Welcoming the Year of the Tiger
Shangri-La Hotel Jakarta

February 13th 2010

The Chinese New Year - also known as the Spring Festival - is celebrated in the second month after the Winter Festival. The Spring Festival is one of the three most important festivals in the Chinese lunar calendar, along with the Dragon Boat Festival and the Mid-Autumn Festival. This year, the Chinese New Year will be celebrated on 14 February 2010, ushering in the Year of the Tiger.

Shangri-La Hotel, Jakarta celebrates the arrival of the Year of the Tiger by providing entertainment and indulgences for guests who celebrate the Chinese New Year. Representing 12 Chinese zodiacs, 12 animal statues will be place in the lobby area, while lantern decorations will beautify Shang Palace and SATOO restaurant. Red packets hanging from pussy willow will be place in public areas of the hotel, adding bliss to the festival.

Shang Palace, the hotel's Cantonese Chinese restaurant, will become the heart of the Chinese New Year celebrations. From 1 to 28 February 2009, Shang Palace will offer Spring Festival - Chinese New Year Auspicious Cuisine consisting of 10 special dishes that are believed to bring good fortune in the next year. Dishes include Seafood Roll with Chilled Crabmeat Jelly, Stir Fried Scallops and Prawns with Mushroom, Baked Cod Fish with Barbecue Sauce, and Braised Three Headed Abalone with Sea Cucumber.

For Chinese New Year's Eve on 13 February 2010, Shang Palace will prepare three auspicious set menus. The Gold, Diamond and Jade set menus can be enjoyed on Chinese New Year's Eve with prices starting at Rp. 488,000++ per person, while the Chinese New Year's Day semi buffet lunch can be savoured for only Rp. 188,000++ per adult and Rp. 98,000++ per child.

A dish that is precious to the Chinese community, especially during Chinese New Year, is the Yu Sheng. Yu Sheng is a colourful salad served with raw fish (literally, yu means fish and sheng means raw). Raw fish symbolises new life, while the word yu is also used to represent welfare.

Eating Yu Sheng can be quite a spectacle. Diners gathering around the table can participate in mixing the Yu Sheng. Using chopsticks, diners mix the salad and raw fish together. Once the salad and fish have been mixed, guests raise the combination using chopsticks, exclaiming, "Lo hei," which can be translated as "to mix" and as "for a never-ending fortune." Yu Sheng is available at Shang Palace from 1 to 28 February 2010 in the four options of Salmon, Abalone and Lobster Yu Sheng (starting at Rp. 628,000++), Abalone Yu Sheng (starting at Rp. 398,000++), Salmon Yu Sheng (starting at Rp. 158,000++) and Lobster Yu Sheng (starting at Rp. 300,000++).

At SATOO restaurant, diners will find the Chinese New Year will be more like a culinary voyage featuring dishes served at the 12 open kitchen stations. The journey of flavours can be enjoyed on 13 and 14 February 2010 for Rp. 409,000++ per adult and Rp. 209,000++ per child. The buffet with free-flowing wine and beer is Rp. 499,000++ per person. Meanwhile, the Grand Ballroom will be opened to accommodate guests who would like to enjoy a Chinese New Year's Eve Family Buffet for Rp. 299,000++ per adult and Rp. 159,000++ per child.

Embracing the Year of the Tiger, Shangri-La Hotel, Jakarta will set up a Chinese New Year Wheel of Fortune on 13 and 14 February 2010. For every Rp. 3,888,000 nett spent in Shang Palace, SATOO and Grand Ballroom during Chinese New Year's Eve dinner and lunch, guests have the chance to spin the wheel of fortune consisting of 12 Chinese zodiacs. If the arrow stops at the sign of the Tiger, the guest's name will go to a raffle for prizes such as free stays, free Platinum Club memberships, free Health Club membership, dining vouchers, spa vouchers and cake vouchers.

Lion dancers and dragon dancers will spread the festive spirit around Shangri-La Hotel, Jakarta and its restaurants on Chinese New Year's Eve and Chinese New Year's Day. This year, Shangri La Hotel, Jakarta will be presenting a pair of southern lions, a pair of northern lions, and one dragon to dance around the restaurants and Grand Ballroom and greet guests at the tables.

In the Chinese tradition, there is one special cake that needs to be present during Chinese New Year celebrations. The cake is called Nian Gao, which is also a symbol of fortune. During the Chinese New Year, the kitchen gods will come to each household and evaluate the family that lives there. The kitchen gods will then send the scores to the Jade Emperor in heaven. The taste of the Nian Gao will also reflect the score reported by the kitchen gods. The sweeter the Nian Gao, the better score the family will have. The Nian Gao, being a sticky cake, will most likely keep the kitchen gods' mouths shut, so all that can be reported to the Jade Emperor is a smile (due to the Nian Gao's sweetness).

The sticky Nian Gao can be purchased at the Deli Shop during February 2010. Besides traditional Nian Gao, Shangri-La Hotel, Jakarta also presents Signature Nian Gao with pandan and green tea flavours.

This year, the hotel is also offering the Happiness and Prosperity Chinese New Year hampers with prices starting at Rp. 988,000+ per package.

For reservations or further information, please contact hotel's Restaurant Reservation Desk (021) 574 8168 or access the website www.platinumclubjakarta.com.

Posted on January 26th 2010