Hotel listings

Beijing

Reunion dinner

Huang Ting at The Peninsula Beijing organizes an eight-course dinner on Feb 9, Lunar New Year's Eve. It is an excellent time for family and friends to spend quality time together while giving thanks for the year that has passed. Guests can also enjoy fireworks on the 14th floor terrace. Prices range from 380 yuan to 580 yuan and 880 yuan per head. 010-6510-6707.

Romantic getaway

Celebrate Valentine's Day at Regent Beijing, and enjoy a peaceful and romantic candlelight dinner right in the heart of Beijing. Award winning chef Mario with Italian restaurant Daccapo will personally prepare a special Valentine's Day menu at 1,288 yuan plus 15 percent for a couple or served with perfectly matched Italian wines at 1,688 yuan plus 15 percent. 010-8522-1789.

Good fortune dishes

Celebrate the Lunar New Year at Qi Chinese Restaurant, Ritz-Carlton Beiijing, Financial Street. Chef de Cuisine Jimmy Wong will serve a fine Chinese menu, including several typical dishes that are eaten to usher in wealth, happiness and good fortune. These include braised fish maw and sea cucumber with dried scallops, and steamed baby lobster with chopped garlic. Dinner sets in Qi Chinese Restaurant are priced from 688-1,888 yuan per person. Feb 8-17. 010-6601-6666.

New Year Hampers

Celebrate this coming Lunar New Year with a specially designed home-made niangao (New Year cake) gift boxes or choose from delicately packaged Chinese hampers from Hilton Beijing Wangfujing. Prepared with fresh ingredients, such as luxurious seafood and a special ham from Macao, hotel chefs will dish out evergreen Macao recipes using traditional cooking methods. 010-5812-8888 Ext 8411.

Michelin-star chef

Jewel Restaurant's new executive Chinese chef has specially crafted a few auspicious menus in celebration of Lunar New Year. Executive Chinese Chef Andy Ng from Hong Kong joins The Westin Beijing Financial Street from The 8, Grand Lisboa Macao, listed as the prestigious two-Michelin-star restaurant. The chef is known for his ingenuity in creating contemporary Hong Kong - style cuisine. Some of his signature dishes are stir-fried lobster with egg, minced pork and black beans, and deep-fried chicken with pomelo sauce. Feb 8-15. 010-6629-7810.

Shanghai

Romantic dinner

The Crowne Plaza Century Park Shanghai invites couples to enjoy a romantic dinner at the Park Cafe on Valentine's Day. The special Valentine's package includes a buffet dinner with a choice of champagne, red wine or white wine, a rose and a heart-shaped chocolate for women. Each guest will also receive a special Valentine's gift. 021-5190-8888 Ext 8307.

Take Melia home

Melia Hotels International, the first Spanish hotel company to launch its own online home products store, offers guests a chance to take the accommodation experience home with the purchase of its bedroom and bathroom products. Customers can buy a collection of bedroom and bathroom products through the website, www.meliahotels-store.com. The store was created in response to requests from guests. 800-456-55-456.

Mumm's the word

Leonardo's Italian restaurant in the Hilton Shanghai is introducing a Valentine's Day experience to satiate all the senses. Enjoy an epochal six-course gourmet dinner that includes two bottles of Mumm Champagne along with a two-night stay at the hotel. The package also includes Sunday brunch vouchers and a lucky draw. 021-6248-7777 Ext 1850.

Cafe Swiss of Swissotel Grand Shanghai is presenting an exceptional Easter Sunday buffet. The holiday feast includes various cuts of meat, fresh seafood and sweets like Swiss chocolate Easter eggs, cheesecake and tiramisu. The event also features a kid's corner. 021-5355-9898 Ext 6360.

Valentine special

Chef de Cuisine Dieter Stamminger of the Hyatt on the Bund is creating a special six-course Valentine's set menu to be enjoyed by candlelight against the background of Shanghai's twinkling city lights. The menu is composed of beetroot marinated Norwegian salmon, duck comfit tortellini, oven-roasted sirloin and much more. All guests at the dinner have the opportunity of wining the exciting prize of a two-night-stay at the Park Hyatt Ningbo or Hyatt Regency Jeju. 021-6393-6622 Ext 6225.

(China Daily 02/02/2013 page13)