Welcome the Year of the Tiger with a sumptuous spread of good food and good fortune from SM City North EDSA’s Chinese restaurants. Or give a gift of good fortune from the mall’s Chinese delis and bakeries.
Here’s what to keep in mind when celebrating a delicious and auspicious Chinese New Year with family and friends: a whole fish that highlights family togetherness and unity as well as abundance; duck dishes that represent fertility; oranges, tangerines, and pomelos are believed to bring good luck and happiness; wontons that symbolize a wish for a good start; and dumplings, which resemble ancient Chinese money (called pockets of fortune).
Share the good fortune with delicious dumplings from Tim Ho Wan (Ground floor City Center), Mann Hann (2F City Center), King Chef (GF The Block), Hap Chan (The Block), Fat Fook (GF City Center), and DECS (SM Supermarket).
Spring rolls, also called ‘spring pancakes’ are a symbol of wealth and prosperity. Try out Chowking Lumpiang Shanghai with Rice Meal or Group Platter, David’s Tea House (North Towers) Shanghai Spring Roll filled with pork, vegetables, and deep-fried to golden perfection, and Mann Hann’s Meaty Crunch Fried Spring Rolls. Noodles symbolize a wish for longevity and are said to be even luckier when not cut or if these can be eaten without biting through the strands, it’s considered even luckier. Try out Hawker Chan’s Michelin Star Charsiew Noodles and Panda Express’s Chow Mien.
Chinese delis and bakeries like Eng Bee Tin, Soy and Bean, Salazar Bakery, and Polland Hopia, are also a treasure trove of lucky food. Nian Gao or Tikoy symbolizes progress, advancement, and growth. Hopia is also considered a lucky food because of its round shape and sweetness. Kee Wah Bakery’s Tray of Togetherness is a platter of sweets families traditionally use to welcome visiting guests around the Lunar New Year. Each tray or box usually has six or eight compartments (the number six symbolizing luck, and eight for fortune) filled with symbolic edible items.
Apart from lucky food, you can also activate your lucky stars at SM City North EDSA by having your photo taken at the Interactive Lucky Giant Tiger at the Block Atrium surrounded by a Chinese-inspired garden.