How lucky can you get?
Cover all the auspicious bases with a New Year banquet at the Summer Palace
CELEBRATE CHINESE New Year in style with sumptuous Cantonese feast that’s sure to bring you good luck and success at the InterContinental Bangkok’s Summer Palace.
From Tuesday through February 24, Chef Khor Eng Yew is cooking up delectable, authentic dishes that carry good meanings according to Chinese tradition.
Traditionally it’s held that certain ingredients bring luck, wealth and health if eaten at the beginning of the Lunar New Year. The red of cooked shrimp and the gold of fish maw take on added significance, while any fish is a boon since the word “fish” in all Chinese dialects sounds like the word for prosperity.
Seafood in general is a “requirement” at New Year celebrations because it embodies nature’s abundance and bounty, implying again wealth for the consumer. Chefs are instinctively turning to abalone, shrimp, squid, jellyfish and assorted fish at this time of year.
There is crab too, of course, but it’s important to discard the thorny claws and other pointy parts, since they suggest the year ahead will be thorny with problems. Nevertheless the claws are often seen as symbols of authority. Presumably if you want to grasp for power, you have to expect to snag the occasional thorn as well.
Since the Lunar New Year coincides with the end of winter and beginning of spring, certain vegetables and grains are well regarded as icons of fresh beginnings and prosperous growth. The humble spring onion is hoisted onto a pedestal at this time of the year and often served with fish to “maximise” the auspicious effect. Millet, beans and peas accompany fried rice to ensure a good start to the calendar and nurture success.
People of Chinese descent in Singapore and Malaysia have their own speciality – yu sheng or yee sang, a raw fish salad. The auspicious ingredients include shredded vegetables, sesame seeds, peanuts, shrimp crackers and, usually, raw salmon, all tossed with plum sauce and sesame oil.
As if to make sure the gods of fortune are paying attention, everyone at the table has to take a turn tossing the ingredients as high as possible (and preferably get them all back in the bowl). This often-hilarious mixing process is designed to “raise” one’s chances of success and prosperity.
During the week of celebration, the Summer Palace offers just such “prosperous” dishes in three extraordinary set menus for groups of 10 or more, with the price starting at Bt13,990. All of the menus include New Year combination platters, soup, main course and dessert.
A la carte items are also available, including yee sang (Bt880), scallop with spicy tomato salsa (Bt680), wok-fried king prawn with chilli ginger (Bt990) and Hong Kong egg noodles with superior river prawns (Bt780).
LIVE LONG AND PROSPER!
>>The Summer Palace is on Level 2 of the InterContinental Bangkok.
>>The Chinese New Year menus are available from Tuesday through February 24.
>>Reservations are recommended at (02) 656 0444, extension 6434.
