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Soaring into the Year of the Dragon: Fortunes of feasts and more

Huat’s going on? We’re hearing something in the distance…drums, cymbals, gongs…it’s the Lunar New Year!

2024 is the Year of the Dragon — extra-auspicious, for all the celestial creature’s myth and mystical power.

That’s fire.

We know we’re a little early, but we also know there’s a saying about early birds and worms. Early dragons and ingots? So let’s welcome the Lunar New Year with the fiery enthusiasm of 2024’s zodiac icon.

From reunion dinner destinations, to crowd-pleasing centrepieces and goodies for gifting; there’s something for everyone in our list below. Venture forth for:

  • Yu Shengs — Where to commune for the perennial prosperity toss
  • Reunion-friendly Restaurants — The perfect places for sumptuous spreads
  • Good Gifting — Can’t go wrong with these choice treats
  • Go Big and Go Home — Takeaways and deliveries for happy hosts and grateful guests

YU SHENGS

The colourful, convivial classic lo hei makes a return — a New Year necessity for all sorts of good fortune.

Kinki Restaurant + Bar revs up for the Lunar New Year with their Ultimate Kinki Yu Sheng ($88++, good for 4 to 5 persons). Serving tradition with an unconventional twist, this modern Japanese-style Yu Sheng stars rosettes of freshly sliced salmon, tuna, and swordfish topped with glistening ikura and tobiko. Dried wakame and deep-fried crab stick crisps add satisfying crunch; aromatic truffle oil and goma dressing bring it all together with an umami slam-dunk.

Opt for an intimate reception of the Lunar New Year ensconced within Michelin-starred Restaurant JAG. For those seeking an alternative to traditional reunion dinner fare, the no-menu establishment offers bespoke celebratory experiences of vegetable-centric gastronomy (from $248++). A Yu Sheng crafted with contemporary French flair is offered for bookings of the private dining room (seats 4 to 16). In JAG’s custom, a curation of the season’s finest produce takes centre stage. Orange and black carrots, yellow and red beetroots, green radishes, and more are explored in various iterations — raw, cured, pickled. Cured Scottish salmon, smoked Hokkaido scallop, and marinated Japanese shrimps signify surplus. Tossed in a sweet-tart dressing of sea buckthorn and blood orange, this yu sheng is one to remember.

Bedrock Origin’s Abundant Prosperity Toss ($68+, good for 3 to 5 persons) showcases premium 28-day aged Albacore tuna slices with accompaniments of green and white radish, carrots, dragonfruit, pickled ginger, peanuts, and sesame seeds, coated in a plum sauce and sesame oil dressing. The vibrant ensemble symbolises wishes for wealth and well-being.

LeVeL33’s LeVeL33 Signature Lo Hei ($88++, good for 4 to 6 persons) is the go-to for the eco-conscious. Sustainably farmed kingfish and Australian ocean trout rest atop a bed of locally grown salad leaves, accented by house-made pickled vegetables, stout beer crisps, and spiced nuts. The zing and depth of a lager and orange dressing — made with LeVeL33’s brew — is the perfect finish for a lo hei that’s both auspiciously indulgent and guilt-free.

REUNION-FRIENDLY RESTAURANTS

Dine-in destinations with feasts fit for a dragon.

Yàn ushers in the Year of the Dragon with an abundance of traditional Cantonese delights. Six dine-in menus (from $128++) brim with specialities to share, such as the Braised Six Head Abalone with Fish Maw and Seasonal Greens — where tender abalone braised in a sapid superior stock comes to rest alongside sweet seasonal vegetables and silky, collagen-rich fish maw. Nourishing and comforting, Yàn’s well-loved classics make for the warmest gatherings of family and friends alike.

This Lunar New Year, Rempapa brings you home to familiar flavours, drawing from heritage and heartfelt memory. Chef Damian’s culinary team furnishes feasts with dishes like the Herbal Chicken in Lotus Leaf ($48++), a whole GG French Poulet chicken cooked with herbs, conpoy, and baby lotus roots, all parcelled in a fragrant lotus leaf. Homonymous with an auspicious saying for wealth, the protein beckons prosperity. Each dish carries auspicious wishes aplenty, so look no further for luck and head straight to Rempapa to commemorate the occasion.

GOOD GIFTING

Because the Lunar New Year is everyone’s Licence To Snack.

Nestled in a shophouse at 603 Balestier Road is family-owned, family-run business 603 Tau Sar Piah, which has seen the unified efforts and passions of three generations for close to 30 years. They are dedicated to quality artisanal craft, and for that reason their 四季平安 Lunar New Year Gift Box (from $50) filled with four compartments of completely handmade goodies is bound to delight. The Signature collection ($60) houses family favourites of light, buttery Signature Pineapple Balls stuffed with generous helpings of house-made pineapple jam, classic Kueh Bangkit that melt in your mouth with fragrances of pandan and coconut, Peanut Cookies, and crisp Chocolate Chip Cookies. Insanely addictive, these timeless treats make for a gift all will cherish.

Stand out from the crowd with SuperNature’s Free-range Bak Kwa ($58++ for 500g, $108++ for 1kg), the healthier variation of a festive favourite. These hand-grilled barbecued pork slices are made with free-range pigs raised on a natural, nutritious diet in the pristine pastures of Australia. Ward off any negative energy with the bak kwa’s auspicious deep red colour and savour its nutrient-rich, protein-packed natural goodness. Show you care with a selection of wholesome bakes such as egg-free, diabetic-friendly Mini Pineapple Balls and gluten-free Almond Cookies.

For a gift that goes beyond celebratory munchies, The Marmalade Pantry offers CNY Gift Sets (from $70++) packaged beautifully in a limited edition The Marmalade Pantry Jewellery Vault. The Signature Collection ($90++) is replete with four flavours of cookies — Black Sesame Almond Cookies, Walnut Cookies, Shallot Cheese Cookies, and Salted Egg Yolk Almond Cookies — alongside their signature Petite Chicken Bak Kwa. The box transforms into a jewellery box; compartments lined with plush grey velvet are the perfect home for watches and bracelets, cushioned slots on the sides fit rings and earrings, and a pouch stores necklaces and larger pieces.

GO BIG AND GO HOME

Preoccupying people with so much goodness they’ll be too busy eating for invasive questions about career choices and relationship status.

Tablescape’s Prosperity in a Pot ($188++, good for 4 persons) is a show-stopping centrepiece teeming with treasures. Delicacies of abalone, Boston lobster, scallops, pork belly, slipper lobster, king prawns, mussels, and Avruga caviar fill the pot. Everyone’s happy with this bounty!

Spice up the communal table with Da Paolo Gastronomia’s Bakkwa Pineapple Dragon Bread ($11.90nett per loaf). Inspired by Hawaiian pizza, a cornetto milk loaf is rolled with a filling of candied pineapple, house-made sun-dried tomato pesto, smoky bak kwa and mozzarella cheese. The kick of Crusco chilli peppers is a nod to the year’s zodiac — a little “dragon fire”.

Emblems of luck and fortune shine in AMI Patisserie’s Kumquat & Kokuto Pineapple Pie ($68nett for 16cm, $88nett for 20cm). Buttery house-made puff pastry enfolds a filling of pineapple jam, sliced Ehime citrus, and a delicate almond cream. The pie is brushed with sugar that is caramelised for added flavour, then embellished with gold leaf.

At Baker X, upcoming resident Happy Low Carb Time launches the Pandan Orh Nee Cake to celebrate the Lunar New Year ($70nett whole, $9nett per slice). In this keto-friendly and low-sugar confection, beloved local flavours harmonise; a well-timed throwback to tradition. Layers of fluffy pandan chiffon sandwich an airy filling of mascarpone whipped with sweet yam paste.