One of the essential things about Chinese New Year is reunion dinner. If you only had one day to choose to spend time with your family, the reunion dinner is, without a doubt, the one event that everyone would not want to miss out on! 

Because of the significance of the reunion dinner, almost every dish served often carries with it a specific meaning, most of which brings blessings and well wishes for the upcoming year.

For Chinese New Year, Nalati has put together a sumptuous feast featuring dishes that are sure to fill you and your family with good fortune and blessings for the rest of the year.

1. 独虎一帜 – 鲤鱼桂花果冻 – Fortune Koi Osmanthus Jelly

Fish is a must-have item on the table, as it symbolises wealth and surplus. In Chinese, fish 鱼 (yú) has the same pronunciation as 余, which means “surplus” or “extra.” The typical blessing is 年年有余 (Nián nián yǒuyú), wishing you to have a surplus (or fish) of food and money every year. 

These fish-related dishes can either take the form of either a whole steamed fish or other foods moulded into fish shapes, such as desserts like Fortune Koi Osmanthus Jelly. Apart from having a unique fragrance, the Osmanthus flower represents good luck and success. Nalati’s Fortune Koi Osmanthus Jelly features a trio of lovely koi fish, decorated with golden shimmer and filled with wolfberries, known for their antioxidant properties.

2. 年年有虎 – 豉油皇蒸智利鳕鱼 – Steamed Chilean Cod Fish with Superior Shoyu Soya Sauce

While whole steamed fish is traditionally served, some guests may find it more convenient to eat individual portions of fish. Cod is known for its firm texture and mild, delicate taste. It is steamed with various aromatics and a liberal dressing of special Shoyu soya sauce for a more modern take on a traditional Chinese favourite.

3. 金虎进宝 – 虫草花药材蒸甘榜鸡 – Steamed Herbal Kampong Chicken with Cordyceps Flower

Chicken is delicious and rich in protein, and one bird is usually enough to feed a small family. Serving a whole chicken is symbolic of family togetherness, and it can also symbolise rebirth. 

In some homes, the family reserves the chicken’s feet for the breadwinners to help them “grasp onto wealth”. In addition, some families will also offer chicken to deceased ancestors for otherworldly blessings and protection.

A typical recipe for preparing chicken for Chinese New Year involves marinating it in light soy sauce, cooking wine, ginger, green onions, and then steaming it. Nalati’s rendition of steamed chicken uses kampong chicken for its leanness and adds cordyceps, wolfberries, and other traditional Chinese herbs to enhance the dish’s flavour.

4. 灵虎送福 – 海鲜鱼鳔羹 – Seafood Soup & Fish Maw

Fish maw is deemed a Chinese delicacy; it is often deep-fried and then dried and needs to be soaked in hot water to remove some of the excess oil. It’s a favourite ingredient amongst many due to its spongy texture, allowing it to absorb whatever flavours it’s cooked in readily.

This dish is cooked in a rich and creamy superior stock and filled with premium seafood. So it’s the perfect way to celebrate a joyous occasion like the lunar new year!

5. 金虎旺财 – 红烧鲍鱼海参 – Braised Sea Cucumber with Abalone

Whether it’s “a-buh-low-nee’ or just “a-buh-lon”, we know we’re referring to that well-loved delicacy that’s often associated with Chinese New Year. This dish sees plump baby abalone prepared with sea cucumber, paired with crunchy black moss pieces for texture, and served on a bed of tender broccoli. For the health-conscious, this brings many health benefits! It’s high in protein and chondroitin sulfate, which slows ageing and helps us build muscle. It’s also low in cholesterol and fat.

 6. 心有所虎 – 荷香三宝糯米饭 – Lotus Leaf Glutinous Rice, Chinese Pork Sausage, Mushroom, Dried Shrimp 

A well-loved Chinese dish that’s often served at weddings and other celebratory occasions, this rice dish is fragrant from being wrapped and cooked in lotus leaves and chock full of savoury umami goodness from the Chinese pork sausages, mushrooms and dried shrimp.

 7. 金虎进宝 – 发菜元蹄 – Steamed Pork Trotter with Black Moss

A stew is often eaten during winter, one of the names of this dish is 横财就手 (Hèng Cái Jiù Shǒu). The name has auspicious meanings and roughly translates to “extra income comes into your hands”. Traditionally, this is stewed with black moss, Shaoxing wine, soy sauce and red fermented bean curd. 

 8. 金虎送福 – 松露带子时蔬 – Sautéed Scallop & Vegetables in Truffle Sauce

Scallops are popular seafood, and the shellfish’s round shape represents oneness, prosperity and the blossoming of new beginnings, a key reunion concept during Chinese New Year. The mild flavour and chewy texture of a well-prepared scallop make it a perfect accompaniment to crisp and tender vegetables, and it pairs well with the truffle sauce in this dish.

Usher in Prosperity at Nalati

With such a fabulous lineup of dishes ready for you at Nalati, there’s no reason not to gather your family together to have your reunion dinner there! Reservations are required, so don’t hesitate to make yours early! 

Contact Kimberly at 8940 5300 to book your tables now.