As Hong Kong prepares for the 2026 Lunar New Year, traditional celebratory dining receives a contemporary twist with a new collaboration between two prominent Causeway Bay dining establishments. Creative Chinese restaurant Eight Flavors Inn (八味客棧) has partnered with popular dessert shop Neko Puff to launch a limited-edition collection of six “Fortune Puddings” (年糕), offering both sweet and savory novel interpretations of the classic holiday staple. This inventive menu, available for pre-order, fuses time-honored techniques with modern flavor profiles, ranging from premium seafood elements to fiery Szechuan spice and unique low-sugar options.
A Fusion of Tradition and Modern Flavors
The “Eight Flavors Fortune Pudding” collection redefines the textures and tastes associated with Chinese New Year treats, moving beyond the standard sugar and turnip cakes. The collaboration aims to appeal to a broad audience by introducing six distinct products across the spectrum of classic celebratory flavors.
On the savory side, the offerings inject bold, upscale ingredients:
- Sakura Shrimp Turnip Cake: This substantial radish cake is elevated with generous layers of fragrant sakura shrimp, imparting a strong, salty seafood aroma and umami depth in every bite.
- Eight Flavors Spicy Radish Cake: Taking inspiration from regional Chinese cuisine, this turnip cake incorporates authentic Szechuan mala flavor, featuring a specialized chili sauce blend that delivers a signature numbing sensation alongside its heat. This provides a distinctive, bold option for those seeking an adventurous addition to their festive table.
- Preserved Meats and Taro Cake: A grounding option, this cake combines rich taro (yam) with savory preserved meats, seasoned expertly with the deep aroma of five-spice powder for a hearty, traditional complexity.
Redefining Festive Sweetness
The collection also presents highly inventive sweet puddings (nian gao), demonstrating a push toward more globalized and health-conscious dessert experiences:
- Pistachio Dual-Layer Nian Gao: A visually appealing and texturally interesting pudding, this features contrasting layers of rich pistachio paste combined with chewy coconut milk nian gao. The surface is adorned with chopped pistachio pieces, delivering a smooth yet satisfying textural crunch.
- Matcha Mochi Red Bean Nian Gao: This creation blends delicate Japanese flavors, layering fragrant matcha with soft red bean paste. Crucially, the pudding incorporates chewy mochi pieces, offering a soft, elastic mouthfeel that complements the gentle bitterness of the green tea.
- Low-Sugar Earl Grey Nian Gao: Addressing growing demand for reduced-sugar alternatives, this unique recipe infuses traditional sticky rice cake with fragrant Earl Grey tea leaves. The outcome is a subtly sweet and aromatic pudding that remains pleasantly non-sticky, providing a lighter celebratory indulgence.
Securing Early Bird Benefits
To encourage early purchases for the busy festive season, both Eight Flavors Inn and Neko Puff are offering special pre-sale promotions. The Early Bird Offer includes options for bulk and specialized purchases:
- Individual Fortune Pudding Vouchers: Priced at $98 per cake.
- Three Blessings Set Vouchers ($288): Allowing customers to choose any three cakes (either three sweet varieties or three savory varieties).
- Six Delights Full Set Vouchers ($568): Includes one of each of the six innovative puddings.
Vouchers can be pre-ordered now and redeemed between February 5 and February 15, 2026, ensuring the puddings are fresh for the peak holiday period. Collection points will be available at Eight Flavors Inn, located on the first floor of the Holiday Inn Express, and Neko Puff, located on the ground floor (G04B) of the same hotel on Sharp Street East, Causeway Bay.
This collaboration highlights a broader trend in Hong Kong’s culinary scene, where traditional holiday foods are continuously being reimagined to incorporate premium ingredients, global flavors, and tailored dietary considerations, successfully catering to modern festive dining expectations. Interested parties can secure their pre-orders through Neko Puff’s official website.