New Years Eve often follows a familiar formula. Heavy anticipation, meticulous planning and desperate phone calls to make sure everyone is in the same place at the same time when the clock strikes twelve. Great in theory right! The reality is somewhat different. The last night of the year generally leads to excessive alcohol consumption, emotional outbursts and a big fat dent in your Christmas pay cheque when it comes to getting a cab home – if you can even find one that is. Of course, this comes after you’ve spent an inordinate amount of money for the privilege of wasting your evening in a pub where your feet stick to the floor and their idea of a pub snack is a flaccid packet of cheese and onion crisps.
So, as we’re such nice people here at Tomato Towers, we’re giving you a second chance. (Kind of). Chinese New Year falls on the 23rd of January this year, heralding the year of the dragon (hence the title – get it?), an extremely powerful symbol in Chinese culture denoting power, passion and spirit. As the number eight in China is synonymous with wealth and prosperity, making a nice change from doing a ‘top 10’, we thought we’d give you a splendid, ‘top 8’ things to do in London for CNY. (Plus this means my editor will still pay me the same for doing slightly less work). So, this may just help make amends if your new year was as anti-climactic as mine.
For starters why not attend the main event itself? The celebrations around London’s Chinatown will take place on Sunday the 29th of January (unfortunately the 23rd falls on a Monday, and we all know what Bob Geldof said about them) with the area undergoing an overhaul in order to be suitably primed for the occasion. Cultural stalls, Chinese art and lion dancers feature, while just around the corner in Trafalgar Square a parade kicks off at 10.15 am before winding its way through Chinatown itself. Trafalgar Square will remain devoted to the festival for the rest of the day ending with a fireworks display at 5.30pm. The best thing about all this? It won’t cost you a penny!
The excellent Chinese Cricket Club in Blackfriars is offering a set menu for £46 in conjunction with the year of the dragon, highlights include Cricket Club Lobster Dumplings, Pork Belly in Panda Leaf and Coconut Custard with Tropical Coulis. We have sampled the delights of this Sichuan themed restaurant and were really knocked for six……watch this space for the full review to follow. Why not partake in some dishes that are rarely seen on Chinese takeaway menus? For the bold there is Chicken Feet in Blackbean, for the even bolder Steamed Tripe, and for the boldest of the bold there is Sichuan Style Duck Tongues (mmmmmmm…….).
Did you ever think you’d be able to tell your mates you would be dining with The Queen? She may not actually be inside the Grand Imperial London on Buckingham Palace Road, but she may be tempted when she hears that if you whisper the phrase ‘…enter the dragon…’ softly to a member of staff you will automatically enter a lucky dip which includes all manner of treats from the Hong Kong Cantonese menu. Head Chef Leung has also created 10 authentic Cantonese dishes to celebrate the festival (the more adventurous among you may want to sample the Sea Moss and Pig’s Tongue Soup, which symbolises profit and opportunity).
Europe’s leading consumer reviews website Qype recently revealed the results of their top 50 Chinese restaurants in the UK with no less than eight London establishments featuring in the top 10. If you are fortunate enough to have some money in the bank at the end of the month try Soho’s Michelin-starred Yauatcha, Covent Garden’s Hakkasan, Elephant and Castle’s Dragon Castle or Christine Yau’s Yming in Greek Street.
Another London restaurant featuring a dragon themed set menu is the Lotus Floating Chinese Restaurant in Docklands. If you’re looking to impress somebody special the top deck is host to an exclusive New Year party featuring magicians, lion dancers and a 10 course menu. Prices are around the £35 mark and lifebelts are included.
Whatever you decide to do, Blue Tomato wishes you good luck and prosperity for the coming CNY.
Xin Nian Kuai Le!
Date posted: 21/01/2012
Category: News, Top 10s.
Tags: Chinese New Year, london, restaurants.
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