Finally some time to update you on our going ons over the last couple of weeks.
23 January heralded the start of the Year of the Dragon. We can imagine a better way to start the year of this sybolically auspicious horoscope sign!
New Years' Day started off with all the usual pre new year supertitions, the burning of joss paper (and no cleaning up afterwards - cos we dont want to throw out any luck), and of course a lot of food.
We have this amazing antique brass Buddha that is on display for the next couple of months. This Buddha has been blessed in a temple, so if you pop in early in the evening, you might catch the lingering insense we'll have burning.
New year day was a flurry of excitement as we released our New Year Banquet
And of course, the bar stocked up with Chinese Lucky Beer!
There HAS to be plenty of beer!!
And it was such a balmy summers' night, but that didn't seem to dampen the lion dancers enthusiasm one bit.
Being showered in lettuce signifies being showered with "green" so, yes, it means you gonna make loads of money in the new year. If it didn't happen to you this year, make sure you grab a great seat and be there at the centre of the action next February for the Year of the Snake!
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No sooner had the drums and loud noises chased out all the bad vibes and brought in all the lucky ones, we started to get ready for our launch.
Our girl with the dragon tattoo.....around 3am on the Wednesday morning.
More decorations went up....
Including this amazing 70 year old miniature wild olive Bonsai, lovingly cultivated by Chef Ken.
And finally the big day arrived. We had chosen the last day of Chinese New Year as our launch night as it commonly known as Chinese Valentines' Day - the only night of the year that young ladies in ancient China were allowed out of the house to view the flower stalls and lanterns that the street vendors set up for the first full moon of the year. Nowadays in Asia, it is the last celebration day before everyone goes back to their work or farms for the year ahead.
The crew started early with preparations,
The line went through the car park....stopping traffic.
How wonderful it is it to catch up with old friends!
Plenty of food and beer.....
And then, more lion dancing
by 7pm, we were chocablock
and then there was even more lion dancing......
Many thanks to our team for making it such a great night, and of course our VIP's, some who have supported us for over 30 years!
We hope everyone had a marvellous time and we look forward serving you plenty of fine food in the year to come!
Images by David Huang
