Shangri-La Hotel, Colombo celebrates Chinese new year

As the Year of the Dog dawns, Shangri-La Hotel, Colombo celebrates with an array of specials at the hotel’s signature restaurant, Shang Palace. Guests can enjoy a gourmet set menu, an extensive Yum Cha buffet served over weekends and purchase hampers filled with a range of seasonal specials, ideal for gifting. 

As a part of the celebrations, guests who are a part of any of these Chinese New Year activities stand a chance to win a return air ticket to Hong Kong courtesy Cathay Pacific and an overnight stay for two at the luxurious Island Shangri-La, Hong Kong. 

The Chinese New Year festival is centuries old and at it’s core are many rich customs and myths. Many age-old traditions centre around China’s vibrant culinary history with feasts that mark good fortune. It is this very culinary journey that the Executive Chef Zhao of Shang Palace recreates for guests this Chinese New Year.

Shang Palace presents the famed Yu Sheng or prosperity toss. The Yu Sheng is served on a large platter with a colourful array of ingredients including raw fish, shredded radish and carrots, pickled ginger and more. Everyone at the table begins tossing the salad simultaneously using chopsticks whilst wishing luck and good fortune for the New Year. This ritual is one of both togetherness and fun. Guests may choose from one of three varied gourmet set menus, each featuring dishes handpicked by Chef Zhao. This magnificent meal begins with delicious appetisers including salmon fish salad or Sichuan poached chicken with aromatic chilli sauce. 

The main course includes such delights as the Typhoon shelter crispy prawn with garlic and dried chilli, kung pao chicken with Sichuan peppers and abalone and broccoli in oyster sauce, to mention a few. Lemon grass jelly with strawberry and spiced syrup or rice cake make for the perfect endings. 

The eight-course gourmet set menus for lunch and dinner from 8 to 18 February are priced from Rs. 6,888+++ onwards, per person. Over the weekends, guests indulge in an extensive Yum Cha buffet. Begin this feast with a soothing mushroom and chicken soup, and follow on to a barbeque station with succulent duck, pork and chicken marinated to perfection. Relish the finest dumplings or enjoy deep fried prawn tail or vegetable spring roll, pan fried raddish cake and much more. 

Delight in the chefs’ showmanship as they prepare Sichuan pork ribs, black fungus fish and other fresh 

dishes at live stations. For dessert, enjoy chilled mango pudding, refreshing mixed fruit cocktail and almond tofu, and more. The Weekend Yum Cha buffet will be served on Saturdays and Sundays for lunch and dinner  from 3 to 25 February and is priced at Rs. 3,888+++, per person.

Shangri-La Hotel, Colombo also presents beautifully packaged hampers featuring the finest of Chinese festive favourites including dry oyster, fat choi, dry abalone, lychee and more. With Shangri-La’s promise of creating  experiences straight from the heart, these hampers are thoughfully crafted and make the ideal gift for clients or loved ones. Chinese New Year hampers can be purchased from  8 to 18 February.

For reservations or more information, call (+94) 117 888 288 or email  [email protected].

Pix by Gitika Talukdar