It's All About The Food

Our family is wrapping up a week of Chinese New Year eating.  You'd think New Year's is only a one day celebration?  Not in this house.  Our celebrations started last weekend when we had our family dinner - all 24 of us.  The dinner is usually eaten on New Year's eve & it even has a special name: 'tuen leen fan' which can be translated as 'coming together meal' which is why it is so important that every member of the family is present.  This year we hit a local restaurant and ordered a 10 course meal - 1) shark fin soup, 2) deep fried shrimp balls, 3) Chinese BBQ Platter, 4) Mushroom With Baby Bok Choy, 5) Stir Fried Seafood With Veggies, 6) Steamed White Chicken, 7) Steamed Whole Fish, 8) Lobster In Garlic & Onion Sauce, and finishing off with Rice & Noodles.

The next significant meal we have is on the second day after New Year's and this is what we call 'hoi leen fan' - which can mean 'opening/beginning of the year meal'.  Similar to the 'tuen leen fan' the dishes we eat include fish, roast pork, fried shrimp, an array of colourful vegetables, noodles & soup and any other family faves that may only be reserved for this special time of year.  This meal we cooked at home since it was only the 7 of us + Big Brother Pepe & Sister Selina's families. Interestingly on New Year's Day, we don't have an elaborate meal.  In fact, we typically eat leftovers from the night before; and even if we do cook it'll be mostly vegetarian foods.

The weekends following Chinese New Year is reserved for extended family visits.  Because my parents-in-laws come from large families we usually will have two days of visitors - one from grandma's side & one from grandpa's side.  And what do we do after the visits?  Have another Chinese feast of course!

Tomorrow is the 7th Day of Chinese New Year and is commonly known to as 'yun yut' - which means 'People's Day'.  Some even refer to it as 'Everyone's Birthday'.  On tomorrow's menu?  Definitely chicken (drumsticks) because you just HAVE to eat chicken on your birthday (the Chinese equivalent of having a birthday cake, I suppose).

Many see the 7th Day as the unofficial end of the Chinese New Year celebrations.  And as much as we love our Chinese foods, it's right about now we need to give our stomachs a little break!  Stay tuned for some restaurant reviews of our Chinese New Year dinners!

Y.C.