It’s just after midnight here in Seattle and time to wish my Chinese friends happiness in the Lunar New Year. We celebrated with an excellent catered dinner of beef fried noodles, savory green beans, assorted platters of authentic Chinese cuisine and … my yearly contribution of some sort of almond cookie. I plated them on a vintage Cordon Bleu platter with a red dragon and decorated with yellow and red cloth napkins and ribbons. The colors are customary and attire for the event does not include black or white.
Noodles are always on the menu for Lunar New Year and birthdays, signifying long life. There is a custom, at least of my Taiwanese Chinese friends, that a long noodle should be managed in one go. It is much easier to accomplish that feat with chopsticks. I personally haven’t mastered those yet but before my planned trip to China in the autumn, I will work at it the skill managed even by small children.
Happy Lunar New Year! I think it’s wonderful to celebrate several New Years in 2026 and, well, every year. There’s another on the first day of spring, right?
Ms Chef in Seattle 