Each year, SilverHairsClub has a CNY lunch, where members gt to come together, where possible in traditional new year costumes, have a lunch, exchange greetings, angpows and oranges. The event is two months away, but it is a good time to get started.
The place can be anywhere in Chinatown, a heartland, but preferably somewhere where the setting is Chinese, and serves traditional Chinese food, maybe tim sum or even just traditional Chinese sweets, cakes and tea. Seating minimum of 60, with flexibility to extend to 80. Budget is important, and I think,it should not exceed $19.
So, time to throw the ideas to club members. If you have an idea, simply scream it out. We need to have some ideas on place, and type of food. But importantly, an opportunity to meet and exchange "Xin Nian Kuai ler" greetings. And, of course, I am looking for someone to raise his/her hand to be the EO. But,not now, let’s go for ideas first. We close the brainstorm process on 10 Jan 2010.
Terence Seah
Errr Terence, why $19? During the festive season, most restaurants will jack up their prices. For a crowd of 60-80, it’ll have to be a big restaurant. There are plenty of nice eateries in Chinatown but from what I’ve seen, those that serve yummy food at reasonable prices are either at the Chinatown Complex Food Centre or the at the smaller restaurants.
A good idea will be for you to open your home to us. :p
*Runs and hide*
Ros
Haha!! For Terence to open his home to us… we must buy an airticket to Bangkok.
I think there may be some restaurants which may serve a set “dim sum” including “yee sang” at around $20 per person like the Lucky Restaurant where we had a Chinese New Year gathering last year?
Some restaurants where we can try asking about “sets” may be Dragon Phoenix and Yan Palace.
Maybe a better total price to aim for would be $20.10 including GST!
Another restaurant at chin swee road, served very good “Tim Sum” is the Red Star Restaurant, prices reasonably cheap also.
Ah Nee
Hi Ah Nee, Kenneth,
Yes, Red Star restaurant is the type of venue I think is great. We need to make it $19 and to include raw fish, dim sum and loads of Chinese tea.
Yan Palace and Dragon Pheonix are good. Any body got any comments on the above place. Got less expensive places or not. The objefctive is to meet in some old looking place, especially those where they have spitoons below the table.
Terence Seah
Haha!
Those that have spittoons are no more found in Singapore… you may have to go to a remote part of China to find them.
I’m sure that we can get a reasonable restaurant which will serve raw fish and dim sum for an amount below $20 per head.
Otherwise we will have to settle for the Smith Street food centre in Chinatown where the cheapest and best “yee sang” can be found. Remember the new year makan we had at the temporary market at Outram Park some year back?
Hi KennethT,
I remembered asking Ivy Low in HK to bring me to an old dim sum restaurant, where there were spittoons below the table. Of course, nowadays, they dont use this sophisticated gadget anymore, and so it is is almost there just for show.
From the forum feedback, I see we have suggestions for Smith Street food centre, Red Star, Fortunate Restaurant (Lucky), Yan palace, Dragon Pheonix, and of course a marvellous suggestion from Rosalind to come to Bangkok and have the CNY celebration here.
Yes, fellow SHCians, please toss your idea for this year CNY get together. Dont be shy.
Terence Seah
Hi Terence,
Ohh, you still remember the spittoons. Took me a lot of courage to bring you there. The place used to be on my off-list but I noticed the crowd is slightly changed these days with more tourists. The place used to be patronized by Ah Paks. The food, however, is still very authentic and yummy. I think there are more of such restaurants in Macau.
Btw, I just realised that 20 Feb 2010 is also the 7th day of the lunar new year i.e. everybody’s birthday (“yarn yat” in canto), according to the Cantonese.
Hi Ivy #7,
I still remember the spittons. Well, probably most restaurants have done away with this disposal unit years ago. Kenneth doesn’t think there is any left in Singapore.
I note 20th Feb 2010 is also everybody’s birthday. Tried to look around for a restuarant in Singapore to host our CNY lunch; but unfortunately, they are very expensive. Maybe we have to drop the idea of a CNY lunch, and just go to the nearest sarabat stall. So, I can rule out Yan palace, they are busy during this period.
Now, we see if we can chat up Fortunate restaurant again or Red Star restaurant, or some open-air markets.
Terence Seah
The idea of a Chinese New Year lunch seems cool. I guess maybe because nobody has raised his/her hand. Or is it because there are no places that can give a package price of $20 per head.
Kenneth, maybe we have to go to a temporary shelter serving raw fish. BTW, Yan palace refused to give us a package for raw fish with dim sum for $20. Even, as a high tea, as they feel they will be full house.
So, let’s drop it for now.
Terence Seah