Welcome to the Year of the Rabbit!
Sunday, January 22, marks the start of the Chinese New Year and continues for two weeks, culminating in the Lantern Festival on February 5. Each year, the calendar aligns with an animal in the Chinese zodiac. 2023 is the year of the rabbit, an animal that symbolizes mercy, elegance and beauty.
Traditional celebrations involve family gatherings, religious ceremonies honoring ancestors, fireworks, dancing, exchanging red envelopes that contain money and, of course, good food. A lot of care and thought is put into the food that is served, with each dish created to give blessings for the next year.
Regardless of your heritage, this is a great time to honor another culture and their approach to new beginnings.
At Big Y, we love to feature foods that support rich cultural traditions. Here are different ways to honor the food of the season.
Seafood
In Chinese tradition, seafood has a variety of meanings. Whether it’s carp for good luck, shrimp for happiness, or scallops for a sense of oneness, incorporating seafood into meals is a great way to add intentionality to the year ahead.
Dumplings
When we think of new beginnings, many of us think of financial fresh starts. Dumplings represent wealth in Chinese culture. Enjoy a steamed pocket of traditional flavors to amp up your bank account this year.
Chicken
Feeling a bit defeated, as if nothing is going your way? Chicken represents luck in Chinese tradition. When cooked in its entirety, a whole chicken represents a sense of “completeness” to help us remember that so much of what we desire, we already have.
Noodles
The longer the better when it comes to this Chinese tradition! Noodles represent longevity. If you’re looking to encourage a long life, cook up a noodle dish and slurp your way into old age.
Citrus
Round citrus in orange tones represent success in Chinese culture. To manifest a new career direction in the year ahead, sweeten up a dish with grapefruit or oranges.
- RECIPE -
SEARED SESAME SEED SCALLOPS
WITH HOISIN GINGER SAUCE
Only takes minutes to prepare
and look oh so impressive.
- RECIPE -
ROSEMARY INFUSED
GRAPEFRUIT FIZZ
Fizzy and bright flavors
for the festive season.
Published 12/9/2022