What’s On previews leading Chinese New Year deals in Dubai at some of the best Chinese restaurants in Dubai. It’s the Year Of The Goat.
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- Best Chinese restaurants
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There’s no need to travel to China to celebrate the Year Of The Goat – let these venues take your tastebuds on a trip to Asia. The action kicks off on February 19 when Dubai’s Chinese restaurants will be awash with red and adorned with lanterns. Whether your interest in Chinese culture extends to the ancient Qing dynasty or simple admiration for dim sum, this is a celebration not to be missed.
Hakkasan
Set menus can can go one of two ways – lure you in with good value on the not-so-popular dishes, or overcharge on a ‘greatest hits’ selection. Hakkasan’s Chinese New Year is the best of both – nine of their most popular dishes at a price not usually associated with one of Dubai’s best restaurants.
The Dim sum platter is your standard point of entry, but with each individual piece the best part of a half a fist in size, it’s not to be sniffed at. Served alongside it are the inventive spicy lamb wraps; the finely shredded succulent meat encased inside is so shorn of fat and grease that the roll retains its crispy shell while you work your way around the other dishes.
Mains, meanwhile, are – and, bear with us on this one – like your perfect five-a-side football team. In goal, a sweeper-keeper, safe and reliable fried rice with the additional flair of abalone and dry scallop. The firm base continues with a selection of stir-fry lily bulbs and garlic shoots (they’ll repel anyone), while a midfield pair of grilled chilean sea bass with Chinese honey, and sizzling stir-fry rib eye beef are the creative players that you’ll remember long after the meal is done. Up front, spicy prawns provide plenty of kick to round things off. If China had any football pedigree, that might just work as an analogy.
As well as the food, Hakkasan encourage their diners to hang wishes on a wishing tree and, at certain times during the month, lion troupes will perform a customary dance.
Until March 1
Jumeirah Emirates Towers, Shaikh Zayed Road, Dubai, 7pm to 1am, Dhs450. Tel: (04) 3848484. Metro: Emirates Towers. jumeirah.com
Pepper Crab
Dubai’s top fine-dining Singaporean restaurant celebrates Chinese New Year with a selection of Chinese speciality a la carte dishes. Any diners born in the Year Of The Goat (1955, 1967, 1979, 1991 or 2003) receives a free New Year’s lucky Lo Hei salad. Toss the salad together and ring in luck for the New Year. There’s also a special lion dance taking place on February 21 at 8pm.
February 18 to 25
Grand Hyatt Dubai, Oud Metha, Dubai, Sun to Thur 7pm to 11.30pm, Fri and Sat 7pm to midnight. Tel: (04) 3172222. Taxi: Grand Hyatt. restaurants.dubai.hyatt.com
Shang Palace
Festivities in the hotel include a traditional lion dance at 10am on February 19, and a raffle including prizes such as a champagne brunch and a one-night stay in the hotel. Shang Palace Chinese restaurant is also offering a special eight-course menu throughout the weekend.
February 18 to 21
Shangri-La, Sheikh Zayed Road, Dubai, 7pm to 11.30pm, Dhs396. Tel: (04) 4052703. Metro: Financial Centre. shangri-la.com
Yuan
Plucked from Hakkasan Mayfair in London, executive chef Jeff Tan has crafted Cantonese and Szechuan dishes for a special menu for dinner and Friday Yum Cha throughout the ten-day festivities. Look out for the Atlantis fireworks display on the first night of the Spring Festival and the traditional
lion dance taking place every day in the resort.
February 18 to 28
Atlantis The Palm, Dubai, Sat to Wed 7pm to 11.30pm, Thur and Fri 7pm to midnight. Tel: (04) 4260000. Taxi: Atlantis The Palm. atlantisthepalm.com
Ba Restaurant & Lounge
Celebrate the New Year with an authentic feast that begins with the traditional prosperity salad followed by seafood and dry scallop soup, stir fried Chinese duck sausage, steamed fish roll, and pan-fried brown sugar rice cake.
February 19
Fairmont The Palm, The Palm, Dubai, daily 7pm to midnight, Dhs588. Tel: (04) 4573338. Taxi: Fairmont The Palm. dineatba.com
Mekong
Indulge in high-end Asian street food at Mekong’s market-style live cooking stations. You’ll find fresh dim sum, Beijing-style crispy duck and spicy freshwater fish. Don’t miss Mekong’s Tea Master, who promises to pour the perfect brew in traditional ceremonial style. Guests are also handed a hong bao (small red packet) containing a special Chinese New Year gift.
February 19
Anantara Dubai The Palm Resort & Spa, The Palm, Dubai, 6.30pm to 11.30pm, Dhs250 with soft drinks, Dhs350 with house drinks. Tel: (04) 5678304. Taxi: The Palm, west crescent. anantara.com
Red Star Wok
If hot and sour chicken wonton soup, fresh river prawns and the comfort of your own sofa sound like the perfect night in, then the healthy Red Star Wok’s special takeaway menu created for the New Year might be the perfect way to celebrate.
JBC 1 Tower, JLT, Dubai, daily 11.30am to 11pm. Tel: (04) 4586677. Metro: Dubai Marina. redstarwok.com
Zheng He’s
Master chef Foo presents a four-course set menu of festive Chinese dishes – such as wok-fried king prawns and crispy fried fish fillet – and live entertainment from traditional Chinese dancers.
February 19
Mina A’Salam Hotel, Madinat Jumeirah, Dubai, noon to 2.30pm and 7pm to 11.30pm, Dhs588 (lunch), Dhs688 (dinner). Tel: (04) 3665866. Taxi: Mina A Salam. jumeirah.com
Royal China
This fine-dining Chinese restaurant in DIFC celebrates Chinese New Year with a selection of speciality dishes including fresh lobster, stewed abalone and sticky rice dumplings.
February 16 to March 5
DIFC, Building 4, Dubai, daily 11.30am to 11.30pm. Tel: (04) 3545543. Metro: Financial Centre. royalchinadubai.ae
Long Yin
Chef George has prepared a special four-course set menu for this special time of year. Guests celebrating the New Year can enjoy surprise rewards by opening a hong bao gift – a traditional Chinese custom.
February 18
Le Méridien Dubai Hotel & Conference Centre, Airport Road, Dubai, 12.30pm to 5pm and 6pm to 11pm. Tel: (04) 7022325. Taxi: Le Méridien Dubai. longyin-dubai.com
Trader Vic’s
Ring in Chinese New Year with a variety of fusion food at this popular Polynesian spot in the Souk Madinat. The limited edition a la carte menu features Chinese-inspired dishes including a variety of dim sum, and Peking-style lamb chops.
February 15-21
Souk Madinat Jumeirah, Dubai, noon to 3pm and 7pm to 11.30pm. Tel: (04) 3665646. Taxi: Souk Madinat. tradervics.com
YEAR OF THE GOAT
1919, 1931, 1943, 1955, 1967, 1979, 1991, 2003, 2015
Personality People born in a Year Of The Goat are typically believed to be gentle, mild-mannered, shy, amicable and brimming with a strong sense of kindheartedness and justice.
Best-suited careers Paediatrician, actor, teacher, interior designer, musician and editor.
Lucky numbers 2 and 7
Lucky colours Red, brown, purple
Lucky months August, November
Lucky flowers Carnations and primroses
Celebrity goats Michelangelo, Mark Twain, Thomas Edison, Rudolph Valentino, Rachel Carson, Nicole Kidman, Julia Roberts, Bruce Willis, Benicio Del Toro, Claire Danes, and Matt LeBlanc.
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