Novel takeaways for Chinese New Year

SINGAPORE — The Chinese New Year celebrations are steeped in tradition. But that doesn’t mean revellers can’t consider some out-of-the-box options.

We’re not talking about swapping mandarin oranges with Japanese mikan, but about giving serious thought to innovative treats to complement the usual bounty. For instance, other than regular pineapple tarts from top picks like Joyus Pastries (http://www.joyuspastries.com), why not also consider Bakerzin’s Parmesan Cheese Pineapple Tarts (http://www.bakerzin.com)?

Or besides the typical yu sheng, you can indulge in the festivities with a “yu sheng burger” — that’s all your favourite burger ingredients in a “toss-able” plate — at Roadhouse (http://www.theprivegroup.com.sg/roadhouse), or Hard Rock Cafe’s Huat Rock Burger, which is essentially a beef patty burger served alongside a loi hei-inspired salad, complete with tangy plum sauce and golden pillow crackers.

Here are a few more to get you started.

1. REUNION TAKEAWAY TIFFIN SET

In a first for Red House Seafood, customers can opt to take away prosperity dishes in style. This three-tiered custom-made “tingkat” features three signature dishes, including a dish of wok-fried lily bulbs with wild mushrooms and asparagus; and a sauteed trio of seafood with pineapple — depending on availability, these could feature scallops, grouper fillet and succulent prawns tossed in the chef’s Peranakan-inspired spicy sauce. The third dish is a 600g slab of pork belly that had been braised for three hours. Completing the set is fried rice steamed in lotus leaf, prosperity raw salmon yu sheng and mandarin oranges. Priced at S$188, the set serves up to six people. Available until Feb 22. Call 6336 6080 (Prinsep Street outlet), 6735 7666 (The Quayside) or visit http://redhouseseafood.com/ for details.

2. OLD SCHOOL DELIGHTS

Founded by renowned local pastry chef Daniel Tay, Old Seng Choong’s debut comes just in time for the festivities. These heritage delights are available online and customers can opt for self-collection or have them delivered to their doorstep at an additional cost. Following time-honoured recipes, its New Year cakes include a Hong Kong-style red date cake (540g, S$23.80), painstakingly made from scratch. Served steamed or fried, the fragrant carrot cake (500g, S$23.80) is studded with generous pieces of dried shrimp and lup cheong (dried Chinese sausage), while the yam cake (500g, S$23.80) is made following Tay’s mother’s recipe. Thai yams are used in this version, which also uses steamed peanuts, dried shrimp, fried shallots and slivers of dried shiitake mushrooms. Visit http://www.oldsengchoong.com to place orders by Feb 6. Of course, you can choose to grab yours at selected fairs across the island, including those at AMK Hub (until Feb 6), Waterway Punggol (until Feb 6), Junction 8 (until Feb 6) and Raffles Exchange (until Feb 5).

3. HAVE YOUR CAKE

Here’s a treat to satiate both grandma and your hipster friends. Made with polenta, almond flour, vanilla and blood orange zest, this gluten-free treat is far from your typical Chinese New Year offering but definitely an impressive addition to the feast. Topped with green figs (an auspicious symbol for fertility), and doused with aromatic syrup made with blood orange juice, it is priced at S$60 a cake (eight slices). Pre-orders are necessary and have to be made two days in advance by Feb 4. Collection of cakes will be at Paper Crane (96 Waterloo Street). Email sayhi [at] papercrane.sg to place an order, or call 6837 0836 to enquire.

4. SWEET INSPIRATIONS

Back by popular demand are chef Janice Wong’s lush spin on the traditional pineapple tart. Sandwiched between baked-to-crumble biscuits is a pineapple paste that’s made with fresh pineapples and salted caramel. These adaptations (S$25 a jar) also come in banana-pineapple flavour, or dipped in 76 per cent dark chocolate. But if you fancy something more updated, The Chinese Sweet Collection box set (S$65), which boasts inspired flavours such as white truffle with mung bean, would make a great gift. Available at the Sweet Boutique (B2-K6 The Shoppes At Marina Bay Sands, Tel: 9712 5338) until Feb 22.

5. SUGARY SURPRISE

Another favourite making a return is chef Pang Kok Keong’s sweet addition to the yu sheng frenzy. Dubbed The Queen’s Yusheng, this golden egg surprise marries an age-old Chinese tradition with fine French patisserie. Resting on a nest of auspicious treats such as chocolate fish, ingots and coins, spiced almonds, and cashews, mandarin orange butter cake and meringue kisses, the egg is cracked to reveal a melange of tropical fruits, from pineapple, and Thai green mango to pomelo, and red dragon fruit. All these are tossed in a dressing made with mandarin orange, plum and gula Melaka, and a sprinkle of vanilla sugar for good measure. Available at Antoinette at S$88, it serves up to 10 people. To order, call 6293 3121 (Penhas Road outlet) or 6836 9527 (Mandarin Gallery outlet) at least three days in advance. Orders can be collected at either outlet. And don’t forget to pick up inspired snacks such as the pork floss meringue (S$10 a jar) while you’re there.

6. GO BIG, REALLY BIG

Sure, you could order two servings of pen cai, but they won’t look as impressive as Cherry Garden’s (at Mandarin Oriental) luxurious interpretation, which tops all others with its sheer size. Weighing more than 25kg (yes, that’s the weight of an average 10-year-old) and measuring up to 45cm in diameter, this supersized communal dish is chockfull of premium ingredients, such as braised four-head abalone, lobsters, scallops, sea cucumbers, prawns, dried oyster rolls, conpoy, dace fillet, roasted duck, soy chicken, crispy pork belly, waxed sausages, mushrooms, as well as cabbage and black moss. This is available as part of the Success menu (S$138 per person, minimum of six diners) or for takeaway at S$393.80 (a two-day advance order is required). Call 6885 3541 for orders or 6885 3500 for reservations.

Click to eat: For more delish deals and news on what’s hot on the scene, download the 8 Days Eat App at http://www16.mediacorp.sg/8days/8daysapp2.html.