February brings two familiar occasions to the dining calendar: Chinese New Year gatherings and Valentine’s Day dates. At Araneta City in Quezon City, both are marked with new food concepts and an upgraded cinema experience.

At Level 4 of Gateway Mall 2, World Kitchens serves as a multi-concept dining space built around 15 show kitchens. The restaurant was created by Singapore-based food and beverage executive Andrew Tan Hock Lai and operates on a full-table-service format. Diners order through a digital system and can choose dishes from different kitchens without transferring tables, allowing for a mix of cuisines in one sitting.

Among its newest additions is 18 Jade, a Chinese kitchen led by Singapore-based Chef Peng. The menu focuses on traditional fare, including crispy Peking duck and shark’s fin soup. The name references the number 18, associated with prosperity, and jade, a stone long linked to purity and value in Chinese culture.

Also within the complex is World Cellar, a wine concept offering bottles and pours sourced from established wine regions. Guests may pair selections with dishes from any of the 15 kitchens. The operation works directly with local merchants and stores wines under controlled conditions, with pricing positioned closer to retail than typical restaurant markups.

For Valentine’s Day, Gateway Cineplex 18 highlights Wolfgang’s Premiere Lounge, a premium theater experience developed in partnership with Wolfgang’s Steakhouse. Each ticket, priced at P1,200, includes a La-Z-Boy recliner seat and a gourmet meal served inside the cinema. Combos feature steak, chips and sides delivered directly to guests during the screening.

Together, the dining concepts and cinema lounge position Araneta City as a single stop for both family-style holiday meals and date-night outings, reflecting how malls continue to expand beyond retail into destination-driven food and leisure experiences.