(SPOT.ph) Just when you thought celebrations are over now that Christmas and (Western) New Year’s Eve have passed, another great reason to celebrate comes —yup, we’re talking about Chinese New Year, of course! Also called the Spring Festival, this start of the lunar new year happens to be the most important holiday in China—and among the many things associated with the event is the gift-giving (and eating) of lots of great food. Looking to treat yourself, or share the fun with family and friends? We round up restaurants, online shops, and other purveyors with drool-worthy lucky Chinese New Year eats—from standout versions of the traditional rice cake known as tikoy or nian gao, to casual nibbles like cookies, to grand cakes and more.
Also read: Get Your Chinese-Food Fix From These Restaurants That Deliver
Check out these must-try treats and eats for Chinese New Year 2022:
Nian Gao, Hampers + More from Shangri-La at the Fort
For gift-giving—or for treating yourself, why not?—you can get special boxes of nian gao (a.k.a. tikoy) at Shangri-La at the Fort’s resident Chinese spot, Canton Road. There’s the Fish-Shaped Coconut-flavored version that goes for P2,388 a box; you can also go for other flavors like Ube and Red Coconut Sugar with Pili Nuts, Radish Cake, and Taro Cake, available as single-layer (P2,788) or double-layer (P3,888) boxes. Prefer a more casual nibble? Go for one of their special hampers; there’s the Longevity Hamper (P5,888) and the Prosperity Hamper (P7,888), both of which have assorted Chinese snacks and a bottle of liquor, though the Prosperity Hamper also includes fish-shaped steamed coconut nian gao.
For orders, visit Shangri-La at the Fort’s delivery website. You can also check out their Facebook page.
Cookie Gift Sets from Hong Kong MX
There’s more to Hong Kong MX than just their famous mooncakes. Yup, the famed Hong Kong brand is also a great source for your biscuit fix, available in elegant tins perfect for gifting (or keeping!). The Sanrio - Petite Hearty Butter Orig (P750) has 16 pieces of their flaky and palmier-esque Hearty Butter Pastries in an adorable pink Sanrio-themed tin, while the rose-gold "Fat Choy" Pastries Gift Box (P750) includes eight pieces of the Hearty Butter Pastries plus 10 pieces of their Butter Cookies for good measure. For a little bit of everything go for the Hong Kong MX Exquisite Combo (P1,350); it comes with a whopping 33 pieces of their Butter, Hazelnut, Macadamia Nut, and Cashew Nut cookies!
For orders, visit Hong Kong MX’s Philippine delivery website. You can also check out their Facebook page.
Peanut Sesame Tikoy from Eng Bee Tin
Eng Bee Tin has long been a go-to for tikoy in all sorts of flavors from classic to playful—and for Chinese New Year this 2022, they’ve got a special limited-edition Peanut Sesame Tikoy (P250). With freshly ground roasted peanuts and roasted sesame seeds in the mix, you get a toasty, nutty flavor profile in a real chewy medium.
For orders, visit Eng Bee Tin’s delivery website. You can also check out their Facebook page.
CNY Pudding + Gift Boxes from Kee Wah Bakery
You can turn to Kee Wah Bakery for all sorts of Chinese pastries in gift-worthy packaging. There’s the Chinese New Year Pudding (starts at P950/635 grams), for starters—a special confection made from a family recipe passed down from Kee Wah Bakery’s founder’s own mother that includes their own specially milled glutinous rice for a distinct chewiness. Take your pick from their array of classic flavors—Original, Low Sugar, Coconut, Almond, Ginger, and Red Dates. Also on Kee Wah Bakery’s lineup are gift boxes featuring their signature nibbles; the Assorted Cookies Gift Box (P995), for one, features crisp butter cookies in Cashew, Cranberry, and Almond Chocolate versions.
For orders, visit Kee Wah Bakery’s website. You can also check out their Facebook page.
Mandarin Orange Chocolate Cake from New World Makati Hotel
Looking to make your Chinese New Year’s spread extra sweet and zesty? New World’s Mandarin Orange Chocolate Cake has got your back. Its layers of white chocolate mousse and mandarin oranges with a hint of cinnamon make for a rich-meets-bright profile—and with its vibrant red hue with gold accents, it’s bound to be the star of your table.
For orders, call 8811-6888 extension 3679, or contact 0917-888-4194 through mobile, Viber, or Whatsapp. You can also send an email to fbreservations.manila@newworldhotels.com. For more information, check out New World Makati Hotel’s Facebook page.
Fortune Cookies from Seriously, Cookies? By Migs
Maybe you’re looking to get a glimpse of your future… or are just a sucker for a crisp, sweet bite. Either way, fortune cookies are always a treat, and Seriously, Cookies? By Migs makes great versions that are as much of a treat for the eyes as they are for the taste buds. Their fortune cookies go by different variants—Vanille, Red, Yellow, Blue, and Tiger—which are not just of different colors, but of different flavors, too! Prices start at P128 for a small Kiat Kiat-themed gift bag with five cookies.
For orders, visit Seriously, Cookies? By Migs’ Cococart website. You can also check out their Facebook page.
Chinese New Year Cake Cake from Goldilocks
Goldilocks’ famous cakes gets an auspicious upgrade in their special Chinese New Year Cakes (P429). You can take your pick from the Mocha and Marble-flavored versions, both of which have chiffon cake in their respective flavors topped with chocolate gold coins, gumpaste decor resembling the Chinese character Fu, and gold dragees! You can also get 10% off orders with a minimum purchase of P500 when you use the discount code CNY2022 upon checkout.
For orders, visit Goldilocks’ website. You can also check out their Facebook page.
Tikoy for Harmony from Manila Marriott Hotel
Up your lucky points with special treats from Man Ho, Manila Marriott’s own Chinese establishment. For this Chinese new year they’ve got the special Tikoy for Harmony (P1,088)—a set that includes the classic glutinous rice cake shaped as either an ingot or gold bar, plus six smaller canele-shaped pieces, all in a gold can! Note that you’ll have to place your orders at least 24 hours in advance.
For orders, contact 0917-823-8692. You can also check out Manila Marriott Hotel’s Facebook page.
Chinese Red Date Cake from Honolulu Cafe
Sure, you could go for your usual tikoy—or you could try it with a fruity twist through Honolulu Cafe’s Chinese Red Date Cake (P888). As the name implies this rice cake is infused with red dates, which are said to symbolize wealth and prosperity—stuff we would never say no to. Like regular tikoy you can steam it, or pan-fry egg-dipped slices for a subtly crisp exterior.
For orders, contact 8241-8371 (SM Aura branch) or 8256-9374 (Robinsons Place Manila branch), or visit Honolulu Cafe’s website. You can also check out their Facebook page.
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this strange new world.
