Haute Event: Hakkasan Celebrates Chinese New Year

Hakkasan at the MGM Grand welcomed the Year of the Horse by kicking off its Chinese New Year celebration with a traditional lion dance on Friday night.

From the pounding of drums to the stirring of chants, the festive vibrations filled the restaurant. The clashing tone of cymbals resounded throughout the venue as the lion troupe made its way through the intimate latticed woodwork cages, offering symbolic expressions of luck, fortune, wisdom and joy.

As the lion troupe meandered through the narrow walkways, guests were given a red envelope that included a $2 bill to drop into the mouth of the lion, a Chinese tradition believed to bring good luck and fortune. Onlookers were eager to catch a glimpse of the playful performance as many migrated from their seats to take pictures of the charismatic figure and join in on the colorful parade.

To continue in the celebration, Hakkasan is offering a specialty Chinese New Year menu, along with its traditional a la carte offerings, now through Sunday, Feb. 9. Michelin-starred chef Ho Chee Boon, who is responsible for producing Hakkasan’s finest signature dishes has created a selection of specialty items that includes honey beef short ribs with bell peppers, stir-fry Chilean sea bass in sanpei sauce, deep-fry seafood with pine nuts and many more.

For this limited time, guests who order the house made macaroon selection will receive a signature red macaroon depicting the Chinese character for the Year of the Horse, filled with a delicate mandarin ganache and mandarin pâte de fruit. Additionally, patrons can finish their meal with a decadent dessert tasting of handmade petits fours to match the good fortune of the year, highlighting the taste, texture and colors associated with the holiday.

Click on the photos below to enlarge.

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