The First Meal of Chinese New Year: You Absolutely Can't Miss This!
The Spring Festival is the most important, grandest, and liveliest traditional holiday in China, holding a special place in every Chinese person's heart. On this day, we indulge in the boundless joy that food brings, and more importantly, we cherish the precious reunion time shared with friends and family over a meal, recording the happiness of gathering with modern, authentic dishes. Many Chinese in London likely have a favorite Chinese restaurant tucked away in their hearts, and Yauatcha is the most repeated answer I've heard! This year, Yauatcha has launched a special limited-edition Year of the Rabbit set menu, which is exquisitely cute and absolutely not to be missed.
To celebrate the upcoming Chinese lunar New Year—the Year of the Rabbit—from January 10 to February 7, 2023, Yauatcha restaurants in London's Soho and City will collaborate with Bombay Sapphire Premier Cru to offer a limited-edition luxury menu and cocktails, adorning both restaurants with beautiful custom rabbit illustrations. The first thing that catches the eye on Yauatcha's New Year limited menu is the "Plentiful Gold Dim Sum Platter," symbolizing wealth, which includes Yauatcha's signature blue swimmer crab dumplings, prawn and chicken shumai, and pepper venison puff. The main courses include "King of the Sea Welcomes Spring"—salt and pepper lobster with radish cake, and "Great Rabbit Expansiveness"—three-cup rabbit meat, served with sweet basil, spring onions, and chili. As side dishes, "Six Six Great Fortune"—garlic asparagus marks a new beginning, and "Golden Splendor"—soy vermicelli represents longevity. Additionally, you can order extra "Twist of Ox Turning Fortune"—Angus beef with kumquat, elevating the Chinese New Year dining experience to a new level.
The "Jade Rabbit Congratulates the Year"—sweet sesame rabbit cake features flavors of yuzu, black sesame, and citrus; the "Macaron Berry Dream Come True" is designed in the adorable shape of a little rabbit, with raspberry and Sichuan pepper as special elements, providing the perfect ending to the Year of the Rabbit set menu. Yauatcha's Chinese New Year set menu is priced at £78 per person, and all dishes on the menu can also be found on the à la carte menu. As a traditional symbol of prosperity, abundance, and good fortune, Yauatcha's exquisite pineapple cakes will also make a return, available for in-restaurant enjoyment or purchase from the dessert counter, and are also available for online orders with delivery across the UK. (A box of 8 pineapple cakes is priced at £28.)
From carefully selected ingredients in the dishes and playful cocktails to custom illustrations, Yauatcha has drawn inspiration from the Year of the Rabbit to launch a series of creative celebrations for the Chinese Lunar New Year. This "Rabbit Raises Eyebrows" cocktail is made with Bombay Premier Cru gin, carrot, rosemary, and apple, created by Daniele Guarini, bar manager at Yauatcha Soho. Daniele drew inspiration from the rabbit in the Chinese zodiac and its symbolism of elegance and patience, combined with the iconic pink color. The carefully chosen rosemary and carrot symbolize prosperity and peace. Notably, this cocktail is also available as a non-alcoholic version, allowing guests to experience the same flavors.
What's more, Wing Sum, Senior Graphic Designer at Tao Group Hospitality UK, dedicated her efforts to creating custom illustrations and overall visual design, using soft, lovely pink tones to decorate Yauatcha's two London restaurants, conveying continuous good fortune. Additionally, two spectacular lion dance performances will take place—on January 20 at 6:00 PM at Yauatcha City, and on January 22 at 1:00 PM at Yauatcha Soho—reviving classic culture and celebrating the arrival of the Chinese New Year with everyone.
Yauatcha's Chinese New Year limited set menu will be available from January 10 to February 7, 2023, priced at just £78 per person. Reservations can be made on Yauatcha's official website—time to arrange your first meal of the new spring!
Furthermore, Yauatcha City will launch a Chinese New Year's Eve Dim Sum Masterclass on January 21, 2023, priced at £158 per person, to celebrate the Year of the Rabbit.
In this masterclass, participants will have the opportunity to make six types of premium Chinese dishes with Michelin chefs: steamed, fried, and baked dim sum, making dumplings with the chefs, and creating their own Year of the Rabbit Chinese pastries.
This masterclass is also a feast for the senses. Yauatcha will serve the super delicious signature crispy duck salad, the limited-edition morel mushroom and scallop rice rolls from the Chinese New Year menu, and the specially made sweet sesame rabbit cake for the Year of the Rabbit as the masterclass's elevated lunch. Additionally, participants can enjoy a glass of premium Champagne and the "Rabbit Raises Eyebrows" cocktail created in collaboration between Yauatcha and Bombay Sapphire Premier Cru, welcoming the Year of the Rabbit with joy!
The Chinese New Year Dim Sum Masterclass can be booked on Yauatcha City's official website—come and make your own New Year dim sum!
