Chinese food traditions for Lunar New Year
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Traditional Chinese dishes for Lunar New Year. Photo: VCG/VCG via Getty Images
Though Lunar New Year celebrations may vary widely depending on where they're held, one common tradition is ushering in the festive period with family by enjoying dishes believed to bring good fortune and prosperity in the coming year.
Why it matters: The festival is one of the most important holidays in Chinese culture and is celebrated by many other communities, including Korean and Vietnamese people.
The latest: We asked some San Francisco experts to share insights about the auspicious Chinese dishes they love most and the symbolic meanings they hold. Here are a few of them.
What they're saying: "A lot of the tablescape is about abundance, it's about eating luxury dishes because that's supposed to signify what will come back to you," said Brandon Jew, executive chef of Chinatown-based Mister Jiu's.
Some common foods include:
- Longevity noodles, also known as yi mein or cháng shòu miàn, are served long and uncut to symbolize a long life.
- Mandarins and oranges symbolize wealth due to their color, which resembles gold.
- Dumplings, or jiaozi, which are often made and eaten with family, also represent wealth, prosperity and hope.
- Nian gao, sticky rice cakes prepared with glutinous rice flour, can be enjoyed either savory or sweet and represent having a better year ahead.
- Steamed whole fish or a roasted whole chicken are two popular dishes because they represent abundance and prosperity. It's important that they are served whole to bring about good fortune, said Kathy Chin Leong, co-author of San Francisco's Chinatown.
- Poon Choi, also known as pén cài, is a festive Cantonese dish traditionally served in a large wooden pot or metal basin. This Hong Kong specialty, which represents prosperity, often includes abalone, sea cucumber and an assortment of vegetables.
What's next: Many other dishes across Asia also hold special significance. Check them out here.
The bottom line: "This holiday is all about ushering wealth and restarting the new year with foods that symbolize good luck," said Jenny Leung, executive director of the Chinese Culture Center of San Francisco.