Celebrate Chinese New Year at Hutong

Following the success of last year’s Chinese New Year celebrations, award-winning Northern Chinese restaurant, Hutong, will again be celebrating on 19^th February with a host of exciting events drawing inspiration from many Chinese traditions. The festivities will begin with a traditional Reunion Dinner, held on New Year’s Eve, Wednesday 18^th February. The celebrations will culminate on 19^th February with a special ‘Double Happiness’ set menu priced at £88, 8 being considered the luckiest number in Chinese tradition. Hutong will also be ‘cleaning the restaurant’ in preparation for the New Year. All of the red lanterns will be re-hung to signify a new start and to bring good luck for the year to come.

Traditionally, the Reunion Dinner, held by families to celebrate together and bring luck for the year ahead, is a generous feast with a fish centrepiece. Priced at £68 per person at dinner only, Hutong’s menu will feature five courses including Steamed cod with Sichuan peppercorn and Aromatic beef rib braised in lotus leaf.

The ‘Double Happiness’ menu will feature the customary Lo Hei mixed raw seafood salad (salmon, yellow tail, shredded abalone tossed with assorted vegetables and sweet plum sauce). The origins of Lo Hei date back more than 750 years to the days of the Song Dynasty when fishermen along the coast of China would celebrate the seventh day of Chinese New Year, known as Renri or ‘everyone’s birthday’, with this fresh fish and diced vegetable dish. The most important (and fun) part of eating “Lo Hei” is the mixing together of the ingredients; to ensure good luck for the coming year, everyone calls out “Lo Hei” which means “to mix it up” but also sounds like “ to prosper more and more”, while tossing the ingredients high into the air.

The menu will also include: a selection of dim sum dishes; Hutong’s signature Red Lantern soft shell crab;  Boneless Dover sole braised in coriander-vinegar sauce; Crispy de-boned lamb ribs; Chicken fried with Sichuan dried chilli; Wok-fried kai-lan with ginger sauce; and Lotus leaf-wrapped rice with egg white, crab meat and scallions. Dessert will be Hutong-style mango cheesecake.

The special dinner will be accompanied by a traditional lion dance, to ward off nian or evil spirits, as well as Chinese musicians and noise-makers. Hutong will also offer special Year of the Goat wishing cards and the traditional candy box. Another tradition which Hutong will be adding their twist to, is the giving of red envelopes filled with money. Each table will be given a red envelope with their bill which will contain a gift courtesy of Hutong, and in one lucky table’s case, their entire bill will be complimentary.

To make a reservation, please call 020 3011 1257 or email hutongreservations@aqua-london.com or visit www.hutong.co.uk