What’s your preference for reunion dinners on the eve of Lunar New Year? Do you prefer dining in, or out?
This is one special day where I get to spend quality time with the family –an extremely rare occasion, once a year, where we would sit down for a meal together. Hence, I would rather spend it in the comforts of our home, as opposed to the bustling dining scenes at Chinese restaurants, where waitstaffs are generally paid twice (or thrice) their regular pay to spend the eve of Lunar New Year without the company of their loved ones, but still putting a smile on their faces no matter, till the dinner service concludes.
If you would like to enjoy a reunion dinner at home without having to spend the entire day in the kitchen prepping, the takeaway options at Crystal Jade will bring boundless delight.
If you like the hustle and bustle, you have the option of dining in. Prices stated in this post are for takeaway; 10% service charge applies for dining in. Do remember to make reservations in advance to avoid disappointment!
Reunion Yu Sheng (Small $39.80/Big $69.80)
‘Lo Hei’ is almost a mandatory practice in the Chinese tradition during Lunar New Year. What sets Crystal Jade’s Yu Sheng apart from the typical Yu Shengs is the finely shredded yam that is deep-fried to a crisp. They remain crispy even after the mixing and tossing.
My favourite part of Yu Sheng is usually the crispy golden crackers, but now with the crispy strips of yam, there’s one more component on the plate that I equally adore.
Are you ready to ‘Lo Hei’?
“Huat ah!”
I am usually awfully quiet during ‘Lo Heis’, carefully inputting (mentally) all the auspicious wishes that others would utter vehemently, so I can recite them the next time I ‘Lo Hei’. I might have accumulated up to 100 Chinese phrases in my cluttering mental faculty, but my poor memory refuses to summon them back.
B.B.Q Meat Combination ($78.80 per serving)
The BBQ Meat Combination may just be what the carnivores are fantasizing about. It comprises a tantalising selection of roasted meats, which includes roasted duck, soya sauce chicken, BBQ pork rib with honey sauce, jelly fish, marinated duck web & wing, and pig’s tongue.
The roasted duck and soya sauce chicken are my favourites.
Golden Abalone Chicken Treasure Pot ($228.80 for 6 pax, $368.80 for 10 pax)
Pei Cai is a dish that fosters communal dining and symbolises good fortune. In Crystal Jade’s Treasure Pot, multiple layers of ingredients mingle together in a rich and flavourful braising sauce (which I could drink like soup).
There are four different Treasure Pots to choose from: Golden Abalone Treasure Pot, Golden Abalone Chicken Treasure Pot, Vegetarian Treasure Pot and Treasure Pot in Shanghai Style.
Do note that prices differ on Chinese New Year’s eve; the price of Golden Abalone Chicken Treasure Pot costs $238.80 for 6 pax and $378.80 for 10 pax on that day.
The Golden Abalone Chicken Treasure Pot contains abalone, black moss, pork knuckle, fish maw, pig’s tongue, whole or half chicken, radish, superior sea cucumber, conpoy, dried mushroom, lotus root, deep-fried pig’s skin and preserved meat –a pot of treasures indeed.
Glutinous Rice Cake with Osmanthus & Ginger (tasting portion) ($20.80 for actual portion)
For dessert, Crystal Jade has come up with novel renditions of the traditional Glutinous Rice Cake (‘Nian Gao’).
I used to abhor consuming ‘Nian Gaos’ and would never allow a single morsel into my mouth since I was a kid. The cloying and overly sticky texture puts me off. But here, the Glutinous Rice Cake with Osmanthus & Ginger is lighter and less sticky, with a refreshing flavour that eliminates most part of that cloyingness.
Glutinous Rice Cake with Green Tea, Red Bean & Raisin (tasting portion) ($20.80 for actual portion)
The Glutinous Rice Cake with Green Tea, Red Bean & Raisin is yet another unconventional rendition of ‘Nian Gao’. Peanuts add a crunchy texture to the glutinous rice cake, but somehow I wished the peanuts were crushed finer.
Marble Glutinous Rice Cake with Strawberry Jam (tasting portion) ($22.80 for actual portion)
My favourite amongst the three would be the Marble Glutinous Rice Cake with Strawberry Jam, because it is pan-seared to a lightly crisped surface.
Chrysanthemum & Wolfberry Ingot Konnyaku Jelly ($8.80 for 6 pieces)
The Chrysanthemum & Wolfberry Ingot Konnyaku Jelly is a refreshing and healthy dessert, perfect to end a heavy meal with. Chrysanthemum is believed to be ‘cooling’ while wolfberry is said to be good for eyesight.
I consumed many ‘ingots’ that evening. My stomach feels wealthy. ;)
Fortune Bo Lo Pineapple Tart ($15.80/$17.80/$31.80)
If you’re bored of the typical New Year cookies, I highly recommend Crystal Jade’s Fortune Bo Lo Pineapple Tart. It is unlike the usual cloying pineapple tarts that are rich and buttery; here, the pastry crust is crisp and light without being too dry.
“Bak Kwa” Puff Pizza (Petite Bite) ($1.20)
I’ve always loved the breads from Crystal Jade’s bakery. They are mostly affordably priced, and the best part is that you get a 20% discount on all pastries and buns after 8.30pm!
If you’re visiting the bakery, you should definitely give this Lunar New Year Special a try! This open-faced pastry is topped with pork floss, bak kwa (pork jerky), spinach, spring onion and cheese. Highly addictive!
Information on Crystal Jade’s Lunar New Year offerings is available online at www.crystaljade.com and at all Crystal Jade outlets from now till February 24, 2013. Diners can order takeaways three days in advance and collect their orders at their selected Crystal Jade outlets.
Reservations and orders can be made at or at your preferred Crystal Jade restaurant.