Ela Carte’s eats for Chinese New Year

CHINESE NEW YEAR: 

Spice Temple: To celebrate Chinese New Year and the Year of the Monkey, Spice Temple Melbourne will be presenting an exclusive banquet menu from 1 ? 13 February.

Neil Perry and Head Chef Graeme Hunt have created a special menu incorporating ingredients that promote health, wealth and fertility during New Year festivities.

Priced at $95 per person, with an additional $55 for matching wines, 

Ruyi, Chinatown: RuYi will celebrate Chinese New Year with special dinners on Saturday 6th, Sunday 7th, and Monday 8th February.

They have two special set menus each evening, the first starts at 5:30 pm and is priced at $85 per person, the second start at 8:15, $95 per person with lion dancing; you can also choose to add 4 courses of matching wine handpicked by sommelier.

It’s a gorgeous looking menu, including mains of steamed lobster in soy lime broth & black Angus fire cracker with steamed rice. 

Luna Park: Take a ‘wok’ down to Melbourne’s Luna Park this Chinese New Year and join in their fun-filled celebrations – which will no doubt leave you ‘wonton’ more! Over the last weekend of Chinese New Year – Saturday 20th and Sunday 21st February – Luna Park is inviting you to celebrate the Chinese zodiac and ‘Monkey’ around, enjoying their oriental inspired entertainment.

Luna Park will come alive with red Chinese lanterns and traditional dance performances. Kids will be able to immerse themselves in Chinese culture in the craft activity area where they will have the chance to get creative and make their very own Chinese fans and lanterns. The Chinese Museum will also host cultural workshops, explaining the Chinese zodiac and the meaning behind the Year of the Monkey.

Dandelion Restaurant, Elwood: Will hold their annual Lunar New Year celebration on Sunday February 7th, featuring a blessing by the lion dancers, firecrackers to ward off evil spirits and a menu of ceremonial dishes, only prepared once a year, presented with Dandelion flair.

This seven course banquet is inspired by our head chef Ennis Le’s traditional family dishes, cooked only for New Year celebrations, including B?nh t?t, the intricate, slow cooked ceremonial rice cake.

Dinner from 6.00pm. Lion dance, blessing & firecrackers from 6.30pm. Banquet menu $88 and $48 for children.