Chinese New Year is coming up next week and London is awash with celebration menus and delicious dishes to tantalise your tastebuds, no more so than the spectacular feast available now at The Peninsula Hotel.
The Hong Kong based hotel brand of course embraces the traditions and hospitality of the celebration to honour the Year of the Snake, but this year has gone one step further in renaming its signature Canton Blue restaurant to Canton Red as it introduces its limited edition menu, avaialble now until 8th February. Red is a sacred colour in Chinese culture, symbolising good fortune, prosperity, happiness, and vitality so the restaurant’s glossy blue entrance doors have had a vibrant makeover to red, with the interiors decorated with vibrant, red florals and luminous Chinese lanterns as it invites diners to celebrate the Lunar New Year with an exclusive menu crafted to honour the season.
We paid a visit last week for a sneak preview of the new menu, featuring innovative interpretations of culturally significant dishes. It begins with a dim sum platter featuring delicate golden fish dumpling with pumpkin seafood sauce, barbecued pork, prawn dumpling, and crispy chicken with savoury shrimp paste. The main courses include steamed fish with ginger, shiitake mushrooms, and soy sauce; deep-fried lobster with salted egg sauce; stir-fried Wagyu beef with wild mushrooms, and homemade spinach noodles, finishing with a chestnut cream and mandarin mousse, symbolising wealth and good fortune.
Guests dining at Canton Red will also receive a traditional red envelope, and on 29th January, a Chinese calligrapher will create bespoke messages of prosperity for the year ahead. The three-course set menu is available for £188 per person (exclusive of drinks) at both lunch and dinner sittings.
Each bite is more delicious than the last, full of delicate, subtle flavours and beautiful finishes, an extremely special menu fitting for such an auspicious celebration. The stunning Tea Lounge will also play host to daily hour long Chinese tea masterclasses at 3:30pm from Saturday 25th January to Wednesday 5th February. Led by The Peninsula London’s expert tea masters, each session includes tastings of three teas, paired with light dim sum, pastries, and traditional sweets. Participants will learn the history and techniques of this ancient ritual and experience its sensational flavours. This intimate experience, ideal for family and friends, is limited to eight participants per session and can be reserved on SevenRooms.com for £48 per person.
If you're in the area on Wednesday, 29th January, be sure to stop by for the traditional Dragon Dance which will take place in the hotel’s courtyard from 11am.
