by Aude Camus
As you may know, Chinese New Year, also known as Lunar New Year, is one of the most important traditional holiday over there. If it is celebrated in different ways in different parts of the world, some traditions seem deeply rooted such as the red envelopes (also known as Lai See) giving or the auspicious food eating. Now that you are living in Hong Kong, you might wanna give a go to lucky CNY food and I have round-up some fortuitous dishes geared to expat palates. Who knows … it might bring you good fortune on the New Lunar Year (and if it doesn’t, at least you would have tasted something new and yummy).
Chicken
As you may know, Chinese New Year, also known as Lunar New Year, is one of the most important traditional holiday over there. If it is celebrated in different ways in different parts of the world, some traditions seem deeply rooted such as the red envelopes (also known as Lai See) giving or the auspicious food eating. Now that you are living in Hong Kong, you might wanna give a go to lucky CNY food and I have round-up some fortuitous dishes geared to expat palates. Who knows … it might bring you good fortune on the New Lunar Year (and if it doesn’t, at least you would have tasted something new and yummy).
Chicken
Tea-Smoked Crispy Free-range Yellow Chicken at John Anthony. Photo credit @hkfoodblog
Yes, chicken. Really easy to take for our expat palates, right? The whole chicken is served at CNY to represent family togetherness and also symbolizes rebirth thanks to the high amount of proteins it provides.
Where to have auspicious chicken to kick start the Year of the Rat?
John Anthony’s Signature Salt-Baked Free-Range Whole Chicken (HKD 890 / to pre-order no less than 24h in advance) makes a yummy prosperous dish or you could also go for their Tea-Smoked Crispy Free-range Yellow Chicken (HKD 260 for half / HKD 500 for the whole) if you wanna try something slightly different but not less yummy.
John Anthony Hong Kong
Basement Level, Lee Garden Three, 1 Sunning Road – Causeway Bay
Dumplings
Where to have auspicious chicken to kick start the Year of the Rat?
John Anthony’s Signature Salt-Baked Free-Range Whole Chicken (HKD 890 / to pre-order no less than 24h in advance) makes a yummy prosperous dish or you could also go for their Tea-Smoked Crispy Free-range Yellow Chicken (HKD 260 for half / HKD 500 for the whole) if you wanna try something slightly different but not less yummy.
John Anthony Hong Kong
Basement Level, Lee Garden Three, 1 Sunning Road – Causeway Bay
Steamed Bird’s Nest Dumpling with Bamboo Pith at The Legacy House
Dumplings are to be found on most tables over CNY because both their names and looks are symbols of wishes for prosperity and happiness. In Chinese, the word for dumpling (jiǎo zi) sounds very similar to the phrase for “changing time” and dumplings are therefore eaten to symbolize the end of the old year and the beginning of the new one. Dumplings are also shaped like Chinese gold ingots and therefore symbols of wealth.
Where to have auspicious dumplings to kick start the Year of the Rat?
The Legacy House, the Cantonese restaurant of the Rosewood Hong Kong boasting stunning views of the Victoria Harbour, will be serving limited edition dumplings over CNY including Steamed Pork Dumpling (HKD 90), Steamed Fish Dumpling (HKD 90) and Steamed Bird’s Nest Dumpling with Bamboo Pith (HKD 100).
The Legacy House
5/F Rosewood Hong Kong Victoria Dockside, 18 Salisbury Rd - TST
Lo Hei
Where to have auspicious dumplings to kick start the Year of the Rat?
The Legacy House, the Cantonese restaurant of the Rosewood Hong Kong boasting stunning views of the Victoria Harbour, will be serving limited edition dumplings over CNY including Steamed Pork Dumpling (HKD 90), Steamed Fish Dumpling (HKD 90) and Steamed Bird’s Nest Dumpling with Bamboo Pith (HKD 100).
The Legacy House
5/F Rosewood Hong Kong Victoria Dockside, 18 Salisbury Rd - TST
Lo Hei
Lo Hei at Run, St. Regis Hong Kong
Also known as Prosperity Toss, Lo Hei is a Cantonese-style raw fish salad usually mixing shredded vegetables with raw fish, condiments and sauces. The Chinese name of the dish, Yusheng, sounds very similar to the word for abundance making this dish a very popular option for CNY especially among Chinese communities in Singapore and Malaysia. But don’t think you can just dig in the Lo Hei … You’ll first have to mix the ingredients together, with the help of the rest of the table, using your chopsticks and tossing the ingredients as high as you can. The higher you toss the ingredients, the greater your fortune will be in the New Lunar Year!
Where to have Lo Hei to kick start the Year of the Rat?
Rùn, the newly awarded One Michelin Star restaurant, at St. Regis Hong Kong is offering a nice yummy twist on the traditional Lo Hei with its Roasted Crispy Suckling Pig and Assorted Vegetables (HKD 688 / to be shared by the entire table). Tasted and 100% approved for expat palates!
Rùn
2/F, St. Regis Hong Kong, 1 Harbour Drive– Wan Chai
Where to have Lo Hei to kick start the Year of the Rat?
Rùn, the newly awarded One Michelin Star restaurant, at St. Regis Hong Kong is offering a nice yummy twist on the traditional Lo Hei with its Roasted Crispy Suckling Pig and Assorted Vegetables (HKD 688 / to be shared by the entire table). Tasted and 100% approved for expat palates!
Rùn
2/F, St. Regis Hong Kong, 1 Harbour Drive– Wan Chai
