On 14th February its Valentine’s Day – a day that evokes such an amazing energy at Sweet Mandarin because the room is filled with love. The banquet this year comprises of amazing dishes including blackbeans dried in spring sunshine and steamed with tender chunks of beef or the Love Dare which is tender strips of chicken breast lightly battered in a fruity Shanghai inspired sauce.
As the couples enter Sweet Mandarin, the excitement level is electric; as if they were on a first date. I see the ladies smooth their silky dresses, their fingers play across their hair to make sure all their pins are in place and some even resting a hand across their heart – probably to stop its desperate, anxious beating. The dimly lit room provides some solace for blushing men who delight in their partner’s soft mist of hair, their rosebud shaped painted lips and the warmth emanating from their body.
As each of the three courses are enjoyed the couples build up courage and they reach out to hold hands resting on the cool wenge wood surface. In between the courses, they don’t seem to move and their eyes interlock almost paralysed, too in love to move, too in love to speak. Finally I hear a gentleman look intently to his date and say ‘You are beautiful here (touches her heart) and here (touches her face).’ Her face glows with joy and love. It is such a tender moment that I am transfixed. It took willpower for me to turn away and head back to the kitchen and I could hear the blood pounding in my ears as the temperature soared.
The Valentine’s Menu at Sweet Mandarin is available for the whole of February 2012. To book a table click here
Wishing you all a very Happy Chinese New Year for 2012 and thank you for your continued support and friendship.
1916, 1928, 1940, 1952, 1964, 1976, 1988, 2000
People born in the Year of the Dragon are healthy, energetic, excitable, short-tempered, and stubborn. They are also honest, sensitive, brave, and they inspire confidence and trust. Dragon people are the most eccentric of any in the eastern zodiac. They neither borrow money nor make flowery speeches, but they tend to be soft-hearted which sometimes gives others an advantage over them. They are compatible with Rats, Snakes, Monkeys, and Roosters.
Please do book via our Book a Table page (below or click here) and we look forward to accomodating you.
We hope you have recovered from all the Christmas festivities and raring to go for 2011. At Sweet Mandarin there are early preparations to make the celebration of the year of the Rabbit a magnificent one. As we await this celebration, let us see what is in store for the year of the Rabbit.
To ease you into the brand new year why not start the new year with our lovely jubbly tips to get the NEW YEAR OFF TO A BANG and most importantly a NEW YOU…Every day we keep you up to date with New Recipes and Cooking tips on our blog.
We are open on Saturday 1st January 2012- book your table here
Happy New Year To YOU
Best Wishes and Sweet Dishes to You and Your Family
Lisa, Helen and Janet
TIP TOP TIPS FOR 2012
1. LOOK FORWARD
2012 welcomes the Year of the Dragon – the sign symbolizes strength and innovation. Reward yourself with a dinner at Sweet Mandarin to celebrate your year ahead.
2. RECHARGE YOU
A great Chinese proverb: ” Getting up when the sun is up and rest when the sun is down” Remember to recharge your batteries after the christmas rush. Enjoy a sumptuous meal at Sweet Mandarin and book a table (click here).
3. COOKING YOUR WAY TO HEALTH
Try something different by taking part in the Sweet Mandarin Cookery School (Featured in the Sunday Times and CityLife). Learn how to make fast, healthy super suppers and impress you, your friends and family.
4. TREAT THE NEW YOU
Calorific mouthwatering dishes at Sweet Mandarin to celebrate the new year – Try the Sizzling King Prawns bursting with fresh vegetables and light soya flavour. Join Sweet Mandarin’s fortnightly detox menu and see the New You.
5. ME MYSELF AND I
Take advantage of the special offers for Sweet Mandarin Newsletter subscribers. Win a bottle of champagne, a meal for 4 or a place on the Sweet Mandarin Cookery School. Enter here and we wish you luck on the monthly prize draw.
I don’t know where the year went but its nearly Christmas already. Wishing you and your families a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year. We are closed on Christmas Day and Boxing Day – my only two days off in the whole year and I can’t wait :0)
Some dear customers have asked how do the Chinese celebrate Christmas…I guess in response, the Chinese like any other nationality celebrate with Family and Food.
Our family has always cooked two turkeys for Christmas. One British style with pork and sage stuffing, baby sausages wrapped in bacon, roast potatoes and Brussel sprouts, and the other braised in soy sauce and crammed with glutinous rice and mushroom. Both are delicious and typically represent my identity being British Born Chinese (‘BBC’).
At Christmas, we also remember our dearly beloved grandmother, Lily Kwok who passed away in 2007, aged 89. My grandmother had so much courage. Pop, thank you for your sacrifice and determination. I wish you were here.
Wishing you and your family a safe happy Christmas filled with love and good food.
Its great being a short 10minute walk away from the MEN Arena because we get to meet all the stars that perform at the MEN Arena. If you are going, be sure to book your pre-concert dinner at Sweet Mandarin (click here ).
Following her Arena show in May of this year, the Barbados-native returns next October and November to showcase tracks from Loud – including the UK number one single Only Girl (In The World) - alongside the chart-topping hits Umbrella, Don’t Stop The Music, SOS, Disturbia and Shut Up And Drive.
Earlier this year Rihanna became the first female artist of the past decade to score six number one’s on Billboard’s Hot List 100 when Rude Boy topped the charts.
Earlier this year Rihanna became the first female artist of the past decade to score six number one’s on Hot List 100 when topped the charts.
The second single to be taken from Rihanna’s fifth studio album – What’s My Name? featuring Drake – is out now.
The brand new, modern and contemporary Holiday Inn Express Manchester City Centre-MEN Arena is situated right in the heart of Manchester on the doorstep of Sweet Mandarin (www.sweetmandarin.com).
The Northern Quarter, MEN Arena, Printworks, Arndale Centre, Selfridges, Harvey Nichols, Millennium Square and the big wheel are just a few minutes walk. Located in the vibrant northern quarter with its cosmopolitan mix of boutique shops, captivating nightlife, fashion designers, creative agencies, art galleries, home to the iconic Afflecks Palace, popular cafes, bars and restaurants, the northern quarter is the cultural heart of Manchester. The Manchester Central convention complex, Man Utd & Man City Football Stadiums are all within easy reach. Ideally located for the business and leisure traveller the hotel provides you with the gateway to what the city has to offer.
Chinese Mid-Autumn Festival, also known as Chinese Moon Festival, takes place at the 15th day of the eighth Chinese lunar month. The reason for celebrating the festival during that time is that it is the time when the moon is at its fullest and brightest.
2011 Mid-Autumn Festival will be on September 12, and the China public holiday for this festival lasts for three days from September 12th to September 19th.
The Mid-autumn festival is one of the two most important occasions in Chinese calendar (the other being the Spring Festival or the Chinese New Year) and it is an official holiday. It is a time for families to be together, so people far from home will gaze longingly at the moon and think about their families.
The traditional food for mid-autumn festival is the moon cake which is round and symbolizes reunion.
History and Origin of Mid-autumn Festival
Celebration of Mid-autumn festival has a long history. Chinese Mid-autumn FestivaIn ancient times, the emperors had the tradition of worshiping the Sun in spring, and the Moon in autumn. The word “Mid-Autumn” first appeared in the famous ancient book “Zhou Li” (The Zhou Rituals, a book telling the rituals in the Zhou Dynasty). However, it was not until the early Tang Dynasty that the day was officially celebrated as a traditional festival. It became a established festival during the Song Dynasty, and has become as popular as the Spring Festival since the Ming and Qing Dynasties. Celebrations has continued ever since and more customs for marking this occasion have been formed.
There are several explanations on when and where the festival began and some of the most convincing versions are as follows:
Version One: Nanjing and Mid-autumn Festival
A much-told story about the beginning of the Mid-autumn Festival celebration comes from Niuzhu (a place in ancient Nanjing). As early as 1,600 years ago, Nanjing which was called Jianye served as capital of the Eastern Jin Dynasty. On a Mid-autumn night when Xie Shangyue, the governor of Niuzhu, was boating on a river he met Yuan Hong, a poor, frustrated but gifted scholar who had to earn his living by renting boats. Admiring his ability, Xie made friend with him and Yuan had a rise to fame with the help of Xie. Later on, having heard of the story, many refined scholars from all over the country followed suit to boat in the river, climb up the towers, and watch the moon. Famous poets like Li Bai and Ou Yangzhan were all touched by the story, and then wrote numbers of poems about it. Because of this, the tradition of watching the moon on Mid-Autumn Festival gradually came into being.
Version Two: Season and Climate
The Mid-Autumn day is the very moment of rice maturity. And at that day farmers will worship the local God of land, whose birthday is exactly on that day. Mid-Autumn day is possibly an old tradition of telling the coming of autumn. In terms of the seasons in a year, the Mid-Autumn day can be named as “Harvest Day”, when the crops sowed in the spring can be reaped. Since ancient times, people would drink, dance, and sing on that day, celebrating the harvest. This scene can be found in the Books of Odes (the earliest collection of poems in ancient China).
According to the previous descriptions, the ancient emperors had the tradition of worshiping the moon, yet the day was initially on the day of Autumn Equinox, and not on the Mid-Autumn day. However, the Autumn Equinox is not a fixed day and there may or may not be a full moon on that day. Therefore, the day for worshipping the moon was accepted as a convention on the Mid-Autumn day, when the moon is in its fullest.
Meanwhile, it’s proven by scientific research that the inclination of the earth and the sun will gradually increase in autumn, thus the cool air up in the sky will fade away while the northwest wind is still very weak. In this way, the moisture is removed and the air in the sky would become pure and clean. So the moon would appear to be relatively fuller and bigger. And this would be the best time to appreciate the beauty of the moon.
Version Three: Moon Cake
The tradition of eating moon-cakes on this festival has a long history in China, yet there are different versions of statements about its origin.
The most common version is that during the reign of Emperor Taizong of the Tang Dynasty, Taizong ordered his ablest general Li Jing to go for a battle against the Turkic clan in north ancient China to suppress their frequent invasions. The 15th day of the 8th month was exactly the day for the general’s triumphant return. In order to celebrate his victory, fireworks were set off and music was played in and out of Chang’an City (the capital of the Tang dynasty), and citizens were happily enjoying a riotous night together with warriors. At that time, a business man, coming from the Tubo Kingdom (the ancient name for Tibet), presented Taizong with a kind of round cakes to celebrate Tang’s victory. Taizong gladly received the magnificently-decorated boxes and took the multi-colored round cakes out of the boxes and handed them out to his officials and generals. From then on, the tradition of eating round moon-cakes on the Mid-Autumn Festival was formed.
Versions Four: Wuyan
One of the legends behind this festival tells the story of a plain girl named Wuyan, who was from Qi; an ancient nation in China. Wuyan was chosen for the Emperor’s palace because of her outstanding morality but she never attracted the attention of the Emperor due to her appearance.
However, as a youngster Wuyan had worshipped the Moon and this gave her special powers so that on the night of the 15th of August, when she met the emperor in the moonlight, he saw her as beautiful and fell in love with her immediately. Wuyan later married the Emperor and became the queen of Qi, and from this moment on the tradition of worshipping the Moon on the 15th of August began.
However, young Chinese ladies to also worship the Moon for another reason – in the hope that they can become as beautiful as Chang’e, a girl who, according to Chinese legend, lives in the moon.
Thank God for Peter Kay. I love the Bolton born comic and man-of-a-thousand-faces who loves Chinese food.
Here’s my favourite joke (thanks Peter) ….. So I went to the Chinese restaurant and this duck came up to me with a red rose and says “Your eyes sparkle like diamonds”. I said, “Waiter, I asked for a-ROMATIC duck”.
Finally, Peter has returned to us in Manchester with his tour which has people in stitches as he turns the most trivial of daily nuisances in the world of the working class family, and turns them into comedy gold. Without this man, life would, quite simply, be a bit boring.
I’ll feed Peter and I’ll feed all you lovely people who are going to see Peter Kay’s show at the MEN. We are next door to the Crowne Plaza Hotel which is a short 5-10 minute walk to the MEN Arena. Approximately 40 furry footsteps and you are door to door. Click HERE for the AA Routeplanner and Map.
OK, and I’ll get you revved up with that uber-annoying (because once heard you can’t get it out of your head) ‘Is This The Way To Amarillo’ song that Peter forced upon us, Peter Kay at his exasperated best.
Sweet Mandarin Address: 19 Copperas Street (off High Street), Manchester M4 1HS
Given that Captain America was filming around the Northern Quarter (where Sweet Mandarin is located), I enjoyed taking a stroll on the set of Captain America to deliver delicious Chinese cuisine and even found myself a walk on part (lol -as I’m walking into Meyers Bros I’m going to say ‘I wonder if they do sweet mandarins here’ lol). The whole place has been turned into New York City 1940s. I’m loving it, loving it, loving it. If you are coming to Sweet Mandarin over the next few weeks watch out for superheros, fast cars and villans.
Crazy but true. Hollywood descended on the sleepy Northern Quarter and now the movie is finally released today. Although we are less than 25 yards from the polished doors of the Arndale Centre, half of Manchester probably will never ever wander in the Northern Quarter – and although those members of the public are missing out on an absolute unique dining and shopping experience, the majority of the shopkeepers in the Northern Quarter, including myself are not too fussed. We’re more easy going and have the 20,000 residents in the area to cater for most of the time. Having said that, its always nice to meet more people outside of the enclaves of the four streets that make up the Northern Quarter.
The Northern Quarter is a get together of independents who don’t want huge chains descending upon us and creating pure and utter blandness. What we at Sweet Mandarin stand for is something different, something fun, something unique. That’s why we opted for the Northern Quarter rather than elsewhere in Manchester. We deliberately placed ourselves outside of Chinatown to make a statement.And I suppose its working. Gordon Ramsay crowned us with the Best Chinese Restaurant in the UK on his F Word Programme and we’ve recently been awarded the coveted 1AA Rosette.
I have also noticed there have been a significant number of American clients visiting us but I never in a million years would suspect that Tinseltown would zero in on the Northern Quarter (I mean they have the whole world at their fingertips) and say “I have found the perfect location for Captain America. Manchester’s Northern Quarter.” LOL That is quite funny. I better tell you now Captain America, Manchester has signed a huge disclaimer for the weather. It rains here. Sorry about that but I hope that adds some dramatic effect for your movie. Today, outside Sweet Mandarin I witnessed a mini waterfall and a running stream. Anyhow, we welcome you to the Northern Quarter and to Sweet Mandarin.
When they filmed around the corner, it was great to meet the stars and their entourage – and we’re talking mega entourages whose presence could be mistaken for a union meeting. Talking about pre-orders for food at Sweet Mandarin….it got a bit crazy at Sweet Mandarin but I say bring it on. I can’t wait to cook for Tommy Lee Jones (I got your dim sum won tons right here right now), Samuel L Jackson (I got your chicken wings ready for you here!) and the superhero Captain America aka Chris Evans (the perfect portion of prawn twitters lol here ) (and we’re not talking the ginger Chris Evans).
Amazingly, in the midst of our Rainy City, I have been rescued by Captain America, my hero!
About Captain America
Based on the Marvel Comics character from World War II. A brave, yet mild-mannered young soldier named Steve Rogers volunteers to undergo a series of experiments for a US army Super Soldier program. The military succeeds in transforming him into a human weapon, but quickly decide that their Super Soldier is far too expensive a creation to risk in combat. So, they decide to put him to use as an army celebrity and parade him across Europe to boost morale by performing in USO shows for American troops. He is even given a costume that bear the colors of Old Glory for the stage. Then, when a Nazi plot reveals itself Rogers must rise up and and become the First Avenger, in order to save his country. Steve Rogers becomes Captain America and he earns his way into the hearts and souls of every American, bringing hope and justice to a war-weary nation. Later, during a mission to Germany to stop his archenemy – The Red Skull, from launching rockets at the allies, Captain America sacrifices himself and winds up frozen in ice for almost six decades! Revived, Steve Rogers now must join forces with new heroes and become an Avenger of the modern age.
Media
Here’s the Manchester Evening News Bulletin about Captain America being filmed in the Northern Quarter (link)
Book Your Front Row Seat at Sweet Mandarin
If you want to star gaze from the comfort of Sweet Mandarin as Tommy Lee Jones, Chris Evans and Samuel L Jackson whizz around in their car chases and jump from the Smithfield Fishmarket Wall, click here
Its great being a short 10minute walk away from the MEN Arena because we get to meet all the stars that perform at the MEN Arena. If you are going, be sure to book your pre-concert dinner at Sweet Mandarin (click here).
Heavy metal legends Iron Maiden will return to the M.E.N Arena next summer for their first Manchester show in five years.
Iron Maiden’s return to the city is part of The Final Frontier – Around The World In 66 Days tour – a fifty thousand mile journey aboard ‘Ed Force One’, the specially customised Boeing 757 piloted by airline captain and lead singer Bruce Dickinson.
Ahead of touching down in Manchester, Bruce said: “As our fans all know from the Flight 666 film, which documented the trials and tribulations we underwent in order to get the whole project literally off the ground, the end result was well worth all the effort and complex logistics we had to deal with! The band and crew enjoyed themselves so much travelling that way, it seemed only logical to set up this part of The Final Frontier tour in the same way.”
July’s M.E.N Arena show will see the British Heavy Metal pioneers perform tracks from their latest album, The Final Frontier, alongside classics from their 35 year back catalogue including Aces High, Run To The Hills, Can I Play With Madness and The Number Of The Beast.
Band mascot Eddie, who has appeared on all Iron Maiden’s album and single covers, will also appear as part of the group’s legendary live shows next summer.
We see new friends coming in and old friends are about to leave. Graduates now have a big decision to make in their life track. Some of them will start their career next summer while others will plan for their further study. Time flies. Three years at university transform a person from a high school student to a professional ready to serve society. We at Sweet Mandarin congratulate you on your hard earned degrees and give you our best wishes.
But before you start to fly high, please slow down and spend a quiet moment on your university campus, where you have been studying, working and making friends for three years. Give sincere thanks to every road you went through, every book you read, and every friend you made. Because once you begin to work, you will see how different it is from university life.
At university, all moments, happy or sad, have been treasures from heaven. Pack them up in your mind, and embark on a new journey. Plenty more such moments are waiting for you in the years to come. Whether these moments are good or bad, you will understand life through experiencing them.
Years later, when you are in another part of the world, the moment you think of your youth, you will realise that part of your heart is still at university and Manchester will always be your home!
To celebrate, join us at Sweet Mandarin for a graduation banquet. To book a table email Lisa@sweetmandarin.com or book here
Its great being a short 10minute walk away from the MEN Arena because we get to meet all the stars that perform at the MEN Arena. If you are going, be sure to book your pre-concert dinner at Sweet Mandarin (click here).
Manchester’s M.E.N Arena has been revealed as the host venue for the world premiere of Batman Live next summer.
For the first time ever see Batman – the world’s most popular DC superhero – in a live-action arena adventure, set to take the world by storm.
Premiering at Manchester’s M.E.N Arena next summer, Batman Live is a multi-million pound stage production of unprecedented scale and a must-see for families and Batman fans everywhere.
Based on an original story being created exclusively for the world arena tour, Batman Live is a theatrical extravaganza of thrilling stunts, acrobatic acts and illusions. Never before has Gotham City, Wayne Manor, the Batcave and Arkham Asylum been brought to life on stage in a more visually exciting way.
Join Batman and Robin as they battle their nemesis The Joker and other super-villains such as The Riddler, Catwoman, The Penguin, Two-Face and Harley Quinn, set on destroying Gotham City.
This is one adventure and one delicious meal (at Sweet Mandarin) that you do not want to miss!
Its great being a short 10minute walk away from the MEN Arena because we get to meet all the stars that perform at the MEN Arena. If you are going, be sure to book your pre-concert dinner at Sweet Mandarin (click here).
Blink 182, the Californian trio return to the Arena for the first time since 2004′s sold-out appearance to perform hits from their pop punk back catalogue including I Miss You, What’s My Age Again, Carousel and All The Small Things.
Blink 182 will open their 2011 UK tour at the M.E.N Arena next summer as part of their first headline shows in the country for more than seven years. Formed in San Diego in
1992 by Mark Hoppus and Tom DeLonge, the band recruited drummer Travis Barker in 1998.
The band’s breakthrough album, Enema Of The State, was released the following year and went on to sell over 15 million copies worldwide. Their next two albums, 2001′s Take Off Your Pants And Jacket and 2003′s Blink 182, cemented their position as pop punk pioneers.
Following DeLonge’s seven year hiatus from the band – and Barker surviving a plane crash in 2008 – the trio are now back in the studio working on their as-yet-untitled sixth studio album, due for release next summer.
Its great being a short 10minute walk away from the MEN Arena because we get to meet all the stars that perform at the MEN Arena. If you are going, be sure to book your pre-concert dinner at Sweet Mandarin (click here).
Glee, making its European premiere at the M.E.N Arena next summer, will now have performances on Wednesday 22 & Thursday 23 June 2011.
Glee has been described by the Los Angeles Times as “triumphant” and by USA Today as “equal parts musical theatre, giddy pop culture phenomenon and Journey-loving rock show.”
Following a sold-out 2010 US tour, Glee stars Lea Michele (Rachel), Cory Monteith (Finn), Amber Riley (Mercedes), Chris Colfer (Kurt), Kevin McHale (Artie), Jenna Ushkowitz (Tina), Mark Salling (Puck), Dianna Agron (Quinn), Naya Rivera (Santana), Heather Morris (Brittany), Harry Shum Jr. (Mike), Chord Overstreet (Sam) and Darren Criss (Blaine) will open their European tour in Manchester next summer in an all singing and dancing celebration of the hit TV show.
All the show’s most memorable musical numbers from seasons one and two will be featured – including Empire State of Mind, Toxic, My Life Would Suck Without You, It’s
My Life and show anthem Don’t Stop Believin’.
Speaking ahead of the 2011 tour, Glee co-creator Ryan Murphy said: “We had such a great time putting together last year’s US shows and the response from the fans was incredible. People around the world want to see our cast live and in person, so this European tour is our way of thanking them for the unbelievable way they’ve embraced our little show”.
To date, over 16 million Glee tracks have been digitally downloaded and over 5.5 million albums sold worldwide. The second season of Glee, currently showing in the US, will air on E4 this winter.
I know one day will never make up for all the universal joys and incredible memories of childhood that I’ve shared with my Dad but I wanted to thank you Dad, for being there for me, always, unconditionally and always fighting our corner. Together with the entire world – in celebrations of Dads all over the world on Father’s Day 20th June, I wanted to say I love you Dad.
I remember the midnight jogging sessions to Chaddy park with Dad, my siblings and our dog, Choy Sum as Mum drove the old banger alongside us. Even though we never managed to jog back as we all went home in the car – I loved that sense of adventure you instilled in us.
I remember Mum had gone out to buy the groceries and you decided to be a hairdresser for the day. We all had pudding bowl haircuts……and it was so atrocious you bought us an ice cream to make up for it. I learnt quickly not to let you touch my hair ever again!
I remember the amazing dinners you made us ranging from spare ribs to a whole steamed fish to chicken tomato with an egg in it and your amazing red cooked melt in the mouth chicken. And you allowed me to go on the woks and you taught me how to cook the perfect egg fried rice. Wow – Dad you’re the best.
And now you and the fat baby are partners in crime!
For everyone out there, don’t forget its Father’s Day on Sunday 20th June. We only have a few tables left that evening (5-11pm). If you’d like to tell your Dad you love him by treating him to a delicious Chinese banquet, I’d be honoured to serve you our sumptuous food and ice cold beers. To book your table call 0161 832 8848 or email me lisa@sweetmandarin.com or click here
Its great being a short 10minute walk away from the City of Manchester Stadium because we get to meet all the stars that perform. If you are going, be sure to book your pre-concert dinner at Sweet Mandarin (click here).
On Tuesday October 26th, the most exciting reunion in British pop history gathered speed as dates for a brand new Take That Tour, Progress Live 2011, were announced at a press conference in London.
Gary, Howard, Jason, Mark and Robbie confirmed that they will hit the road next year for a monumental 14-date summer stadium tour around the UK before heading to Europe for a further six shows. Progress Live 2011, is the band’s biggest tour yet and will be the first time they have toured together as a five-piece since 1995.
Its great being a short 10minute walk away from the MEN Arena because we get to meet all the stars that perform at the MEN Arena. If you are going, be sure to book your pre-concert dinner at Sweet Mandarin (click here).
Journey will be performing hits from their classic rock back catalogue including Never Walk Away, Any Way You Want It, Open Arms and the massive power ballad anthem Don’t Stop Believin’ - back in the charts after being sung by the cast of the hit US show Glee.
The San Francisco band – Neal Schon (guitars, backing vocals), Jonathan Cain (keyboards, backing vocals), Ross Valory (bass, backing vocals), Deen Castronovo (drums, percussion, backing vocals) and Arnel Pineda (lead vocals) – will also be performing tracks from their latest recording project Revelation, a three-disc CD/DVD package.
British-American rock band Foreigner will join Journey in Manchester next summer to perform their worldwide number one hits I Want To KnowWhat Love Is, Waiting For A Girl Like You and the video game classics Hot Blooded and Juke Box Hero.
Speaking ahead of the M.E.N Arena show, founding member and songwriter / guitarist Mick Jones said: “This will be one of the main events of the summer. Bands who represent the magic era in classic rock together for the first time in my home country. Get ready to rock!”
Making up the trio will be prog-rock heavyweights Styx.
Over the course of their 38-year career the Chicago band have released 15 studio albums, six best-of compilations, four live albums and eight top ten singles including Lady, Babe, The Best Of Times and Mr Roboto.
Speaking about the 2011 joint tour, Styx’s James ‘JY’ Young said: “Styx has always enjoyed sharing the stage with Journey, going back to the Santa Monica Civic Center in 1976. The tour we did with them in 2003 across the United States was an amazing success of sold out arenas. Journey, Foreigner & Styx seems like a can’t miss “Guitars a-blazin’” ”Vocals a-mazing” kind of a Classic Rock Evening!”
Sweet Mandarin and all the other establishments in the Northern Quarter, Manchester had one street party to remember. The street party itself was a sight to see. So many had put in so much work to make the celebration a success. Sweet Mandarin has an outdoor beer garden adjacent to the magnificent Smithfield Fish Market Wall (in the photo) that seats 40 people and we took advantage of the sun to serve ice cold beers, delicious dim sum and a dollop of British pride of being part of history.
I was enjoying talking to our guests who ranged from aged 9 to 90, the latter having a very happy memory of a street party to celebrate the Queens’ Silver Jubilee in 1977 – the year I was born! She went on to tell us about the next most memorable street party for Diana and Charles’ wedding. And now, I was experiencing it for myself. Wow. Earlier in the day, I was glued to the TV watching the fairytale wedding of Wills and Kate, coo-ing at the amazingly elegant Alexander McQueen dress and how dashing Prince William looked. Now, the euphoria of a nation spilled into Sweet Mandarin’s beer garden and the Northern Quarter alike. Its amazing when our little community of independent businesses pull together for something that isn’t out of necessity or some kind of emergency. That’s what makes the Northern Quarter so special. We can do so much when we collaborate. We’re small enough to care, big enough to cope. May God Bless the Duchess and Duke of Cambridge. We wish them all the best for their sweet future together. We also wish you and your families all the best and look forward to welcoming you to Sweet Mandarin for your special dinner or even your wedding (http://www.sweetmandarin.com/wedding).
To book a table at our beer garden or restaurant please fill in the below table. Please note that although Manchester is of course the best place on the Earth it does rain ‘occasionally’ so the beer garden is open if the weather permits!
Its great being a short 10minute walk away from the MEN Arena because we get to meet all the stars that perform at the MEN Arena. If you are going, be sure to book your pre-concert dinner at Sweet Mandarin (click here).
Skating legends Jayne Torvill & Christopher Dean will return to the M.E.N Arena next spring for the fifth live Dancing On Ice Tour. Returning to the home of their 1995 record-breaking performance, Jayne Torvill & Christopher Dean will join a new line-up of celebrity skaters to perform dazzling routines including their own spectacular show-stopping performance.
Celebrities taking part in the 2011 tour will be announced shortly, along with the judging panel who will cast their expert opinions on each performance.
Using the same format as the hit ITV1 show, spectators can use their mobile phones to text vote for their favourite celebrity. Audience votes will then be added to scores from the judges to decide the overall celebrity winner. The winning couple then take to the ice for a magical finale performance. As with previous tours, all profits from text voting will go to charity.
More than £100,000 has been raised to date which in previous years has been donated to the Royal London Society For The Blind and Demelza Hospice Care for Children.
Its great being a short 10minute walk away from the MEN Arena because we get to meet all the stars that perform at the MEN Arena. If you are going, be sure to book your pre-concert dinner at Sweet Mandarin (click here).
Hip hop trio N-Dubz will play their first headline show at the M.E.N Arena next spring joined by very special guest Professor Green.
N-Dubz return in 2011 to showcase tracks from their latest album Love. Live. Life.
Formed in Camden Town in 2000, Dappy, Tulisa and Fazer have become the breakout stars of the UK grime scene.
The trio’s first two albums, Uncle B and Against All Odds, spawned eight top 40 hits between them including I Swear, You Better Not Waste My Time, I Need You and the Mr Hudson duet Playing With Fire.
Its great being a short 10minute walk away from the MEN Arena because we get to meet all the stars that perform at the MEN Arena. If you are going, be sure to book your pre-concert dinner at Sweet Mandarin (click here).
The Jay Kay fronted group return to the Arena for their first performance since 2005′s Dynamite tour to showcase tracks from their latest top ten album Rock Dust Light Star.
Speaking ahead of their Manchester show, Jay Kay said: “I can’t wait to get back out on the road and tour, particularly round the UK where we haven’t toured for a while. We’re looking forward to playing stuff from the new album, as well as giving you new twists on plenty of the old hits”.
Formed during the early 1990′s acid jazz movement, Jamiroquai’s first hit – Space Cowboy – was released in 1994, followed by Virtual Insanity and Cosmic Girl from 1996′s international breakthrough album Travelling Without Moving.
There are some moments in one’s life that one will always remember. Here is one magical moment that I want to share with you. It was an event to give thanks to all our customers predominantly from the Middleton area – over the years who have kept my grandma, my mum and me in business.
As I was serving these wonderful folk, my heart twinged with sadness and longing. Unlike my grandma's and mum's businesses who have loyal regulars every single week - on the same day, at the same time - ordering the same dishes ('Usual please') for the last 50 years - being located in the Manchester city centre area - the population is far more transient. Nonetheless, I value my regular customers and corporate clients and set myself a personal challenge to get to know my regulars with a view to build a lasting legacy for Sweet Mandarin and future generations. Helen, Janet and I want to invite you to my very exciting events. Who knows, maybe after my 50 years, our grandchildren can invite you, our regular customers to a wonderful event like the above.
Its great being a short 10minute walk away from the MEN Arena because we get to meet all the stars that perform at the MEN Arena. If you are going, be sure to book your pre-concert dinner at Sweet Mandarin (click here).
The list of records Kylie holds at the Manchester venue is unprecedented.
The pop icon has performed more shows, and to more people, at the M.E.N Arena than at any other venue in the world.
More than 300,000 concertgoers have seen Kylie at the Arena since her 2002 debut with her sold-out summer 2008 shows confirming her position as the biggest selling solo artist in the history of the venue.
Kylie now returns to the city which she says “has always welcomed me so much” to perform tracks from her latest album Aphrodite - including current hit single Better Than Today - alongside hits from her back catalogue spanning over two decades.
John Knight, General Manager for the M.E.N Arena, said: “Manchester holds a very special place in its heart for Kylie and the feeling is more than mutual. She loves performing here and next year’s shows are going to be one of the musical highlights of the year.
“Since her first show with us nearly a decade ago Kylie’s returned again and again with bigger and better shows and, after seeing the initial production plans for her new Les Folies shows, her Manchester fans are in for another breathtaking treat”.
Devotion, a duet Kylie has recorded with Manchester synthpop duo The Hurts, is out now.
The written character for mother love is composed of two elements: love and pain. I had always thought this emotion was felt by daughters for their mothers especially when I was growing up and often reluctantly had to help in the family catering business giving up my weekends, social life and teenage years, but looking at the sacrifices my mother made and her courage, I realised this emotion was for her. My mother suffered deeply to give birth and there are so many things in her life that I long to know.
People keep secrets from each other all the time. Mothers keep secrets from their daughters; daughters keep secrets from their mothers. We tell part truths. And it is these secrets – these stories that have a ripple effect throughout generations. I don’t know every single aspect of my mother’s life – but through her experiences and how she taught my sisters and I, these things have helped to turn us into the persons we have become as adults.
I’ve learnt that the cruelest words in the universe are if only. When I was away from Manchester – Flinders University, Adelaide, Australia, the initial reaction was wow freedom – hurrah. Yet as soon as I landed, I missed the smells of jasmine tea, hungered for my mum’s congee and steamed chicken, missed the chatter with our customers in the shop and the laughter around the family table late at night. I missed having my mum as a confidant – and being able to pour out my failures to my mum. But what I missed most was my mum and my family.
During my stint away from home, I’d never admit I was homesick or that I loved my mum. It was this fear of being weak. Yet every day I’d try to re-enact the usual routine I’d been accustomed to at home – even the things I hated doing such as washing up reminded me of my mum and gave me some comfort as I waded through the soapy suds. I had the freedom in Australia to go out, meet whom I wanted and not hear the nagging of my parents. Yet, this fear of not seeing them again. The fear that I might be stuck here forever – scared me and when it was finally time to return home, I was a different person and grateful for my mum.
My mother has tried so hard to protect me as a child but sometimes mothers can’t protect their children even if they try with all their might. I guess we can only do our best in the moment. My relationship with my mother has changed, evolved, endured tension and been rejuvenated through love.
On Mother’s Day (3rd April), I just wanted to tell you, Mum, that I Love You and thank you for being the best Mum in the world.
To celebrate Mothers Day and to tell your mum that you love her, join us at Sweet Mandarin for a celebratory dinner (from the a la carte menu). I’ve also put together a Mother’s Day package which you are also welcome to opt for. Email lisa@sweetmandarin.com for more information and prices.
Its great being a short 10minute walk away from the MEN Arena because we get to meet all the stars that perform at the MEN Arena. If you are going, be sure to book your pre-concert dinner at Sweet Mandarin (click here).
Her only show in the north of the country during 2011, the US singer-songwriter will bring her Speak Now World Tour to the Manchester venue on Tuesday 29 March.
Following her winter 2009 debut, the country-pop star returns to the Arena to perform tracks from her brand new album Speak Now alongside the chart-topping hits Love Story, You Belong With Me, Fifteen and Mine.
Fearless, her third studio album, became the best-selling US album of last year and earned her a Grammy for Album Of The Year making her the youngest artist, at 20 years old, to collect the award.
Speaking ahead of her Manchester return, Taylor said: “I’m so excited to go back out on tour again in 2011. The Fearless Tour was so much fun and even more unforgettable than I ever imagined. I can’t wait to get back out and play my new music from Speak Now!”
Its great being a short 10minute walk away from the MEN Arena because we get to meet all the stars that perform at the MEN Arena. If you are going, be sure to book your pre-concert dinner at Sweet Mandarin (click here).
Performing tracks from his latest album Euphoria - alongside his greatest hits Hero,Takin’ Back My Love, Do You Know and Escape – Enrique returns to Manchester for the first time in two years with special guest Lemar.
Son of Julio Iglesias, Enrique exploded onto the music scene in 2001 with his number one ballad Hero which spent four weeks at the top of the UK charts.
The Madrid-born, Miami-raised singer has since gone on to sell 2.2 million albums and 1.6 million singles in the UK alone including six top ten singles.
Euphoria, Enrique’s ninth studio album, features guest appearances from Akon and Nicole Scherzinger plus Arena favourites Usher and Lionel Richie.
Enrique will be joined in Manchester by special guest Lemar.
The UK soul and R&B singer-songwriter will return to the Arena next spring fresh from supporting Mary J. Blige on her November Manchester date. The MOBO and Brit award winner will be performing tracks from his five hit albums including the singles 50/50, Dance (With U), Another Day and If There’s Any Justice.
Its great being a short 10minute walk away from the MEN Arena because we get to meet all the stars that perform at the MEN Arena. If you are going, be sure to book your pre-concert dinner at Sweet Mandarin (click here).
Following their March shows earlier this year, Shane, Mark, Kian and Nicky return to perform all their classic hits – including Flying Without Wings, You Raise Me Up and Mandy - as well as tracks from their latest album Where We Are.
No pop band can compare to Westlife’s extraordinary success. In addition to performing an unrivalled 29 shows at the M.E.N Arena, the band have sold over 40 million records worldwide and, in the UK alone, have scored nine multi-platinum albums and a record-breaking 14 No. 1′s.
In addition to numerous awards and accolades they are the only recording artists to win the prestigious ‘Record Of The Year’ an incredible four times.
Westlife are currently working on a new studio album for release in November of this year.
I love Food Walks. Its a tour all about the Chinese ingredients that we use at Sweet Mandarin and in Chinese cooking. We go through how to find the perfect wok, looking at the wierd and wonderful ingredients, purchasing them and bringing them back to Sweet Mandarin to cook. Its the perfect event for team building events – whether you are a corporate, a school, or a group of family and friends. To enquire further, email me lisa@sweetmandarin.com
Thank you to Wing Yip for being so generous and allowing us to visit your store.
Thank you to Cedarmount Year 11 and Mrs Orr-McCook for being great guest chefs.
Its great being a short 10minute walk away from the MEN Arena because we get to meet all the stars that perform at the MEN Arena. If you are going, be sure to book your pre-concert dinner at Sweet Mandarin (click here ).
The 16 year-old singing sensation will be performing tracks from his first two albums My World (Part 1) and My World (Part 2) including the hit singles One Less Lonely Girl, Love Me, Favourite Girl, Baby, Never Let You Go, U Smile and the debut smash One Time.
The teen idol was discovered in 2007 after posting dozens of homemade videos on YouTube. Bieber racked up over 10,000,000 views from word-of-mouth alone and, at just 13, was signed by Island Records after being championed by Usher.
Its great being a short 10minute walk away from the MEN Arena because we get to meet all the stars that perform at the MEN Arena. If you are going, be sure to book your pre-concert dinner at Sweet Mandarin (click here ).
Tom, Harry, Dougie and Bolton’s Danny return to the Arena for their first Manchester show in over three years to perform tracks from their brand new album Above The Noise including the hit singles Party Girl and Shine A Light.
Formed in 2004, the quartet’s debut album, Room on the 3rd Floor, debuted at number one in the UK making the band the youngest ever to have an album debut at the top spot.
Since then McFly have gone on to have 17 top ten singles, seven of which reached number one including All About You, Please Please, 5 Colours In Her Hair, That Girl and Sorry’s Not Good Enough.
Named after the main character from the Back To The Future trilogy, McFly have sold over eight million records worldwide, won multiple Brit Awards and starred in the hit Hollywood film Just My Luck.
Its great being a short 10minute walk away from the MEN Arena because we get to meet all the stars that perform at the MEN Arena. If you are going, be sure to book your pre-concert dinner at Sweet Mandarin (click here).
The X Factor Live Manchester shows will see the X Factor Winner, Matt Cardle – joined by this year’s finalists Rebecca, Cher, Aiden, Paije, Mary, Wagner, Katie and One Direction - perform classic songs alongside viewer’s favourites from the TV series.
The finalists will also perform this year’s charity single, a cover of David Bowie’s 1977 hit Heroes. Proceeds from the single will go to the Help For Heroes charity.
Audiences of the 2010 tour – which included four sold-out shows at the M.E.N Arena – saw last year’s winner, Joe McElderry, take centre stage having already stormed the charts with his debut single The Climb. Other massive performances were given by Jedward, Stacey Soloman, Lucie Jones, Jamie Archer and Arena favourite Olly Murs.
Its great being a short 10minute walk away from the MEN Arena because we get to meet all the stars that perform at the MEN Arena.If you are going, be sure to book your pre-concert dinner at Sweet Mandarin here.
Get the lowdown on the Boyz with the men-arena.com’s top five Boyzone facts:
1: Following the ITV1 special, Boyzone: A Tribute To Stephen Gately, the new four-piece will be performing tracks from Brother alongside Boyzone classics Pictures Of You, Love Me For A Reason and No Matter What.
2: Speaking ahead of their Manchester return, Ronan said; “There was a time there when the lads and I didn’t know whether we would ever get back up on stage together again – we just didn’t know if we could do it as a four-piece.
3: “We played three tracks live at the Albert Hall a couple of weeks ago and the reception was just unbelievable. We all came off stage buzzing, knowing that we had the full support of the fans and it all just suddenly felt so right. We can’t wait to get back on the road together.”
4: Boyzone: A Tribute To Stephen Gatelyaired as an hour-long special on ITV1 featuring Ronan, Keith, Mikey and Shane performing a selection of their top ten hits joined by special guests including Mika, Girls Aloud’s Nadine Coyle and Arena favourites Westlife.
5: Boyzone love aromatic crispy duck with pancakes, scallions and hoisin sauce!
Its great being a short 10minute walk away from the MEN Arena because we get to meet all the stars that perform at the MEN Arena. Ne Yo is coming to Manchester! Did you hear me? Ne Yo is coming to Manchester . Remember the songs Beautiful Monster, One In A Million….those are some of my favourite songs….and I can’t wait to bop till I drop. If you are going to the Monster Ball aka Ne Yo’s concert, be sure to get your energy boost by booking your pre-concert dinner at Sweet Mandarin (click here).
Libra Scale – Ne-Yo’s fourth studio album – features the number one UK hit Beautiful Monster alongside current single One In A Million.
Returning to the Manchester venue following last summer’s Year Of The Gentleman World Tour, the US singer-songwriter will be performing tracks from Libra Scale alongside his chart-topping R’n'B hits Closer, Miss Independent, Mad and Because Of You.
Famed for his ‘Rat Pack’ style look, Ne-Yo – aka Shaffer Chimere Smith – first broke onto the music scene with the 2006 single So Sick, taken from his debut album In My Own Words.
In addition to penning his own work, the 31-year-old is also the songwriting force behind hits for Rihanna, Beyonce, Leona Lewis, Celine Dion and Whitney Houston.
Tonight a handsome young man came to Sweet Mandarin armed with a CD and an ancient scroll. He’d come to inspect the table – table 3 in the alcove – a table he’d sat at three years ago on a first date. Tonight, he was going to propose to his girlfriend whom he’d first met at Sweet Mandarin and he wanted it just perfect, just as it was three years ago. Its been raining in hushed whispers all night. Every now and then, a chuckle seems to escape it as the lovers walk into Sweet Mandarin.
The atmosphere was electric – at Sweet Mandarin they escaped from other spaces, which seemed cluttered with superficial concerns and hollow outrage. Here, he could ask the question. In the candle lit space, he could ask for her hand in marriage. He’d planned every course, the music and his proposal as a creative challenge, composing lucid thoughts to record the event – giving mankind hope of an optimistic outlook on life and love. I peered around waiting for the signal. He was waiting for that moment to come. I think we both could sense a pin dropping it was that tense. He gave me the nod and then I delivered the plate with the scroll on it. It was time. I placed it on the table. It shimmered from the waxy paper. Almost hypnotic. It spoke about ‘In my heart is a temple. Sacred, intricate, divine. Cool floors, echoing ceilings. I want you to be part of my life. You’re the one’.
In this scroll was scribed a promise, a small-scale personal approach – outlining his world where he was inviting her to join, creating a place where love, beauty, wit, and inspiration dominated, and when his girlfriend started to read these poignant words, she cried tears of joy as she was overwhelmed with love. On bended knee, he proposed and virtually built a bridge from himself to his fiancee – because sometimes in life there are rivers to cross on the way.
“Yes. The answer is yes.” she whispered. At that moment it goes hazy like they are stranded between nothing and everything.
I couldn’t help it. The tears welled in my eyes and I too was overcome with emotion. There’s a little bit of this couple in all of us. They laugh love sing sleep dance ignore fight insist like everyone has been through – I guess we are all filled with nostalgia.
On an innocent night, this young couple’s experience of Sweet Mandarin would change forever. The proposal was inspirational, funny, and wise. It uplifted Sweet Mandarin to a marshmallow floaty existence where dreams really do come true – and has become a precious moment that will always be recorded in their memory and mine.
I realise my raison d’etre now – to cook delicious food for people who appreciate Sweet Mandarin. Through food, interactions can be very deep and meaningful very quickly. There is nothing flippant or superficial in the cuisine I cook, so I attract likeminded people who are looking to share, inspire, validate and enjoy good food.
Tonight, it has been amazing – a vibrant world of wonder that inspires and truly adds value to the surrounding world. In one word, life is ‘Sweet’.
Love is not just a single day on 14 February, but a journey. I am honoured to share the stories of couples whom I have met at Sweet Mandarin, who told me that during a dinner or during the cooking school, they found that spark again or the humour that initially brought them together. Over a romantic meal, there is nothing quite like making eye contact with your loved one, talking one-to -one and just escaping from the world for a few hours together. The couples who participate in the Sweet Mandarin cookery school learn things about each other they never really knew about – and the time spent on cooking and learning new techniques together is something that they cherish and can share together.
Love cannot be taken lightly. Its not just the butterflies or chemistry, but its also working through the difficulties and challenges together. As you take the steps together on this wonderful journey, keep a resolute mind and a steadfast determination toward each other. Love should not be the brief interlude that is sampled or briefly tested. Keep talking, keep eating together and commit a day at a time to your relationships.
Lunchtime and dinner times are the most important events in our household. Its a time to share our lives, our highs or lows around the table over good wholesome food. Its the glue that will bind and strengthen a love, a family, a marriage. I am honoured to serve you and may your love continue to grow at Sweet Mandarin.
I’ve designed a Sweet Sweet menu for Valentines www.sweetmandarin.com which I know you will love and savour with your loved ones, family and friends.
We’ve also got the Sweet Mandarin Cookery School for couples who want to book on the Sweet Mandarin Cookery School together – learn which foods are natural aphrodisiacs – and rekindle your relationship with an amazing dinner (taught by us, cooked by you – its true, a way to a man or woman’s heart is through the stomach!) and lots and lots of laughter.
Its great being a short 10minute walk away from the MEN Arena because we get to meet all the stars that perform at the MEN Arena. I feel faint as the gorgeous Usher is coming to Manchester! If you are going to scream your lungs out at Usher’s concert, be sure to get your energy boost by booking your pre-concert dinner at Sweet Mandarin (click here).
Usher concert tickets sold out in hours…..are you one of the lucky ones? The R&B superstar returns to the Manchester venue for the first of a ten night UK arena tour on Wednesday 26 January – and again on 20th February 2011 – to celebrate the release of his latest album Raymond vs. Raymond.
The OMG Tour will see the US singer and actor perform tracks from Raymond vs. Raymond – his sixth studio album – alongside hits from his 20 year R&B back catalogue.
Usher Raymond IV rose to fame in the late 1990′s with the release of his second album My Way which spawned the R&B classic U Make Me Wanna. His 2001 follow up, 8701, produced the number one hits U Remind Me and U Got It Bad.
Usher’s success continued with his 2004 album Confessions which went on to sell over 20 million copies worldwide making it the best selling R&B album of the decade.
Ok, I hear you so here’s a little youtube video of Usher to wet your appetite. See you at Sweet Mandarin Usherites!
This post is dedicated to Gary from the Market Restaurant, our neighbour – who sent us this fantastic card – of the Smithfield Fish Market Wall. Both The Sweet Mandarin and The Market Restaurant overlook this grand wall. Check out Gary’s pudding club – they are really quite something (website www.market-restaurant.com and follow him on twitter @104highstr)
We met Gary about 7 years ago now….when we had just set up Sweet Mandarin and Gary was a high flying executive who visited us every Wednesday without fail for dinner. If Gary turned up on a Thursday, it would totally confuse us as in our minds, Gary only came in on a Wednesday! One day, Gary said, “Hey, there’s a restaurant near you that is for sale!”
“Which one?” we asked
“Let’s just say, we’ll be seeing more of each other very soon…everyday will be a Wednesday!” responded Gary in a cryptic fashion.
Next thing you know, Gary had bought the Market restaurant and we were practically neighbours sharing the same street and the same wonderful view of the imposing Smithfield Fishmarket Wall. Since then, we’ve shared chats about the quest to run a restaurant as best we can – and keep pinching each other to say hey, you’re no longer dreaming – you live in the magical world of one’s dream to be a restaurateur and where limitations of the rat-race corporate world no longer bind us. For me, there has always been a deep longing within my soul to return to its true home from whence it came – namely food – which has been our lifeline for five generations.
We’ve shared heart-felt stories about our customers who touch our heart, energise us to keep going and uplifts us even though we’ve been burning the candle at both ends. You see, a restaurant like Sweet Mandarin becomes a place to share my world, my dreams and my passion for food. Every plate that I cook and serve at Sweet Mandarin is made with love and invites you onto a culinary journey to China. I’ve placed my heart into the foundations of Sweet Mandarin – and now Sweet Mandarin is blossoming – her love flows as deep as a glorious, tranquil, infinite ocean. When we drop a single pebble of love into its centre, waves of divine inspiration radiate outward and uplift all that set foot into Sweet Mandarin.
The day I quit the day job, I surrendered my fear of what people thought, expanded my awareness and now feel liberated that not only is my dream a reality, but one of my dearest clients is now a fellow restaurateur whom I can share this journey with, and also tweet with. Gary, its great to have you as a neighbour. Thank you for your support and friendship. Wishing you and The Market a wonderful, peaceful and sweet New Year ahead.
![rsz_valentines1[1]](http://www.sweetmandarin.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/02/rsz_valentines11.JPG "rsz_valentines1[1]")
