Chinese New Year is one of the biggest and most important occasions for Chinese. It’s the equivalent for Thanksgiving or Christmas for Americans. It’s relatively early this year and falls on January 23. Reunion dinner is usually organized on the last day of the lunar calendar year, which will be January 22 this year. While most families cook their own dinner at home, those busy working would opt to eat out.
Traditionally, families will prepare chicken, fish, pig knuckles and all sorts of food that have symbolic meanings in Chinese. For example, pig knuckles signify fortune in your hands, the word “fish” is the homophone for the word “surplus” and pudding is another homophone for career advancement and progress. So, with this kind of Chinese culture going on, what would vegetarians and vegans in Hong Kong prepare? Well, I have yet to find out what my mom will cook for me tomorrow, but the vegetarian restaurant Vegelink designed a Chinese New Year 11-course banquet menu with beautiful homophones that will be available on January 22 and 23. Here are what they will serve these two days:
- 五福臨門 Five snacks platter
- 如意燉湯 Steamed soup
- 金玉滿堂 Vegetarian sweet & sour pork
- 步步高昇 Steamed peanut rice pudding with veggie dice
- 彩虹海寶卷 Baked pumpkin and potato mash in laver roll
- 花開富貴 Assorted mushrooms garnish by broccoli
- 一品珍味 Deep fried glutinous rice ball
- 吉祥鍋 Nutritious hotpot
- 福壽喜飯 Fried rice with assorted vegetables
- 闔家團圓 Lotus seed paste crumble
- 精緻甜品 Dessert of the day
They do use dairy and eggs for some of their regular menu items, so be sure to tell them your dietary requirements when you make the reservation for this banquet. It’s only HK$220 per person (US$28) and I say vegans could eat very well during Chinese New Year as well.
