Lunar New Year 2023: Where to Eat This Week 18-25 January 2023

CONTENT: Luxe Society Asia

If you’re still scrambling around trying to find places to go for a meal with your loved ones or to find solace at the bottom of a glass to get away from all the incessant questions about when you are going to get married or have children, look no further as we’ve compiled a short list of a few establishments for you to check out- some of them are even open during the Chinese New Year period!

PUTIEN

One of Singapore’s premier establishment for chinese fine dining, PUTIEN is featuring two must haves at all Chinese New Year reunion dinners and gatherings, the PUTIEN Pot of Goodies and Prosperity Yu Sheng, available until 5th February 2023.

Made with a selection of 12 high quality ingredients, PUTIEN Pot of Goodies (Pen Cai) (S$208++, S$318++, S$428++, S$518++) is filled with a wide range of treasures, including abalone from Fujian, dried clam from Duotou Village (Fujian), Japanese scallop, sea cucumber, fish maw, fatt choy, prawn, roast pork, chicken wing, Japanese flower mushroom, stir-fried yam and Fuzhou fish ball. Additionally, all takeaway orders of the pencai will receive a complimentary box of Mazu Mee Sua.

Chinese New Year would never be complete without the traditional tossing of a healthy Yu Sheng, so guests can shout out blessings for a prosperous new year with PUTIEN Prosperity Yu Sheng (S$39.80++, S$62.80++) that comes with a generous serving of abalone and uses a special sweet and sour sauce that is made in house at PUTIEN that isn’t overly sweet and coats the whole dish in a flavour that takes some inspiration from the establishment’s signature chilli sauce!

Apart from these two mainstays, PUTIEN also has Chinese New Year exclusive Fortune Set Menus and Prosperity Set Menus that will feed up to groups of 10 pax, starting from S$118++. The set meals include many of PUTIEN signature dishes, such as the longevity noodles made with PUTIEN Mazu Mee Sua (wheat noodle), its Pot Of Goodies and of course its Prosperity Yu Sheng that is only available during Chinese New Year! The menus are available for both dine-in and takeaways.

All PUTIEN outlets will be open on Chinese New Year’s Eve on the 21st with selected timings for dinner service. For Chinese New Year day one on the 22nd, only its MBS and ION Orchard outlets will remain open.

White Restaurant

White Restaurant celebrates the year of the rabbit with its three curated Chinese New Year set menus, available for both dine-in, takeaway and island wide delivery- all customised for groups of 4 to 10 people. Aptly named as Joyous (S$198++), Prosperity (S$238++) and Fortune (S$308++)- the set menus include highlights such as a Grand Fortune Abalone Yusheng so diners can look forward to the fun and energetic ritual of ‘tossing up good fortune. Each set menu also contains the establishment’s signature White Beehoon 白米粉 added with festive additions such as scallops and abalones as a sign of a prosperous new year for guests and their loved ones!

Every set menu comes with a set of complimentary limited edition red packet and Mandarin orange bag, while stocks last. Guests can be entitled to a free Celebration Gift Set (S$51.20) that features abalones in unique interesting flavours such as White Truffle, Sichuan Mala, Sichuan Green Pepper Mala, and Braised Dried Scallop for every booking of 6, 8, or 10 pax set menus on Chinese New Year Eve, while stocks last.

The set menus are available from now until 5th February 2023 and require a 3-day advance pre-order.

White Restaurant will be having four dine-in time slots on the Eve of Chinese New Year (21Jan 2023): 1st seating: 12pm–1.30pm 2nd seating: 5pm–6.30pm 3rd seating: 6.45pm–8.15pm 4th seating: 8.30pm–10pm. A non-refundable deposit of $100 is required to confirm the reservation.

Only its outlets at Jewel Changi Airport and Vivocity will be fully operating on CNY Day 1 & Day 2.

Meow Barbecue

Many Chinese New Year gatherings are over hotpot, but why not make a change this year with toothsome grilled meats at Meow Barbecue?

Get your stomachs ready for the hearty Blooming Prosperity Platter ($98, Member Price: $88, serves 3-4 persons), which offers seven different kinds of meat, from beef to chicken and pork, an absolute delight for those looking for a savoury, protein-heavy meal. Dig into the new Iberico Pork Collar in Smoky Sauce, Meow Signature Beef Cubes with Onion, Rose Beef Tongue, Teriyaki Chicken Thigh, Marbled Beef Chuck, Premium Iberico Pork Belly and Iberico Pork Shoulder in Smoky Sauce — with some of the meats shaped into gorgeous “flower petals”.

Of course, don’t forget to toss to an auspicious year ahead with the Prosperity Abalone Yusheng (S$38), topped with plump baby abalone!

The restaurant will also be bringing one of its traditions observed at its China outlets over to Singapore — Chinese New Year Hong Bao Wall. Simply like @meow_bbq on Instagram when you dine at Meow Barbecue, and get to grab a hong bao off the wall. These red packets are filled with exclusive gifts, ranging from free dishes to adorable cat-themed prizes.

Meow Barbecue’s Chinese New Year line-up will be available from 10 January to 12 February 2023, Prosperity Abalone Yusheng will be available until 5 February 2023.

Meow Barbecue’s CNY Operating Hours: Chinese New Year Eve (21 January 2023): 11.30am to 10pm ; 1st and 2nd Day of Chinese New Year (22 & 23 January 2023) Closed ; 3rd Day of Chinese New Year onwards (From 24 January 2023): Business as usual

Hainan Story

Hainan Story will be opening the doors of its newest outlet at NEX on 15 January, with the restaurant’s first-ever coffee house concept.

Dig into outlet-exclusive dishes like the Hainanese Ah Mai’s Chee Cheong Fun ($7.80), where the beloved local dish is given the addition of ingredients such as fried fish balls and hard-boiled egg. Feeling something heartier? Go for the Hainanese Pig’s Trotter Assam Curry Noodle ($9.80), that is cooked for hours in a sour-spicy assam curry until the pork trotter falls off the bone; or the Baked Hainanese Rice Cake Lasagna ($8.80), a uniquely local cross between baked rice, lasagna, and chwee kueh.

Have a sweet-tooth? Tuck into thick, pillowy Hainanese-style buns topped with spreads like Home-Made Gula Melaka Kaya & Cold Butter (S$2.20), or the crunchy Rojak & Peanut Jam Spread (S$2.50). Or go for the all-new Pandan Waffles (from S$1.80), topped with spreads like gula melaka kaya, peach jam or even savoury offerings.

To celebrate the launch of the NEX outlet, The Hainan Story is giving away a complimentary The Hainan Story Classic Tote Bag with a minimum order of $18 in a single receipt, while stocks last.

The Hainan Story NEX
23 Serangoon Central, #02-17 Nex, Singapore 556083
Operating Hours: 8am to 10pm

Junior The Pocket Bar

The quaint little cocktail bar hidden in a discreet corner at Ann Siang Hill has recently undergone a slight redecoration to ring in the Chinese New Year festivities, the establishment has also partnered with Martell and Chivas to come up with a new menu that includes new bar bites and tipples that reflect the festive period!

Highlights from the new drinks menu include the lychee gin-based Ang Pao Na Lai (S$25++) cocktail that takes its name from the traditional handing of red packets to relatives and loved ones! The tipple certainly promises to pack a strong punch while giving off nuanced notes of citrus and sweetness as one sips on it. The Blooming Gratitude (S$25++) is a boozed up verson of a conventional tea in a pot that incorporates cognac and blends it well with chrysanthemum and vermouth to produce a robust drink that is meant to be slowly sipped and enjoyed with friends or relatives at the bar!

For CNY treats, the Longevity Noodles (S$18++) is a miniature version of a classic yusheng that has a mildly spicy kick due to the homemade mala sauce and uses wonton skins that can be crunched over the noodles to simulate the crunchy crackers that everyone loves to grab after the tossing is over! Sweets for Rabbits (S$12++) uses three different flavours of homemade muah chee (strawberry, coconut, black sesame) and serves it with ice cream made from white rabbit candy that blends together nicely to fufill anyone craving for a sweet treat that also pairs well with Guaranteed Abundance (S$25++) for a perfect balance of savoury and sweet flavours!

Junior The Pocket Bar
6 Ann Siang Hill, Singapore 069787

Mama Diam X Jia Jia Herbal Tea

Everyone’s favourite local speakeasy bar Mama Diam is working together with Jia Jia herbal tea to curate a line of revitalising cocktails that uses their signature tea to invoke a taste of nostalgia! This collaboration sees the infusion of Jia Jia Herbal Tea into specially crafted food and drinks in an exclusive Jia Jia x Mama Diam Prosperi-tea Set. The collaboration between the two heritage brands can be seen in Jia Jia Herbal Tea Infused Braised Lion’s Head ($18), handmade meatballs made from premium Iberico pork, which promises a rich burst of flavour with each bite with a familiar notes of the herbal tea due to the savoury sauce!

The Jia Jia Mocktail (S$14) shares the same taste profile as the meatballs and is also available as an alternative drink for those who don’t partake alcohol. The light and refreshing flavours of these drinks pair well with the Jia Jia Herbal Tea Infused Braised Lion’s Head, washing out the meatier, savoury flavours of the dish. While those who prefer strong flavours in their tipple can opt for Jia Jia Unearthed ($20), another cocktail incoporating Jia Jia Herbal Tea with herbal liqueur and beetroot juice, for a more robust and earthy taste.

Besides enjoying these dishes, diners can also relive their childhood with a spin on their gachapon machine, which include attractive prizes such as Shopee promo codes, S$88 worth of Jia Jia drinks, a free bottle of Jia Jia tea or a set of Jia Jia’s Limited Edition 福到你佳 (fu dao ni jia) CNY Kit! To qualify for a turn on the gachapon machine, customers simply have to order any item from the limited time Jia Jia x Mama Diam Prosperi-tea set.

The Jia Jia experience is extended to homes this year with exclusive 福到你佳 (fu dao ni jia) CNY Kits $40 (U.P. S$76) which can be purchased from Jia Jia Online Shop! This kit comes with Jia Jia Limited Edition 兔然发财 CNY cans, red packets, a reversible print Mandarin orange bag and exclusive Mama Diam vouchers for the exclusive Jia Jia x Mama Diam’s Prosperi-tea set items. These vouchers can be redeemed for a serving of Jia Jia Herbal Tea Infused Braised Lion’s Head and a Jia Jia Cocktail or Mocktail at Mama Diam!

Mama Diam
38 Prinsep St, Singapore 188665