The Year of the Rabbit ?? symbolises longevity, positivity, auspiciousness, wittiness, cautiousness, cleverness, deftness and self-protection. So, why not ring it in by eating like a Ming Dynasty king around Sydney?
There are countless options on offer for Chinese nationals, friends and families and their friends and family from locally and abroad, which is great, because if Chinese New Year is about one thing: it’s about eating a lot, making a lot of noise (refer Chinese dragons!) and bringing in the new year with generosity, friendliness and good times.
Here’s a round up of a few options around town to add to your diaries.
Chinese New Year in Sydney
The Star Sydney will illuminate itself with opulence and colourful activities to delight the senses during the Festival of Abundance, a two-week long Lunar New Year celebration of food and art, from Saturday January 21 st to Sunday February 5th.
Ringing in the Year of the Rabbit, The Star Sydney’s signature restaurants will each offer dishes created from the finest ingredients that have cultural significance to the Lunar New Year, bringing diners good fortune and prosperity for the year ahead.
Australia’s most expensive sashimi platter will be served up by Sokyo’s skilled chefs, sure to satisfy seafood lovers.
The stunning $888 “Prosperity” lobster sashimi platter is packed with twelve kinds of fish and lobster, perfect for sharing with friends and family.
Aria – Seven-course tasting menu
Aria’s limited-edition tasting menu showcases prestige ingredients to match their unparalleled views of Sydney Harbour. The Lunar New Year seven-course degustation honours traditional flavours with an Aria twist.
- When: lunch & dinner, 21st January – 4th February
- Cost: $300pp
- Menu: 7-course degustation including:
- Peking duck consommé with abalone and shiitake
- Tasmanian lobster with handmade noodles and XO
- Red braised wagyu short rib with oxtail
Cirrus’ LNY menu is $128pp with optional wine pairing and is available from Saturday 21st January to Sunday 5th February and there’s a lot to celebrate in January, including the upcoming Lunar New Year. Barangaroo’s waterfront seafood restaurant, Cirrus is celebrating the Year of the Rabbit with a special feast menu including:
- Cirrus Sashimi Platters with condiments
- Drunken chicken with spicy cucumber salad
- XO pipis with E-fu noodles
- Roast suckling pig
- Jasmine rice ice cream with lychee and tapioca
Chinese New Year in Melbourne
For $88pp, get the full experience with the Lunar New Year banquet menu and devour dishes including XO rock lobster with Chinese doughnuts; crispy duck leg pancakes with orange plum sauce; scallop dumplings and more. No banquet is complete without dessert, so guests will be delighted to cleanse their palates with kumquat jelly on lychee granita.
There is also the option to dine off the a la carte menu with Lunar New Year specials, including salmon ‘Yee Sang’ salad, and crispy potato twisted prawns with fish roe aioli.
The festivities don’t end there. When you dine with Hawker Hall between 19-22 January, find your fortune in a cookie! Free cocktails, dining vouchers and one major $888 Hawker Hall voucher are up for grabs.
Don’t delay and book your spot now via the link here to avoid disappointment. The banquet menu and specials are available until Sunday 29 January and this is one you don’t want to miss!