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The smell of roast chicken wafting from the kitchen, nieces and nephews laughing and playing cards, cousins clinking glasses of whisky and you, wishing you were still young enough to collect those little “hong bao” instead of give them out.
Yes, the Year of the Monkey is upon us. We love the family togetherness as much as the next guy, but it’s the food and drinks that make Chinese New Year so special. Get excited for the festivities with these five dishes and the perfect drink pairing to accompany them.
1. Steamed seabass with ginger, chili and spring onions symbolizes abundance so it’s a must-have at New Year dinner. We love the bold ginger and chilli flavor with a glass of Bernard Lonclas Cuvee Prestige Extra Dry Champagne. The zesty, nutty, crisp notes in the fizzy drink will pair well with the bold fish flavors.
2. Fried golden vegetable and pork dumplings symbolize little bags of gold. They say the more dumplings you eat, the more wealth is coming your way in the year ahead. Serve these little morsels right after midnight with garlic soy dipping sauce. Wash them down with a chilled sip of Four Fox Premium Sake. Best served cold, this sake has hints of mineral, floral aroma and is a perfect match with fried snacks like dumplings or spring rolls.
3. Roast duck or roast chicken are kept whole, which symbolizes completeness. The perfect pairing for spiced poultry is the malty, super smooth whisky Taketsuru 21 Years Pure Malt Whisky. Drink it neat or on the rocks to bring out notes of spices, black pepper, and tangy cherry with hints of peat and marmalade on the finish.
4. When your aunty inevitably brings out the seared turnip cake with spicy chili dipping sauce, get your glass of Highland Park 12 Years Single Malt Whisky ready. This whisky is another premium single malt that should be sipped neat. It’s perfect with snacks like the crisp on the outside, soft on the inside turnip cake – especially when doused in chili.
5. Spicy sizzling prawns are another must-have Chinese New Year dish. Stir fry them in Szechuan chili sauce for a kick of flavor. Pair the spicy prawns with Buffalo Trace Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey. This whiskey is classically paired with spicy, zesty dishes like Jambalaya (prawns in spicy tomato sauce) in the southern United States, but this New Year it provides a new take on Chinese food.
It might be all about Chinese New Year these days, but we haven’t forgotten about that most romantic of holidays. So, here is a bonus pairing for Valentine’s Day: Champagne Bernard Lonclas Blanc de Blancs Brut with a sumptuous dessert. The vibrant acidity and citrus/apple flavor in the champagne pairs perfectly with creamy desserts like chocolate cake or a decadent lemon tart. Order a bottle (or a party pack) to get the evening started on Valentine’s Day.
Whatever your party needs be, HK Liquor Store has the custom party pack to get the night started. Seriously, they have everything you need from house parties to weddings.
HK Liquor Store has the largest whisky, gin and vodka selection in Hong Kong. There are over 1,100 products online and free delivery for orders of 500 HKD and up.
Order now, in time for CNY and Valentine’s Day, with the promo code COCOCNY for 15% off selected items. Delivery takes just 3 business days, once payment is processed.
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