Blue Mountains News

The new Echo Point dining venue which serves a tasty array of popular Asian street foods, will serve a special Chinese Lunar New Year tasting menu this month featuring the sticky rice, sweets and other treats essential to the season.

Owned by Escarpment Group, which also operates the adjoining Darley's Restaurant and the Hydro Majestic Hotel among other tourism ventures, the venue is already festooned outside with coloured lanterns and inside with latticework, dozens of bird cages and other Eastern decorations.

Escarpment Group guest services manager Meagan Iervasi said the Miss Lilian Teahouse was well placed to greet thousands of Asian tourists who flocked to the region during Chinese Lunar New Year given its blend of local and international staff and authentic dishes.

"Lunar New Year is the only time of year in China when people really rest, relax and take time out to focus on family unity, vitality and longevity.

"This is often the only time of year when people can go home to visit relatives, especially elderly ones.

"It's also the time when Chinese people spend money, believing that one must spend money to attract more money.
 
"We can help you fulfil all those requirements.''
 
Lunar New Year and all things Oriental is not new to the Blue Mountains, with Australia's first tourist destination experiencing Eastern obsession during the "roaring 20s'' including at department store doyenne Mark Foy's "Palace in the wilderness'' and modern sister property to the Miss Lilian Teahouse, the Hydro Majestic Hotel at Medlow Bath.
 
During the post-Bathurst gold rush era around the turn of the 20^th century numerous Chinese workers reverted to their traditional skills across the Blue Mountains, with many working as butlers, cooks, nannies, maids and produce suppliers to inns, guesthouses and manor houses.

One was Louie Goh Mong (nicknamed 'Charlie'), who worked as a cook at Foy's home and managed the mayhem at the Hydro Majestic for 35 years.
 
Lunar New Year will be celebrated at the new Miss Lilian Teahouse on the Lilianfels Resort & Spa property, Echo Point Rd and Panorama Drive, Katoomba, with an evening tasting menu. Cost: $75pp includes complimentary sparkling cocktail.