Auspicious festivities to celebrate the Year of the Wood Snake at City of Dreams Manila
for City of Dreams Manila
MANILA, Philippines — City of Dreams Manila commences its Year of the Wood Snake festivities with auspicious and vibrant Lunar New Year rituals; and dining offers that symbolize prosperity and good fortune at premium restaurants Crystal Dragon, Nobu Manila and contemporary dining outlet Red Ginger.
Spectacular Chinese New Year Ceremony
To augur good fortune for the community and to highlight an eye-dotting ceremony on January 29, revelers will witness a spectacular lion and 70-ft long dragon dance performances in majestic Chinese New Year tradition performed by skilled artists from Ling Nam Athletic Association in front of the main casino entrance at 5 pm.
At the main casino lobby, an imposing installation of this year’s intriguing Chinese zodiac, resplendent in sapphire hues in celebration also of the luxury resort’s 10th year anniversary, is on display.
Crystal Dragon
City of Dreams Manila’s award-winning Cantonese restaurant presents its auspicious and curated specialties that reflect the significant culinary traditions of the Lunar New Year.
Comprised of premium ingredients, the festive a la carte menu, available on January 27 to February 12, is headlined by Crystal Dragon’s indulgent rendition of the traditional prosperity toss salad, levelling it up with Prosperity Abalone Yee Sang (P2,388++, good for three to four persons per serving).
To beget luck, the colorful and auspicious 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 meaningful 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.
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 & Wolfberries with citrusy Osmanthus honey.
Crystal Dragon is open daily from 12 p.m. to 11 p.m.
Nobu Manila
The season’s flavors and traditions can likewise be savored at the Manila outpost of the globally renowned Nobu Restaurant. From January 27 to February 2, Nobu Manila highlights luxe Chinese New Year ala carte dinner specials featuring premium turbot and rock lobster platters that are a rare feast 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 prime 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, the season’s Nobu’s seven-course Omakase menu is also offered.
Nobu Manila is open for dinner from 5 p.m. to 10 p.m., Sunday to Thursday and until 11 p.m. every Friday and Saturday.
Red Ginger
The contemporary Asian bar and bistro infuses Southeast Asian flavors to its Lunar Festival menu available daily from January 15 to 31, 11 a.m. to 1 a.m. The special ala 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.
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.
For inquiries and reservations, call 8800-8080 or e-mail [email protected], or visit www.cityofdreamsmanila.com.
Editor’s Note: This press release is sponsored by City of Dreams Manila. It is published by the Advertising Content Team that is independent from our Editorial Newsroom.
