Thanks to the Chinese New Year and Valentine’s day falling on the same day this year one can kill the metaphorical two birds with one stone, gastronomically speaking of course!
The Chicago Tribune did an article on just that, noting that the Chinese may not be big on romance, traditionally, but have some symbolic foods that focus on family, fertility and marriage. To top the list of Valentine’s day and New Year’s day foods are duck and lychees, according to Ming Tsai the owner of Blue Ginger restaurant, stating that duck symbolizes fidelity and lychees are a symbol of romance and love.
Among the ducks and lychees are pomegranates, their large amount of seeds symbolize fertility. As for a more new year approach look at oranges (wealth), bass (prosperity), long noodles (long strands for long life), the color red (happiness) and chicken (good fortune).
Here’s to hoping your Valentine’s/New Year’s day will be prosperous, happy, fertile, and full of romance!
Photo by chrissuderman.
Sun, Feb 14, 2010
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