Racines @ Sofitel Singapore City Centre - Feasts Of Fortune to Usher in Year of the Snake

This Lunar New Year, Sofitel Singapore City Centre celebrates the season of prosperity and reunion with thoughtfully curated culinary experiences, blending traditional flavours with modern touches. Over at Racines, the Fortune Set Lunches and Dinners curated are 4-course set lunch and 5-course set dinner, perfect for gatherings with loved ones or even business lunches.

Bountiful 8-Grain Yu Sheng (Tasting portion) 4/5

Begin the feast with an auspicious toss of Yu Sheng. The Bountiful 8-Grain Yu Sheng (Vegetarian) ($48/$88/$138), a new creation for the season, symbolizes an abundant harvest. Designed with health-conscious diners in mind, it features a wholesome mix of grains and seeds, including black-eyed beans, quinoa, pumpkin seeds, and millet, offering delightful textures.

Double-boiled Chicken Soup 5/5

The next course, a Double-boiled Chicken Soup with Dried Scallop and Cordycep Blossoms, impressed with its comforting sweetness and deep flavours, making it a crowd favourite.

Pen Cai 4.5/5

Another quintessential dish, Chef Andrew's Pen Cai, combines an opulent array of ingredients, such as abalone, scallops, prawns, pork belly, duck, pork tendon, fish maw, braised sea cucumber, fatt choy, and truffle. The sauce had a nice, savoury depth of flavour without being overly rich.

Deep-fried Tiger Prawn in Curry Garlic Aioli 3/5

The Deep-fried Tiger Prawn in Curry Garlic Aioli added a modern flair to the menu. While the batter was slightly greasy, the prawn itself was succulent, with a satisfying texture.

Hakka-style Pork Belly with Taro 4.5/5

The Hakka-style Pork Belly with Taro, a nostalgic recipe passed down in Chef Andrew's family since the 1970s, exuded a sense of homely comfort. Its richness was best enjoyed with a warm bowl of white rice.

Cod Fish with Yuzu Butter Sauce 4/5

Another dish that offered a contemporary twist to a Lunar New Year staple was the Cod Fish with Yuzu Butter Sauce. The fish was perfectly moist and flaky, while the yuzu butter sauce added a delightful balance of richness and citrusy brightness.

Hor Yip Fan 5/5

The highlight was the most aesthetically pleasing Hor Yip Fan (Steamed Waxed Meat Rice and Chinese Sausage in Lotus Leaf). This classic, traditionally made with glutinous rice, was reimagined with a lighter blend of fragrant rice and glutinous rice. Steamed with three waxed meats — pork, pork belly, and liver — for two hours, the dish was flavourful, texturally delightful, and certainly moreish!

Duo of Osmanthus Jelly with Bergamot Sorbet & Fried Nian Gao 3.5/5

Dessert was a Duo of Osmanthus Jelly with Bergamot Sorbet & Fried Nian Gao, delivering a delightful hot-and-cold contrast. While the crust of the Nian Gao was slightly thicker than expected, its chewy, sweet interior was satisfying. The refreshing bergamot sorbet rounded off the dessert beautifully. Osmanthus Jelly with Bergamot Sorbet

4-Course Fortune Set Lunch 13 January to 12 February 2025 12pm to 3pm $68++ per person
5-Course Fortune Set Dinner 13 January to 12 February 2025 6pm to 10pm $88++ per person

Photos and words by Si An. A girl who is allured by travelling, loves the feel of freedom, smell of the rain and the aroma of fine coffee and food. Note: This is an invited tasting.


Racines
Sofitel Singapore City Centre
Level 5
9 Wallich Street
Singapore 078885
Tel: +65 64285000
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Nearest MRT: Tanjong Pagar (EW Line)

Opening Hours:
Daily: 7am - 1030am, 12pm - 3pm, 530pm - 10pm

Direction:
1) Alight at Tanjong Pagar MRT station. Take Exit A. Turn right on Peck Seah Street. Walk to destination. Journey time about 3 minutes. [Map]

Ya Ge (雅阁) @ Orchid Hotel Singapore - A Springtime Feast of Togetherness For Chinese New Year

Ya Ge (雅阁), nestled within the Orchid Hotel, welcomes the Year of the Snake with its Chinese New Year 2025 Menu, a vibrant celebration of togetherness and abundance. The menu features nine festive dine-in options, ranging from $98++ per person to $2488++ for groups of ten, ensuring every intimate or grand gathering is imbued with culinary excellence. For those celebrating at home, Ya Ge also offers a takeaway menu with a variety of festive delights.

Crispy Golden Eel and Yellowtail Yu Sheng 4.2/5

No Chinese New Year celebration is complete without a Lo Hei, and Ya Ge takes it to the next level with its Crispy Golden Eel and Yellowtail Yu Sheng. Designed in the shape of a snake to honour the Year of the Snake, the dish combines vibrant yellowtail, crispy eel skin, and finely shredded vegetables. The highlight is the house-made passionfruit kumquat dressing, which adds a fruity zest to the traditional dish. The presentation is elevated with koi fish-shaped mango puddings, providing a delightful, sweet finishing touch.

Double-boiled Superior Soup with Whole Chicken and Shark's Fin stuffed in Pig's Maw 5/5

The Double-boiled Superior Soup is a showstopper. A deboned An Xin chicken and premium shark's fin are carefully stuffed inside a pig's maw, then slow-simmered in a broth brimming with flavours from old hen, chicken feet, chicken bones, lean meat, and white pepper. The result? A deeply comforting and indulgent bowl of soup with tender chicken and luscious shark's fin, perfect for savouring every last drop.

Stir-fried Australian Lobster with Truffle Oil, Pine Nuts, Hokkaido Milk and Asparagus 4/5

This luxurious dish features Stir-fried Australian Lobster paired with tender white asparagus, enveloped in a rich Hokkaido milk and egg white sauce. A touch of truffle oil adds an earthy aroma, while pine nuts and caviar lend textural contrast and umami richness. Every bite feels decadently smooth and flavourful — a true highlight of the meal.

Smoked Herb-infused Irish 'Pipa' Duck 5/5

The Smoked Herb-infused Irish 'Pipa' Duck is a crowd favourite. This masterpiece is dry-aged for 168 hours, marinated for 24 hours, and roasted to perfection. Smoked with a blend of Western and Chinese herbs, the duck's crispy, golden skin encases tender, flavourful meat, making it a sensory delight and a must-try dish for all diners.

Braised 5-head Abalone and Pork Trotter with White Shiitake Mushroom 4.5/5

Slow-braised for over four hours, the Braised Pork Trotter is fork-tender, with its gelatinous skin melting in the mouth. Paired with premium 5-head abalone and white shiitake mushrooms, the dish offers a harmonious blend of textures and flavours, complemented by a rich, aromatic sauce.

Claypot Chicken Rice with Chinese Sausage and Grilled Eel 4.2/5

The Claypot Chicken Rice is a comforting and elevated take on a classic. The rice, infused with the smoky essence of preserved meats like Chinese sausage, is fragrant and fluffy. Adding grilled eel as a topping enhances the dish with a layer of richness, creating a luxurious, flavourful finish.

Yoghurt Raspberry Pudding 4/5

Chilled Plum Jelly with Fresh Berries 4/5

The meal concludes on a refreshing note with two exquisite desserts. The Yoghurt Raspberry Pudding balances creamy sweetness with the tang of raspberry, while the Chilled Plum Jelly with Fresh Berries provides a sweet-and-sour symphony that is both light and invigorating, making it the perfect finale to a festive feast.

Ya Ge's CNY 2025 menu will be available for dine-in from 13 January to 12 February 2025, with reservations highly recommended due to limited seating and high demand. The takeaway sets and goodies can be made online 3 days in advance at https://eshop-yage.myshopify.com or the restaurant. Guests can enjoy a 15% discount on pre-orders made between 1 and 31 January. For more information on all Chinese New Year menus and takeaway festive goodies, please log on to www.orchidhotel.com.sg/offers/yage-2025-chinese-new-year

Note: This is an invited tasting


Ya Ge (雅阁)
Orchid Hotel Singapore
1 Tras Link
Singapore 078867
Tel: +65 6818 6831
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Instagram
Website
Nearest MRT: Tanjong Pagar (EW Line)

Opening Hours:
Daily: 1130am - 230pm, 530pm - 10pm

Direction:
1) Alight at Tanjong Pagar MRT station. Take Exit A. Walk straight towards Orchid Hotel. Journey time about 3 minutes. [Map]