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Manila Bulletin devider Lifestyle devider Food devider What's on your dining table for Chinese New Year?

What's on your dining table for Chinese New Year?

Welcome another year of abundance with these meaningful dishes

Published Jan 27, 2025 02:56 pm

If there’s one thing Chinese New Year (CNY) symbolizes, it’s a fresh start to the many exciting possibilities it brings for us. Gathering friends and family for a hearty meal, the dishes on a lauriat table are ordered for what they symbolize.

The Prosperity Dish (Yu Sheng) is one dish we always have. It’s a colorful and vibrant dish made with various ingredients that symbolizes good luck, wealth, and prosperity. Each person on the table tosses all the ingredients together using chopsticks. The higher you toss, the better for it is said to bring you good fortune. And while tossing high and with care, you may choose any or say all of these phrases to welcome more luck for you this year—Nian nian you yu (May you have abundance every year), Da ji da li (Wishing you prosperity and success), Hong yun dang tou (Good luck will come your way), and many more that the restaurant staff can share with you. It’s a fun and interactive way to celebrate CNY!

We asked some foodies what they are looking forward to having.


 

Kalel Chan.jpeg
Kalel Chan
Peking Duck at Xin Tian Di.jpeg
Peking Duck at Xin Tian Di

We just had Lechon and Roast Beef last Christmas and New Year, so I am looking forward to having Peking Duck. It’s the star of the show every Chinese New Year. It also feels appropriate for the occasion.
—Kalel Chan
Chef Patron, Lobby 385

 

Gerry and Jinky Sy.jpeg
Gerry and Jinky Sy
Gerry and Jinky - noodles.jpeg


Noodles symbolize long life and it is believed to bring good luck and prosperity, not just for Chinese New Year but for every important milestone. 
—Gerry and Jinky Sy
Owners, Opulence Design Concept

 

Johanne and Jill Wee.jpeg
Johanne and Jill Wee
Thomson Road Char Siu Platter.jpeg
Thomson Road Char Siu Platter

We look forward to having the Char Siu Platter from Thomson Road for Chinese New Year. Everyone enjoys the sweet and savory barbecue pork and it’s a great way to gather with friends and family who create their fluffy white baos the way they like it. We also enjoy a good fragrant lechon for CNY gatherings. 
—Johanne and Jill Wee
Co-owners, Thomson Road

 

viber_image_2025-01-27_14-01-36-455.jpg

My favorite is Tikoy. It’s like a chewy hug from my childhood!
—Ryan Serrano
Owner, Kodawari

Winchell Tan.jpeg
Winchell Tan

My usual go-to Chinese food, perfect for Chinese New Year festivities, is Sweet and Sour Pork. I love pairing it with ChaYi’s limited edition release, the Lucky Melon Tea, symbolizing prosperity, good fortune, and abundance. 
Winchell Tan
Founder, ChaYi

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