CNY is really a big event in the family. But as a working mum, it can get very overwhelming to prepare the CNY dishes. One of the easier option we have opted for now is hotpot. But when work pile up, I do struggle to even go to the market to prep the ingredients. Hence, I thought a buffet was a pretty good option too, especially when the group is big.
We were pretty blown away with the CNY decor, something we could never come out with to be honest. I was initially concerned that we might not have yusheng (it is really a key highlight), but was really pleased to see a table prepared just for it, and you could even choose your own ingredients. Given this was a buffet, you could even add on more goodies from the other station. But nothing beats having someone to clean up the toss.
My general concern is that most buffets are mostly don't prepare Chinese food and are lesser known for that. The same goes for Edge, so I was pleasantly surprised to see double-boiled soup, Nian Gao etc. being added to the menu. Our usual favourites were also there, so we didn't felt we missed out. For the picky eaters (like my #2), a buffet is great because we don't have to ask the relatives to make exceptions for her. And the likelihood of her finding something to her liking is high.
Although I consider myself to be a rather stickler to tradition, I have to say a buffet isn't too bad an idea. To have a good bang for your bucks, avoid the actual CNY days, and the adults can enjoy a good lunch at less than S$100 and the children at less than S$50. Most importantly, children below 6YO eat free (that's pretty hard to beat.) Plus, nobody needs to clean up after. Huat Ah!
