Celebrate Chinese New Year With Elaborate Buffet

By Vanessa Wolf

Baked Bao Buns (from SF Chinatown). Photo by Vanessa Wolf.

Gung Hee Fat Choy!

This Saturday, Feb. 8, Makena Beach & Golf Resort is celebrating the year of the horse and double-dog daring you not to gain 10 pounds in one sitting with their Chinese New Year buffet at the Molokini Bar & Grill.

The spread offers varied and unique Chinese treats like vinegar peanuts; Chinatown noodle salad; cucumber salad; Chinese chicken salad; spinach salad; Chinese snow peas, cauliflower and water chestnut salad
 and a “rainbow of tropical fruits.”

Diners can also anticipate tomato egg drop soup, hot and sour soup; wonton noodles, chow mein, Cantonese style fried rice, and an assortment of dim sum like cha sui boa buns, potstickers, shu maui and spring rolls.

The cutting board area of the buffet offers roasted sucking pig with Scechuan peppercorns and “whacked and hacked” Chinese roast duck with steamed buns.

The year of the equine celebrations don’t stop there.

Shrimp dumpling dim sum (har gow). Photo by Vanessa Wolf.

Save room for broccoli in garlic sauce; lettuces with oyster sauce; Chinese steamed egss, sweet and sour pork; hoisin-glazed Mongolian BBQ ribs, giant pork meatballs, black pepper beef brisket.

Those more inclined to the bounty of the sea might prefer white boiled shrimp; crab legs with ginger and scallions; salt and pepper squid; steamed scallops with ginger and garlic or steamed fresh mahi mahi.

Dessert continues this allegiance to traditional Chinese fare with tapioca pudding, black sesame soup, something called “double skin milk,” pineapple tarts, mango pudding, walnut cookies, red bean paste and Chinese new year cake.

<<<insert suitable Chinese expression of awe here.>>>

If that’s not enough, in addition to the feast, a Chinese Lion Dance performance by Oahu’s Au Shoalin Art’s Society takes place at 7 p.m.

The buffet is available from 5:30 to 9:30 p.m. at a cost of $48 for adults and $24 for children 5-12. Kids five and under eat free with a paying adult.

Reservations are required. Please call 808-875-5888 to make them.