Treat yourself to festive feasts for Lunar New Year
Celebrate the Year of the Rabbit with traditional dishes, festive feasts, and plenty of treats.
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The Lunar New Year will celebrate the Year of the Rabbit on January 22 with traditional dishes, festive feasts, and plenty of treats.
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HO JIAK TOWN HALL
With elaborate lion dances, money-filled red packets, new clothes, and fireworks so common in Malaysia for Lunar New Year, it’s easy to see why kids of all ages look forward to the annual celebrations, but for Junda Khoo, co-owner/chef of Ho Jiak, it wasn’t so much the festivities as it was family and food.
“Growing up, Lunar New Year was my favourite time of the year”, says Junda. “Every family member from around the world would come back to Malaysia to celebrate. My grandma prepped and cooked for days; she was the force that kept whole family reunited”.
Needless to say, when Junda and his brother moved to Sydney 20 years ago, they sorely missed that grand affair.
“There were no celebrations whatsoever. We got really sad. That’s why I have always made it my mission to make all Ho Jiaks a venue for people to celebrate Lunar New Year”.
Included in the eight-course share banquet is every child’s (and adult’s) favourite, Yee Sang (Prosperity salad toss). On a large round plate, eight different vegetables, each with their own meaning, are sectioned off encircling the salmon sashimi in the centre. It’s quite an interactive experience as, all at once, people grab chopsticks, and toss the ingredients into the air, ostensibly to “mix” the salad, but, as Junda explains, “The belief is that the higher you toss, the more prosperous you become”. Plus, it’s that one time of the year you are allowed to play with your food.
There’re seven more traditional and moreish dishes to follow, including Teochew fish – a whole fish steamed with pickled mustard and salted plums, XO prawns, crispy soy chicken, and more. Plus, if you’re feeling extravagant, there is the option to add on a whole lobster with crispy “prosperity” noodles in a ginger shallot sauce. For dessert, wrap up the meal with a red bean-flavoured Fortune macaron. ($588, serves four. Lobster an additional $480. Available January 23–February 5).
125 York St, Sydney; hojiak.com.au/townhall/
BLACK BOTTLE
Like chocolate on Valentine’s Day or seafood for Christmas dinner, most holidays have some sort of food-related tradition, but what kind of chocolate and which dishes to include is a bit more personal.
For Lunar New Year, Raphael Szurek, chef and co-owner of Black Bottle, a French bistro in Darlinghurst, is doing just that, and deferring to his Beijing-born sous chef, Robert Guo, to create a special meal. Raphael describes the menu as “traditional Chinese dishes, with French technique, and fresh Australian ingredients”.
The first of the requisite (lucky) eight dishes is a tea smoked egg. The spherical shape of the egg signifies “whole” – as in a complete family unit – while the golden yolk represents prosperity, but Robert has gotten creative and prepared them halved and topped with salmon caviar and chives. Each dish thereafter, such as the steamed coral trout and sauteed wagyu MB6+ rump cap, is equally decadent (and indicative of prosperity).
The dessert though, a boba tea crème Brulee, is a bit more indicative of Black Bottle’s usual offerings. It’s French, but it’s also a bit of fun. ($88pp, minimum two people. Available January 18-20).
116-118 Darlinghurst Rd, Darlinghurst; blackbottledarlo.com.au
IIKO MAZESOBA
A must for Lunar New Year meals is the inclusion of noodles. Not just any noodle, as these need to be extra-long, as their length signifies longevity, prosperity, and good luck. Lifting those soup noodles to a lofty height can be quite messy so, in this case, thick “dry” noodles work best, such as mazesoba, which has a concentrated sauce at the bottom of the bowl that gets stirred upward.
The tidiness of the dish is what appealed to Michelle Widjaja, owner of IIKO Mazesoba and, as she quickly found out after opening her shop in Darling Square, so did a lot of other people.
This year, she has put Prosperity Mazesoba ($32) on the menu. It’s a noodle-based version of yee sang (prosperity salad toss). This tangy noodle salad includes neatly arranged portions of carrot, daikon, ginger, cabbage, cucumber, seaweed, shallot, topped with tuna sashimi and salmon roe, along with a handful of crispy noodle chips – which also symbolise good fortune and wealth.
And, as a nod to the Year of the Rabbit, there’s also a parfait with a scoop of gelato, with red bean and shiratama rice balls – if you squint, you just might see the semblance of a bunny in your dish. (Available January 20-February 8).
86 Hay St, Darling Square, Haymarket; mazesoba.com.au
BLACK STAR PASTRY
From the creators of the stunning and delicate watermelon cake, also known as the World’s Most Instagrammed cake, comes a Lunar New Year treat that is sure to be just as popular. Black Star Pastry’s Head Chef Arnaud Vodounou says, “This year is all about the Year of the Rabbit. I was inspired to create a rich and buttery cookie, crumbly and moreish, with the fur-like effect made from coconut crumb. Everyone loves chocolate so the ‘lucky’ Rabbit’s chocolate coin is infused with strawberry and raspberry flavour for an extra punch. Chinese New Year is such an important celebration for our customers, and it’s a privilege to be adding some extra cheer to their celebrations”.
A set of seven cookies (BLKSTR and an adorable rabbit) are $35 and require a two-day pre-order notice. For some added cheer, they’re also selling $25 Black Star Pastry gift certificates – ideal for a cuppa and a cake. And while you’re there, pick up a single bunny for yourself – for good luck, of course. (Available from January 13).
Multiple outlets; blackstarpastry.com.au
FATCARON
For this year’s celebrations, show up with a box of these cute and tasty macarons, and you’re sure to be the favoured guest. Unlike traditional macarons that are slightly try and crumbly, these are made using the French method which makes them a bit more soft and chewy… and bigger.
In addition to their usual rainbow of colours (and variety of fillings), there’s also festive creations including red lanterns, money bags, an adorable little bunny dressed in its finest Lunar costume and other celebratory shapes and flavours such as a bright orange carrot, with salted caramel (sure to every bunny’s favourite), a lucky cat with lychee filling, and a lovely hand-painted Sakura tree macaron with a floral honey centre.
The special characters are available online (Instagram: @fatcaron_official). Order by January 19 for January 20 and 21 deliveries, otherwise you can pick up a selection of their generously-sized macarons from Market City, The Galleries (Sydney) and Burwood Chinatown locations.
SPICE TEMPLE
Combining the regional flavours of China with a contemporary take on traditional dishes, Spice Temple has long been a Sydney favourite for modern Chinese food. To celebrate the Year of the Rabbit, eight auspicious dishes, each a unique symbol of prosperity, good health, peace, good fortune, or wealth, are served specifically for this Lunar New Year banquet.
From the lucky red garlic baby tomatoes with roasted cashews to the money purse-shaped pipis with pork and Shaoxing wine, this feast will surely bring happiness to all. ($159pp, optional matching wines an additional $75pp. Available January 17-28, 2023)
-Basement, 10 Bligh St, Sydney; spicetemple.com.au
TOKYO LAMINGTON
On the Chinese zodiac calendar, the rabbit is indicative of a calm and collected nature, well suited for the patience to try something new, which is precisely what the artisans at Tokyo Lamington have done by veering slightly away from their popular Japanese-inspired flavours to create the pineapple tart lamington.
While traditional pineapple tarts – thought to bring luck and prosperity – are made with jam and flaky crust, Tokyo Lamington’s version is made with light vanilla sponge and pineapple jam that’s then dipped in white chocolate and topped with pineapple cookie crumbs and bright red lucky sprinkles.
($8.88 each. Pre-order by January 17 for pick-up/delivery January 18-22, 2023).
-277 Australia St Newtown; tokyolamington.com
ELE BY FEDERICO AND KARL
Johnnie Walker Blue Label Lunar New Year Dinner
It’s more than a meal; ELE by Federico and Karl is an epic immersive dining experience with a progressive degustation-style menu paired with decadent cocktails. However, for one night only (January 18), ELE will partner with Johnnie Walker and match each course with a drink prepared with the whisky’s limited edition Lunar New Year release, designed in collaboration with Shanghai-based designer Angel Chen. ($350pp. Wednesday, January 18, 2023).
-Edward St Entrance, The Star, Level G/80 Pyrmont St, Pyrmont; elesydney.com.au
THE STAR
Welcome in the Year of the Rabbit at The Star, where you’ll find an abundance of entertainment, clever installations, and impressive Lunar New Year feasts at their renowned signature restaurants.
-80 Pyrmont St, Pyrmont; star.com.au
Sokyo
Pairing traditional Japanese dishes with contemporary flare, Sokyo is known for its innovative menu featuring premium fish and seafood.
•“Prosperity” Lobster sashimi platter with 12 kinds of fish and lobster - $888
•“Auspicious” Steam John Dory with ginger shallot, housemade five spices, chilli oil, cucumber and celery - $98
BLACK Bar & Grill
This classic steakhouse offers first-class wood-fired steaks and seafood in its chic dining room that boasts a sweeping view of Darling Harbour and the city skyline.
•“Auspicious” Steamed hapuka, scallop dumpling, gai lan, sou ginger dressing - $68
•“Wealth” King crab legs from the charcoal oven, XO sauce, shallot - $98
•“Prosperity” Pandan crème Brulee, charred mango, coconut sorbet - $28
Flying Fish
Showcasing the bounty of the Australian and New Zealand waters, Flying Fish foregoes fussy and complicated dishes by preparing each one in a way that highlights natural flavours with minimum waste.
•Woodfired yabbies with saltbush and vinegar - $50 per 500g
•Steamed coral trout with bush tomato - $160 per kilogram
Cucina Porto
This casual Italian restaurant exudes old-world charm with its gregarious staff, open kitchen and elevated homestyle cooking.
•“Prosperity” Dessert Tasting Platter - chocolate truffles, mini fruit mousse, almonds panforte, lollies, amaretti biscuits and mini cannoli - $28.80
•“Auspicious” Lobster pizza with red tomato sauce, fresh oregano, confit lobster tail, spicy crumb, smoked trout roe and gold leaf - $48.80
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