CHINESE YEAR OF THE DOG, 17th Feb 2018

Post date: 25-Jan-2018 00:00:29

I was excited to realise that it was my year, the year of the Dog, this Chinese New Year. Then I remembered that landing on your own year, in Chinese Astrology, is actually pretty unlucky. When it’s the year of your zodiac animal, you’re at risk of offending the Tai Sui (the God of Age). So, it seems, if I want to not be unlucky this year, I need to do a few things.

• Wear red (lucky colour). Pretty much all the time. Red underwear is good. Slight catch - it doesn't count if you bought it yourself (hint hint, all the men out there!)
• Wear Jade (awfully good at fending off evil). I don't have any. Things aren't looking good for me
• Face SouthEast all the time. This is a weird one (apparently Tai Sui is in the NorthWest this year, so the idea is to turn your back on him), but if I'm awkwardly turning away from you, don't be offended... seems like it's my only hope.

Anyway, if you want to see if I'm wearing red, have bought any jade, and any fascinating Twister-like entanglements, come along to our Chinese New Year supperclub on the 17th Feb.

This is our signature Chinese New Year supper which will include the traditional Chinese New Year dumplings, both sweet and savoury, and a great long list of other dishes that will keep appearing as usual. Join us !

Our banquet menu will be:

Chinese pickles and Preserved Cucumbers in XO sauce - I remember these from the start of banquets when I was a child

Jiaozi/Guo Tie or Potsticker dumplings - These handmade pork and vegetable dumplings signify family reunion. In northern China families traditionally spend New Year's Eve together preparing the dumplings, which are eaten at midnight. Crescent-shaped Jiaozi are a symbol of wealth and prosperity because of their resemblance to ancient Chinese money (silver ingots).

"Ah Sweet as Honey" - a lamb dish from the Imperial Court of the Qing Dynasty, favourite dish of the Empress Dowager Cixi

Oyster Omelette - this is a Fujianese speciality - yes it has real oysters in it - a really special dish!

Xinjiang Cumin Chicken - an unusual dish from Xinjiang province, in the far west of China, where there are Indian influences to their cooking.

Stir Fried Cucumbers- a dish that’s very popular, but little known outside China

“Delicious” Tofu – this is one of my favourite vegetarian dishes, cooked with chilli bean sauce and spring onions

Spring Onion noodles with Cha Siu - noodles signify longevity - it's important not to cut them! Our cha siu is legendary....

Chinese Aubergines – you’ll probably never have had aubergines like this before, but they are exceptional

Steamed whole Cantonese Seabass The word for fish, "Yu," sounds like the words both for wish and abundance, and serving a fish at the end of the meal symbolizes a wish for abundance in the coming year

Tang Yuen these round sweet dumplings, stuffed with red bean paste, are symbolic of family unity and harmony. Tang stands for reunion and yuen means round or complete.

Cost will be £45 of which £35 will go direct to MSF. Please mail us with bookings on info@parkholmesupperclub.co.uk