OK so most of us have not booked that Chinese get away yet, but hold your red lanterns, Lotus Dining Group has you covered with a host of feasts to celebrate Chinese New Year.
Our pick of the group is Gardens by Lotus. Let’s chat location first. Stepping into the Chinese Gardens is a teleportation both visually and gastronomically. We are welcomed by a lion dance which has our ears ringing long after the cymbols and the prancing lion has stopped. If you’re lucky like us, the sun will be shining, the willow tress will be billowing in the breeze over the lake, koi carp will be happily breaching like its whale season and the cascade of waterfalls just begs you to order a glass of Tumbarumba sparkling Lock & Key and soak it all in.
Things really get going with the ordering – in that you dont have to with this lunar banquet. We kick off with a rather unusual starter a prosperity salad – shaved carrot, radish it’s topped with cornflakes! We are asked to toss it as high as we can as it brings us good luck! The dumplings are such cuties that its really hard to be the one to chomp into these cute little fishies! The skill is next level. Next up, things get a little more fun as delicious duck pancakes are devoured in a DIY frenzy of roast duck slices, cucumber and hoisin. Dishes of salt & pepper calamari and fish with traditional combo of ginger and shallots are perfectly balanced. What a feast when you add a feisty crab rice to soak up all the juices.
At the end its worth popping next door to the Chinese Gardens and walking off a great meal just don’t feel too guilty as you watch the carp knowing that you just ate one of its dumpling mates! Gong hei fat choy!
Gardens by Lotus, Darling Harbour, Sydney
Lunar New Year Banquest – Enjoy a 9-course share style banquet starting from $88. From 20th January 2020 – 9th February 2020
