium ingredients, the festive a la carte menu, available from January 27 to February 12, is headlined by Crystal Dragon’s traditional prosperity toss salad, Prosperity Abalone Yee Sang (P2,388, good for three to four persons per serving), The salad ritual consists of 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 a smooth sailing year), and sweet plum dressing (for sweet and harmonious family relationship).
The Yee Sang is an 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 with well-wishes, creating a joyful and lively atmosphere. The ritual is believed to augur good fortune: the higher the toss, the better the prospects and greater wealth for the coming year. This Lunar New Year tradition is popular in Chinese communities in Southeast Asia, particularly in Malaysia and Singapore where 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; Bringing wealth and resilience, the Poached Yellow Chicken with Chinese Spices & 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 duo flavor: 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.
Nobu Manila
The season’s flavors and traditions can likewise be savored at Nobu Restaurant. From January 27 to February 2, Nobu Manila highlights luxe 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.
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.
To further tempt the palate, the dishes are also offered as indulgent hot entrees — 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, diners can opt for the season’s Nobu’s seven-course Omakase menu.
Nobu Manila is open for dinner from 5 pm to 10 pm, Sunday to Thursday and until 11 pm every Friday and Saturday.
Red Ginger
The contemporary Asian bar and bistro infuses Southeast Asian flavors to its Lunar Festival menu. The special a la carte menu includes a “Prosperity” salmon Curry Puff, a savory dish of salmon and vegetable curry, and hard-boiled egg enclosed in a homemade puff pastry; “Longevity” Crispy Noodles with seafood and gravy, a delicious medley of crispy egg noodles topped with shrimp, squid, lapu-lapu, lobster balls, and assorted vegetables; “Wealthy” Braised Pork Belly with Asia spices, which features a melt-in-your mouth slow-cooked pork belly, bok choy, quail eggs, and braised tofu; “Lucky” Golden Crispy Chicken that comes with sweet chili sauce and chips; and “Fortune” Nian Gao, which features assorted rice cake rolls served with vanilla ice cream and a fortune cookie.
For inquiries and reservations, call 8800-8080 or e-mail guestservices@cod-manila.com, or visit www.cityofdreamsmanila.com. Explore more of City of Dreams Manila’s promotional offers, rewards, or check Melco Club points with the new Melco Club App, available for free download on iOS and Android.
