When I think of Chinese New Year I usually think of a dragons dancing, parades, red envelopes, and FOOD!
The Chinese are highly superstitious, especially with food.
What should you eat for Chinese New Year? Well that all depends what you are looking for in the upcoming year of the Snake...
Shrimp= Good Times (the word shrimp in chinese is pronounced "ha")
Anything with seeds= Fertility(they represent new life)
Whole Cook Fish= Abundance
Noodles= Longevity (they represent long life...don't cut them in half)
Lettuce= A Raise $ (symbolizes rising fortune)
Broccoli and Cauliflower= Riches (the blossoms on each stalk represent a blossoming year)
Egg Rolls, Dumplings, Pot Stickers= Good Fortune
Duck= Fidelity
BUT avoid Tofu or Bean Curd because its white colour suggests death and misfortune.
Shopping for Chinese New Year is pretty easy in Vancouver. I'm lucky enough to live close to some mom & pop asian groceries and bigger specialty stores like T & T Supermarket. Some T & T products are now available at Real Canadian Superstore.
Shrimp and Chive Cooked Dumplings - an awesome, fast, easy meal with stir fry veggies or spicy fried green beans.
Pineapple Cakes and Chinese Style Pastry (Sachima)- These are really different from western cakes and pastries and are much less sweet. The Pineapple cakes (front) are individually wrapped and a crumbly, golden crust surrounds a chewy pineapple filling. The Sachima (behind) are like a Taiwanese Rice Krispie square- I tried the Raisin and Sesame variety.
GUNG HAY FAT CHOY! Enjoy the rest of Chinese New Year celebrations, eat lucky food, and enjoy the upcoming year of the Snake.
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