Watch the fireworks on February 11 at the Regent Hong Kong

The Regent Hong Kong's Chinese New Year offerings include:

Hong Kong Cuisine 1983

Celebrate Chinese New Year with Hong Kong Cuisine 1983's ala carte dishes (HK$468 to HK$980). Every dish carries a symbolic meaning. Lohei (HK$580), a salad of fresh salmon and mixed vegetables, invites prosperity and abundance; prawns in salted egg yolk (HK$580) signifies wealth and happiness, while braised Wagyu beef cheek with shacha sauce, served claypot style (HK$980), represents strength and heritage.

Hong Kong Cuisine 1983's HK$438 Good Fortune Turnip Cake Gift Box features two turnip (radish) cakes, each weighing 800 g. Both feature dried conpoy (scallop) and preserved meats. A smoked version infuses the turnip cakes with a hint of barbecue smoke. Ingredients like tea leaves, sugarcane, imperatae, and brown sugar are used in the smoking process.

Pâtisserie Millefeuille

Source: The Regent Hong Kong. The contents of the CNY Golden Ingot Gift Box.

The CNY Golden Ingot Gift Box (HK$148/box) is inspired by the dragon, which is often pictured holding a golden ingot. Chef Lionel has crafted a special edition golden ingot gift box symbolising prosperity and good luck. The ingot contains buttery pistachio and chocolate chip sablés made with pistachios from France and 60% dark chocolate chips from Valrhona.

Teppanyaki Mihara GOTEN

Teppanyaki Mihara GOTEN is offering a nine-course CNY Valentine's Day Menu priced at $2,080 up to February 19. On the menu are dishes such as Lobster cocktail with caviar, pan-roasted A5 Kumamoto Wagyu beef tenderloin with truffle sauce, all prepared on the teppan grill. The menu also features sautéed chu toro with grated yam and broiled Ezo abalone.

Other festive dining arrangements include:  

Harbourside

Lunch buffet, February 10–13

- 12 noon-3 pm 

- HK$728 per adult

Dinner buffet, February 10, 12 and 13

- There are two seatings, 5:30 pm-8 pm and 8:30 pm - 11 pm

- HK$998 per adult

Fireworks Dinner Buffet on February 11

- 6 pm–10 pm

 - HK$1,888 per adult

Lai Ching Heen

The Fat Choy 6-Course Set Menu is on offer up to February 25, 2024, other than on February 11, for HK$2,088 per person. A reservation made at least 48 hours in advance is required.

February 11 will see a Fireworks 6-Course Dinner Menu served from 6 pm–10 pm, at HK$3,488 per adult.

The Lobby Lounge

A festive afternoon tea is available from February 10–13 at HK$1,288 for two people.

- 12 noon – 3 pm (1st seating)

- 3 pm – 6 pm (2nd seating)

A Fireworks 6-Course Dinner Menu is available on February 11 for HK$1,388 per person.

- 6 pm to 11 pm 

Nobu Hong Kong

February 10, 12 and 13 will see an eight-course omakase dinner menu.

- 6 pm – 10 pm 

- HK$1,688 per person

The Fireworks 8-Course Omakase Dinner Menu will be available on February 11.

- 6 pm–10 pm 

- HK$2,288 per person 

Qura Bar

The Lunar New Year Fireworks Table Package on February 11 runs from 5:30 pm to 1 am. Standard tables for up to four guests cost HK$3,000, while premium tables cost HK$5,000 for up to four guests. Additional guests may join each table at HK$600 per person, for a maximum of six persons per table.

The Steak House

A Fireworks 5-Course Dinner Menu is available on February 11. 

- 6 pm–11 pm

- HK$2,588 per adult 

Private dining rooms can be reserved for a HK$36,000 minimum menu consumption charge.

*Dine-in prices are subject to a 10% service charge.

Goodwood Park Hotel celebrates the Lunar New Year with an abundance of delectables

Celebrate spring with Goodwood Park Hotel’s new selection of Lunar New Year Goodies, yu sheng (lohei) platters, and savoury Prosperity Specials.

Symbolising fortune, the pineapple is the focus of this year’s takeaway goodies. Goodwood Park Hotel has also created two new yu sheng platters – the Prosperity amberjack lo hei and the fruity lo hei with rosemary plum sauce, as well as a range of savoury delights.

A special English Afternoon tea spread showcasing favourite classics and Lunar New Year treats will also be available at the high tea destination L’Espresso from 27 to 30 January 2017.

Lunar New Year goodie highlights*

Duo of Prosperity Fish (mango with Pomelo and Sago & Durian Pudding) 年年有余 | Available for takeaway at The Deli Takeaway, S$115.55 nett for 10 persons

Guests can also opt to purchase a pair of durian pudding fishes for S$126.25 nett.

Auspicious golden pineapple (黄金旺梨) - 1kg 

Available for takeaway at The Deli, S$94.15 nett

Handcrafted by the hotel’s pastry team and then gilded, this approximately 9" tall vanilla pound cake has five layers sandwiched with butter cream. The pineapple symbolises an abundance of wealth.

The Huat! Tart.

The Huat! Tart (富贵发达) - 500g
Available for takeaway at The Deli. Takeaway: S$40.65 nett

A large version of the quintessential festive treat, this 6.5" pineapple tart is created with a homemade fresh pineapple reduction infused with vanilla. It is crowned with an auspicious 發 character, (fa, which means prosperity) and colloquially pronounced as ‘huat’.

Traditional new year cookies and chips
Available for takeaway at The Deli from S$21.20 nett to S$36.15 nett per jar

Goodwood Park Hotel’s festive snacks have garnered a loyal following, particularly for its macadamia & chocolate chip cookies, almond cookies, yam chips and the popular ‘chiku’ (arrowhead) chips. New this year are pistachio cookies.

Spicy salted egg yolk lotus root chips (辣椒咸蛋莲藕片) Available for takeaway at The Deli, S$36.15 nett per jar

Homemade chips generously coated with salted egg yolk crumbs, spiced up with chilli padi and curry leaves.

Prosperity specials at Min Jiang and Min Jiang at One-North*

Prosperity yu sheng this year includes a crispy salted egg yolk fish skin ‘Lo Hei’ (酥炸咸蛋鱼皮捞起) prepared in the hotel. The above, as well as popular varieties of yu sheng are served with julienned vegetables such as white turnips, carrots, and yam as well as accompaniments like pickled ginger and jellyfish in a zesty homemade sauce. 

Source: Goodwood Park Hotel. Options for Prosperity yu sheng platters. Prices in S$.

Prosperity amberjack lo hei (鸿运鰤鱼捞起)
Available only for dine-in at Min Jiang Dine-in: S$168++ for large portion

The delicate amberjack takes centrestage in this yu sheng creation by Master Chef Chan Hwan Kee of Min Jiang. Topped with shredded Japanese pickled turnips, the amberjack slices are complemented by a colourful medley of crisp vegetables such as wild arugula, yellow frisee lettuce, red sorrel, red mustard greens, carrot, baby radish and white radish.

For added texture, crispy strips of fried sweet potato and baked cod, along with pine nuts, sesame seeds, crushed peanuts, jellyfish, wasabi caviar tobiko and red caviar tobiko are included. The homemade dressing is a piquant mix of mustard, lime juice, as well as a blend of goma (sesame), peanut and plum sauces. Chef Chan personally illustrates each plate with a rooster standing in front of a bamboo forest.

Prosperity amberjack lo hei (鸿运鰤鱼捞起) at Min Jiang.

Fruity lo hei with rosemary plum sauce (迎春水果蔬菜捞起)
Available only for dine-in at Min Jiang at One-North. S$78++ for a small portion, $128++ for a large portion

The fruit-based lohei by Master Chef Goh Chee Kong of Min Jiang at One-North is given an aromatic lift with a new rosemary plum sauce. Arranged within a circle of finely sliced black plums are julienned slices of mango, dragon fruit and rockmelon, surrounding scoops of watermelon. This lohei is served with romaine lettuce, carrot, green radish, white radish, yellow frisee lettuce, snow pear, pomelo, pine nuts, peanuts, sesame seeds, as well as lotus root chips and crispy strips of fried yam and sweet potato.

Fruity lo hei with rosemary plum sauce at Min Jiang at One North.

Trio of nian gao (步步高升)
Available for dine-in only at Min Jiang, S$27++ for nine pieces, S$36++ for 12 pieces and S$45++ for 15 pieces.

New this year is a platter that celebrates the niangao, a sticky cake made of rice flour eaten during the lunar new year, in three ways – deep-fried yuan yang sesame nian gao, ondeh-ondeh inspired nian gao and chilled durian nian gao roll – providing varying textures, flavours and temperatures for an unparallelled niangao experience.

The durian nian gao roll (榴梿年糕卷) is also available by itself for dine-in at Min Jiang and Min Jiang at One-North, as are the other two niangao flavours. D24 durian paste is embraced by layers of gula Melaka-infused niangao and sprinkled with coconut flakes. It costs S$28++ for six slices.

Prosperity savoury highlights*
Available for dine-in and takeaway at Min Jiang and Min Jiang at One-North

Prosperity Fa Cai 8 Treasures Duck (发财八宝葫芦鸭)
Dine-in: S$188++ for eight to 10 persons
Takeaway: S$201.15 nett for eight to 10 persons

Introduced in 2009 by Master Chef Goh Chee Kong from Min Jiang at One-North, this popular one-pot delicacy comprises boneless duck stuffed with ‘eight treasures’; ‘ling zhi’ mushrooms, flower mushrooms, sea cucumber, dried scallops, euryale seeds (芡实), black moss, fresh chestnuts and water chestnuts.

Prosperity set menus at Min Jiang*

Dine-in set menus for festive feasting are priced at S$98++ and S$128++ per person for a minimum of two. Menus for larger parties range from S$538++ per table of six to S$1,688++ per table of 10. Vegetarian set menu options are also available. Prosperity yu sheng is included in all dine-in and takeaway set menus.

Prosperity set menus at Min Jiang at One-North* 

Menus are priced at S$108++ and $128++ per person for menus designed for two to six people. Larger menus range from S$788++ to S$1,388++ per table of 10. A Bountiful Harvest menu is available at S$888++ for six, S$1,188++ for eight and S$1,498++ for 10. Prosperity yu sheng is included in all dine-in and takeaway set menus.

L’Espresso Lunar New Year afternoon tea buffet* 

Savour an English afternoon tea spread including Chinese New Year treats like chicken bak kwa, cheese croquette with golden orange dip and nian gao with yam beignet priced at S$68++ per adult and S$48++ per child. 

Interested?

Availability for the Lunar New Year specials is from 12 January to 11 February 2017. Advance orders must be made at least five working days ahead for takeaways. Orders will be entertained till 6 February 2017, at 12 noon.

The L’Espresso Lunar New Year Afternoon Tea Buffet is available from 27 to 30 January 2017. There will be two sessions. The 1st seating is from 12pm to 2.30pm, and the 2nd seating from 3pm to 5.30pm.

Get the Lunar New Year goodies from the hotel’s Deli, while Prosperity Specials, yu sheng as well as dine-in àla carte and set menus will be available at the Min Jiang restaurant (Goodwood Park Hotel) and Min Jiang at One-North (5 Rochester Park) for lunch and dinner.

To make reservations or place takeaway orders contact:

• L’Espresso at +65 6730 1743 or email lespresso at goodwoodparkhotel dot com
• Min Jiang (岷江川菜馆) at +65 6730 1704 or email min_jiang at goodwoodparkhotel dot com
• Min Jiang at One-North (岷江在纬壹) at +65 6774 0122 or email mj1n at goodwoodparkhotel dot com,
• The Deli at +65 6730 1786 or email deli at goodwoodparkhote dot com 

Alternatively, orders can be made online

Hashtag: #goodwoodparkhotel

All images from Goodwood Park Hotel.

*Prices stated are subject to 10% service charge and GST for dine-in, or indicated as ‘nett’ for takeaway. All information is correct at time of release. 

Capella Singapore unveils Chinese new year promotions

Capella Singapore welcomes the Year of the Rooster (beginning January 28, 2017) with an exquisite selection of ultra-luxurious auspicious menus at Cassia, its Cantonese fine-dining restaurant. Guests can also choose to take a break from the city with theresort’s three-night retreat package over this celebratory period.

Source: Capella Singapore. Capella Singapore's Cassia's Prosperity Lou Hei (百花齐放捞起).

A local tradition for the Lunar New Year, Cassia’s Prosperity Lou Hei (百花齐放捞起), is a
seasonal favourite. Each ingredient has been handpicked by Cassia’s Executive Chef Lee Hiu
Ngai. The lohei comprises generous servings of fresh greens, salmon and homemade passion fruit sauce for a citrusy kick. At S$68++ per serving, the dish is designed to be shared between two and four persons.

Guests dining in pairs can also opt for Cassia’s Signature Lou Hei (凯嘉品味捞起), served with fresh seafood including lobster and sea urchin. Priced at S$38++ per person, this celebratory platter is for a minimum of two diners.

Companies looking to start off the lunar new year right can take advantage of several traditional Chinese New Year set menus featuring Cassia’s authentic Cantonese offerings. Cassia’s Spring Menu (春回大地), priced at S$79++ per person, includes wok-fried min xin with eggs and vegetables topped with chicken floss, as well as homemade water chestnut cream with osmanthus and glutinous rice dumpling.

The Abundant Blessing Menu (吉星报喜), priced at S$139++ per person, features dishes such as dried scallops and sea whelk, as well as wok-fried Japanese M9 Wagyu beef with young ginger and pineapple.

The Double Happiness Menu (如意吉祥), S$169++ per person, and translates to abundance in luck and success for the coming year. The menu includes the braised bird’s nest with sea urchin sauce, the wok-fried lobster medallion with goose Liver, spring onion and ginger, as well as handmade noodles with black truffle and minced Japanese M9 Wagyu beef. 

The Deluxe Fortune Menu (大展鸿图), priced at S$199++ per person, translates to a bright outlook for the year ahead. The ultimate menu has braised Three-heads Australian abalone with sea cucumber, mushroom, bamboo pith and dried oyster, the premium wok-fried Japanese M9 Wagyu beef with black pepper sauce, and stewed handmade noodles with lobster in superior stock.

Capella Singapore also presents a special accommodation package starting from S$800++ per night for its Premier Garden Room, including daily breakfast at The Knolls for two persons and set dinner at Cassia for two persons, once per stay. The package is available from 28 January to 4 February 2017. 

Interested?

Cassia’s lohei platters will be available in the restaurant from 14 January to 11 February 2017. Abalone is also available upon request as an ingredient in this traditional tossed salad dish.

Cassia’s Chinese New Year set menus will be available from 28 January to 11 February 2017. View the festive Chinese New Year menus for Capella Singapore in detail

Read the WorkSmart Asia blog post on what to say at the lohei

Singtel celebrates Lunar New Year with free unlimited mobile data and Singtel TV previews

Source: Singtel.

Singtel is ushering in the Year of the Monkey with a festive treats for customers. All Singtel postpaid customers will enjoy two days of free unlimited mobile data from 12am on 7 February to 11:59pm on 8 February while Singtel TV customers will be treated to free previews of more than 150 channels from 12am on 5 February to 11:59pm on 14 February.

Yuen Kuan Moon, CEO, Consumer Singapore, Singtel, said, “We are delighted to present our customers with complimentary services that they can enjoy with their family and friends over this auspicious season. The free TV viewing and mobile data will provide hours of quality family entertainment as they celebrate the festive period. We thank them for their continuous support and wish them a happy and prosperous Lunar New Year.”

Interested?

Read more about the promotion

Adobe Digital Index ranks Chinese as biggest holiday spenders for 2015

New research from the Adobe Digital Index predicts China will lead the Asia Pacific (APAC) region in online spending this holiday season, with US$150 billion in sales forecast.

China leads with the highest anticipated online spend in the region (55%), Adobe said, with nearly half of the country’s consumers surveyed (49%) predicting an increase in their online spend for the period. The average Chinese Internet user is predicted to spend a total of US$210 online during November and December, driving one-fifth of total online sales for the year.

Japan is expected to see the second highest online spend in the region with US$37 billion in online sales (a 5% growth year-on-year) predicted, followed by Australia at US$7 billion. Fourteen percent of Australians and 16% of Singaporeans anticipate they will increase their total spend this holiday season. 

Across the rest of APAC, consumer spend is expected to remain steady year-on-year. 

Adobe’s global Online Shopping Prediction is based on an analysis of 55 million product SKUs and aggregated and anonymous data of more than one trillion retail websites over the last seven years. The holiday season represents 20% of worldwide online spending – with Austria and the US at the top of the list.

Consumers in APAC are not only shopping online more, they are also becoming increasingly efficient, with 20% or more in each country surveyed saying they expect to spend less time holiday shopping this year compared to last – a saving that could give them more time to spend with their families and friends.

“Holiday shopping is a huge investment and consumers get more sophisticated every year with their online and mobile shopping in order to secure the most popular gifts at the best prices,” said Tamara Gaffney, principal research analyst, Adobe Digital Index.

Gaffney said mobile is playing a significant role in holiday shopping behaviour. “Over the next two months we expect Southeast Asia to lead the charge in mobile shopping with 21% of e-commerce purchases to be transacted via smartphones and around 10% via tablets. Japanese shoppers won’t be too far behind, with 24% of e-commerce purchases predicted to be made via smartphones and 6% via tablets.”

Consumers are also finding online shopping less stressful than heading to the stores. In Australia, almost one-in-five (19%) consumers rated offline shopping as extremely stressful, compared to only 6% who said the same about online shopping. China is the only country in the region where online and offline shopping are seen as equally stressful.

Additional findings include:

· Across APAC, lower prices and good deals are important motivators for consumers to shop online, with free shipping a particularly strong driver for shoppers in Australia and Singapore.

· While online shopping during the holiday season is increasingly attractive, when it comes to logging on, most APAC consumers find shopping via mobile phone more stressful than shopping on their desktop, laptop or tablet device.

· Product reviews are among the top two influencers for shoppers when considering a major purchase, according to 36% of consumers in Australia, 43% in China and 44% in Singapore.

· Consumers in Singapore and China are more likely to leverage social media when they shop, with 41% of Singaporean and 49% of Chinese shoppers saying they consult social media to help make holiday shopping decisions. Interestingly, Australian respondents are far less likely to use social media as a tool for shopping (23%).

Read the WorkSmart Asia blog posts about the 2015 festive season, including:

Singapore Gift Guide 2015, the pleasure edition
Singapore Gift Guide 2015, the tech edition

How Facebook sees mobile redefining the season

Hong Kong's Winter Wonderland experience
The City of Sydney's Christmas programme

Sofitel So Singapore's French fusion Christmas menu
The launch of Casa Ferrero, Ferrero Rocher's popup store
House of Sillage launches the Holiday by House of Sillage fragrance

Mobile is redefining the festive experience: Facebook

People in Southeast Asia* are sharing more during the festive year-end season on Facebook, the social media platform and on their preferred device - and that device is mobile, says Facebook, the company. Compared to the rest of the year, people share 30% more mobile content during the festive period** and 75% of posts created were on mobile, the company said in a blog post.

"...People share more mobile posts on New Year’s Eve (68% more) and Christmas Eve (36% more) compared to the rest of the season," stated Facebook in the blog post.

Facebook also found that people across demographics are sharing more on Facebook during the season, including youths*** (19% more), Millennials**** (23% more), parents (17% more) and mums (19% more).

"Across Southeast Asia, Facebook conversations during the period are centred on greetings and festive activities in the Philippines (84% of Facebook chatter), Indonesia (90%) and Singapore (52%)," Facebook said.

Shopping peaks in December, the company observed. Retail store check-ins on Facebook spike by 14% compared to the rest of the season, with 39% of check-ins taking place on Saturdays and Sundays. "Over 50% of people in the Philippines, Indonesia and Thailand said they are intending to shop online more this season, according to Facebook-commissioned polls*****... Over four out of five people in the Philippines (91%), Indonesia (83%) and Thailand (84%) said Facebook is influential to their shopping during the season. More than one in two people in the Philippines (63%), Indonesia (56%) and Thailand (52%) also said that Facebook is the preferred platform to seek advice about what to buy from others," said Facebook in the blog post.

There are geographic differences in shopping days of choice however. Mondays are most popular for online shopping in the Philippines, Indonesia and Thailand, Facebook said, whilst Vietnamese prefer Thursdays and Singaporeans prefer Sundays. When it comes to shopping on mobile, Fridays are the most popular day across the region.

Facebook has observed that the shopping frenzy continues into the New Year. While the company attributes the upswing - it notes that in January 2015, users shopped online 19% more compared to the festive season on average - to good post-Christmas deals, Chinese New Year could also be a big reason. Chinese New Year, when new clothes must be worn and home interiors refreshed before relatives and friends visit, is celebrated in Malaysia, Singapore, and Vietnam (as Tet), as well as anywhere there is a sizeable ethnic Chinese community. It always falls on January or February; it was on February 19 in 2015, and will start on February 8 in 2016.

The breakdown across countries:

Indonesia

• 80% of festive season posts were created on mobile
• Indonesians share 87% more video content and 24% more photo content than the rest of the year
• Shopping peaks on New Year’s Eve with 57% more retail store check-ins, and continues into the New Year with 30% more online shopping in January

The Philippines

• 70% of festive season posts were created on mobile
• Filipinos share 50% more video content and 37% more photo content than the rest of the year
• Shopping peaks on Christmas Day with 59% more retail store check-ins, and continues into the New Year with 16% more online shopping in January

Thailand

• 80% of festive season posts were created on mobile
• Thais share 20% more video content and 30% more photo content than the rest of the year
• Shopping peaks on New Year’s Eve with 98% more retail store check-ins, and continues into the New Year with 7% more online shopping in January

Vietnam

• 70% of festive season posts were created on mobile
• Vietnamese share 100% more video and photo content than the rest of the year
• Shopping peaks on Christmas Eve with 82% more retail store check-ins, and continues into the New Year with 38% more online shopping in January

Singapore

• 79% of festive season posts were created on mobile
• Singaporeans share 22% more video content and 13% more photo content than the rest of the year
• Shopping peaks on Christmas Day with 85% more retail store check-ins, and continues into the new year with 7% more online shopping in January

Source: Facebook. Sourced from Facebook internal data based on inferred and reported data, January 2014 – January 2015 (accessed June 2015).

Interested?

View a regional infographic and link to other country-specific infographics

Facebook recommends that marketers reach out first on mobile with "eye-catching ads with concise copy for the small screen". Read tips for Facebook ads. Facebook also suggests using the Custom Audiences feature to reach potential customers, as well as to reach new audiences similar to current customers with the Lookalike Audiences feature.

Read the WorkSmart Asia blog posts about the 2015 festive season, including:

Singapore Gift Guide 2015, the pleasure edition
Singapore Gift Guide 2015, the tech edition

Who in APAC will be spending the most online, according to the Adobe Digital Index

Hong Kong's Winter Wonderland experience
The City of Sydney's Christmas programme

Sofitel So Singapore's French fusion Christmas menu
The launch of Casa Ferrero, Ferrero Rocher's popup store
House of Sillage launches the Holiday by House of Sillage fragrance

*Includes the Philippines, Thailand, Indonesia, Vietnam and Singapore
**October 2014 to January 2015
***Aged 18 to 24
****Aged 18 to 34
*****Separate polls in the Philippines, Indonesia and Thailand, each with 500 respondents ages 18+, selected as a representative sample of the online population, July 2015.

A taste of an Italian Christmas in Singapore at Casa Ferrero

Ferrero, producer of the world's most celebrated praline, Ferrero Rocher, has brought back the magic of an Italian Christmas to Singapore this year. The elegance is what stands out when you enter Casa Ferrero, Ferrero's only pop-up store in Southeast Asia. The gold of the classic Ferrero Rocher praline is replicated throughout the store, complemented by the glint of crystal chandeliers, the comforting fragrance of espresso, and, of course, the distinctive hint of roasted hazelnuts which permeates the place.

Casa Ferrero is larger than last year's pop-up, Pasticceria Ferrero, which was also situated outside the Wisma Atria mall along Orchard Road in Singapore. Designed to recreate the atmosphere of an Italian mansion, Casa Ferrero features a mouthwatering chocolate-making demonstration on the right and a photo-wall on the left.

The pre-packaged Golden Gallery is exclusively available at Casa Ferrero (S$23). The gift box features Ferrero Manderly, Ferrero Rondnoir, Ferrero Tenderly White, and the classic Ferrero Rocher.

Shelves of softly glowing confectionery dominate the middle part of the store, inviting visitors to pick out and personalise with pralines and special edition morsels of indulgence exclusively available in Singapore at Casa Ferrero till early January 2016. Visitors will also be able to savour their pralines with a cup of complimentary espresso in a setting reminiscent of sidewalk Italian cafes. Exclusive Ferrero Gift Cards are available to accompany any gifts they choose to purchase.

Leonardo Perrone de Almeida, Marketing Director, South East Asia, Ferrero Asia said, "When we introduced the Pasticerria Ferrero last year, we were heartened by the response we got from customers who came from around the region. This year, we want to give Singapore a piece of the Italian experience as they select the perfect gift for their loved ones. Casa Ferrero not only continues to offer exclusive pralines not available at other times, but will also immerse shoppers in the heritage, culture and craftsmanship that has made Ferrero Rocher the praline of choice all over the world."

Leonardo Perrone de Almeida, Marketing Director, South East Asia, Ferrero Asia (left) looks on as Qi and Peh take turns to speak during the launch of the photo-wall.

Celebrity couple Joanne Peh and Qi Yuwu were once again present to join de Almeida in the ribbon-cutting ceremony that marked the official opening of Casa Ferrero for the Christmas season. Peh revealed that the event is particularly significant as she had been pregnant with the couple's Jubilee baby - born on National Day 2015 - at the opening of Pasticceria Ferrero the year before, but had not known of it then.

A special card was created for their three-month-old daughter, who is celebrating her first Christmas this year. Peh spoke of being extremely moved when she looks at her firstborn and said she hopes to keeps traditions alive with her. "I like to do things with my hands and I hope that my daughter will share this tradition," she said, speaking about baking as an example.

Qi added that the couple is honoured to be at Casa Ferrero. "It has been a very memorable year," he said in Mandarin. "The place has a romantic atmosphere and I'm very happy to be here."

Ferrero is also extending the opportunity for a unique Italian creation online. Singapore-based shoppers can visit www.Ferreroitaliancreation.com to capture their own unique Ferrero Gift Card. Completing the experience is yet another iconic example of fine Italian craftsmanship - the Fiat Alfa Romeo Giulietta - which awaits the most creative card uploaded with the hashtag #FerreroltalianCreation. The Italian-made car is Ferrero's way of thanking Singaporeans for their love for its brand.

To bring Singaporeans into the heart of the making of Ferrero Rocher, Ferrero Master Chocolatiers Maria Grazia Andaloro and Beatrice Boero Cuttica have flown in from Italy to lead live demonstrations of the process that has made Ferrero Rocher the region's favourite praline.

"Casa Ferrero is our way of showing gratitude and appreciation to the consumers for their love and affection towards Ferrero Rocher. As the number one chocolate brand in Singapore. Ferrero Rocher has been a part of many precious moments. we want to continue helping Singaporeans create even more cherished memories with their loved ones, while also sharing with them the Italian heritage and craftsmanship," said de Almeida.

Ferrero Master Chocolatiers Cuttica (left) and Andaloro (right) working on the chocolate-dipping process (left) and covering the pralines with finely crushed hazelnuts on the right. The wafer cores of the confectionery are in the tray in the middle. 

Ferrero Rocher is made only with high quality ingredients, beginning with the handpicking of the finest of hazelnuts which form the heart of Ferrero Rocher. Each classic praline is handmade by Ferrero chefs who enclose whole hazelnuts in a wafer sphere and hazelnut cream, cover the spheres in an even layer of molten chocolate, and then toss the result in finely crushed roasted hazelnuts.

The different faces of parenthood. Qi (left) and Peh speak about the wonder of parenthood.

Detail of the photo-wall, which shows an Italian countryside background at the first blush of sunset.

Interested?

Casa Ferrero stocks the following pralines which are only available for the festive season at the pop up store: Ferrero Tenderly White (white chocolate, hazelnut), Ferrero Cappucino, Ferrero Tenderly Torroncino (milk chocolate, hazelnut), Ferrero Manderly (hazelnut cream and almond), Pocket Coffee, Kusschen White, Kusschen Milk, and Kusschen Dark. Raffaello and Ferrero Rondnoir (cocoa cream, dark chocolate, hazelnut) are also available in addition to the classic Ferrero Rocher. These pralines are part of the assortment in the Ferrero Collection. Ferrero Rocher has also brought its Christmas Limited Edition Grand Ferrero Rocher and the Christmas Pyramid to Singapore.

Chocolate-making demonstrations will be held over the next nine weekends from 4pm to 5pm and from 6pm to 7pm. View the Instagram video of the process

Read the WorkSmart Asia blog post about the opening of Pasticceria Ferrero in 2014

Read the WorkSmart Asia blog posts about the 2015 festive season, including:

Singapore Gift Guide 2015, the pleasure edition
Singapore Gift Guide 2015, the tech edition

Who in APAC will be spending the most online, according to the Adobe Digital Index
How Facebook sees mobile redefining the season

Hong Kong's Winter Wonderland experience
The City of Sydney's Christmas programme

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Hashtag: #FerreroltalianCreation

posted from Bloggeroid

Brighten up the office for Chinese New Year with festive flowers

Viva La Fleur will introduce a new range of long-lasting bouquets and table arrangements from 19 January 2015. In keeping with the festive season, red, orange and yellow hues symbolising love, luck and good fortune dominate in this range. 

Part of Viva La Fleur's new range. A combination of deep red roses, hydrangeas and caspia, with brown twigs. View this arrangement on Viva La Fleur's online shop here.

Part of Viva La Fleur's new range. Red roses paired with deep red hydrangeas and pink caspia. View this arrangement on Viva La Fleur's online shop here.

Florals from Viva La Fleur are made up of 100% natural flowers and foliage that do not need watering or sunlight, and which will last for months, bringing the recipient long-lasting love, luck and prosperity.

Read the blog post introducing Viva La Fleur here.

Exclusive Ferrero Rocher pralines available at the Pasticceria Ferrero, in Singapore for the festive season

Launch headliners Qi Yu Wu and Joanne Peh pose for pictures.

Ferrero Rocher has launched its first Southeast Asia boutique, Pasticceria Ferrero, the only store of its kind in the world this festive season, at Wisma Atria along Orchard Road in Singapore. 

Before the official launch.

The boutique allows visitors to assemble customised boxes of chocolates with new and exclusive variants of the Ferrero pralines that are only available during this time of year.

Visitors can create their own customised gift boxes with pralines only available at the boutique during this festive season.

Leonardo Perrone de Almeida, Marketing Director, South East Asia, Ferrero Asia, spoke of the brand's long tradition in the fine art of gifting. "As the number one chocolate brand in Singapore, Ferrero certainly has a special place in the heart of Singaporeans. This year we wanted to offer Singaporeans.. a piece of our tradition and heritage to South East Asia," he said. 

Guests at the launch of the Pasticceria Ferrero were shown how each Ferrero Rocher praline is made by Luca Dellapiana, a Ferrero Chef from Italy. The seven-step process begins with filling the two halves of the wafer sphere with a creamy chocolate filling. A handpicked premium hazelnut is then popped in, and the two wafer halves are joined into the familiar spherical shape. The wafer sphere is then dipped in chocolate, which is tempered at 45 degrees Celsius, then cooled to 29 degrees to give it the crunch and the shine. The praline is then rolled in crushed hazelnuts, after which the whole is dipped in tempered chocolate again, and then chilled for a few minutes before it is ready to eat. 

The Rocherones are available in 'giant' (left) and 'mini' (right) sizes. Both Rocherones and the Christmas pyramids (below) are Christmas Limited Edition offerings. 

Live demonstrations by Chef Dellapiana and Chef Alessandria Davide, also in Singapore only for a limited time, will be conducted for the next four weekends, till 1 December, at the Pasticceria Ferrero. Chef Dellapiana's original creations are also on show at the boutique: look out for the Christmas Limited Edition Rocherones, which are shaped like a giant-sized classic praline and filled with smaller pralines. The Christmas Pyramids are also only available during this time. 

Some of the exclusive pralines available only during the festive season at the Pasticceria Ferrero. 

The special pralines only available for Christmas include: 

• Ferrero Tenderly White, a white chocolate praline with a hazelnut filling.
• Ferrero Capuccino, crispy wafer specialty with a smooth coffee filling
• Ferrero Tenderly Nougat, milk chocolate praline, creamy nougat and a whole hazelnut.
• Ferrero Manderly, a crisp hazelnut-covered specialty, with a smooth hazelnut filling and almond centre.
• Mon Chéri: Launched in 1956, this praline marked the beginning of Ferrero history in the world of boxed chocolates. The recipe combines dark chocolate, liqueur, and cherry. 
• Pocket Coffee, available from 1968, a dark chocolate praline filled with liquid espresso.
• Kusschen White: 'küsschen' means 'little kiss'; a white chocolate praline with hazelnut filling.
• Kusschen Milk, a milk chocolate praline with hazelnut filling.
• Kusschen Dark, a milk and dark chocolate praline with hazelnut filling.
• Raffaello: Introduced in 1989, Raffaello consists of a whole almond in a creamy filling enclosed in a crispy shell, covered in flakes of coconut.
• Ferrero Rondnoir: a crisp dark chocolate covered specialty, with a smooth filling and a dark chocolate and hazelnut centre.

Ferrero is also the company behind Nutella, Kinder and Tic Tac. Read about Peh and Qi's thoughts on Ferrero Rocher and chocolate here.