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Cooking and Celebrating the Chinese New Year
With Nina Simonds
Cookbook Author
Friday, Jan. 31, 2003; Noon ET
This year, the Lunar New Year, also commonly known as the Chinese New Year, falls on Feb. 1, 2003. Nina Simonds, renowned cookbook author and expert on Chinese cuisine, is the co-author of "Moonbeams, Dumplings & Dragon Boats: A Treasury of Chinese Holiday Tales, Activities & Recipes." The fully illustrated children's cookbook features recipes for foods traditionally enjoyed on each major Chinese holiday: Chinese New Year, the Lantern Festival, the Dragon Boat Festival, and the Mid-Autumn Moon Festival.
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Nina Simonds
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Each section also features a traditional tale associated with the holiday -- such as the Kitchen God, often told during Chinese New Year. Along with each story, there are instructions for making traditional Chinese crafts such as pinwheels, kites, dragon boats, shadow puppets and lanterns. Recipes for fresh spring rolls, rabbit-in-the-moon cookies, sweet rice balls, and other delicacies are also presented with easy-to-follow directions.
Simonds was online Friday, Jan. 31 at Noon ET to talk about preparations and recipes for the Chinese New Year.
Simonds has devoted more than thirty years to the study of Chinese cooking, language, and culture. Her bestselling cookbooks include "A Spoonful of Ginger: Irresistible, Health-Giving Recipes from Asian Kitchens," winner of a James Beard Foundation Award. She is a frequent contributor to Gourmet and the Sunday New York Times travel section. Her articles have been featured in the Los Angeles Times, Harper's Bazaar, Bon Appetit, Family Circle, Self, and the Washington Post. She is fluent in the Mandarin dialect. Her co-author for "Moonbeams, Dumplings & Dragon Boats: A Treasury of Chinese Holiday Tales, Activities & Recipes" is Leslie Swartz, vice president for program development at The Children's Museum in Boston.
The transcript follows below.
Editor's Note: Washingtonpost.com moderators retain editorial control
over Live Online discussions and choose the most relevant questions for guests and hosts; guests and hosts can decline to answer questions.
Nina Simonds: Hello Everyone!
I'm delighed to be hosting this chat site for Chinese New Year! I welcome your questions.
Arlington, Va.:
What is traditionally served on Chinese New Year?
Nina Simonds: Dumplings are trationally served. They can be boiled, pan-fried, or steamed. Other foods that are served are noodle to celebrate everyone's birthday; clams that indicate receptivity to good fortune; a whole fish (or it would be placed on the table). Also steamed sticky rice cake. Each area of China also has different specialties.
Arvada, Colo.:
I have conflicting information regarding which animal we are going to be celebrating. My research has turned up Year of the Goat, Year of the Ram, and Year of the Black Sheep. Can you clarify or explain these discrepancies and tell me WHICH animal is (the most) correct? (I personally am going with "Year of the Black Sheep" for obvious reasons.)
Nina Simonds: Actually, it's each one that you mentioned because the Chinese word has several translations.
Rockville, Md.:
Please tell about the tradition of new year's being everyone's birthday. What sweets are associated with the birthday aspect?
Nina Simonds: In China, since it is the new year, everyone is one year older. Accordingly noodles are served which is the Chinese version of birthday cake. The longer the noodle, the longer hopefully your life will be.
Bethesda, Md.:
Do you know of any local restaurants planning to offer a special Chinese New Year's menu?
Nina Simonds: Since I don't live in the Washington area, I only know about Mark's Duck House, which serves terrific roast duck and noodles and FullKee in Chinatown which has excellent Cantonese food.
Somewhere, USA:
Traditional Foods: What happened to the whole chicken? Or the steamed glutinous rice New Year's Cake? I know that's an acquired taste--I've served it every year and only the Chinese guests and the adventurous others even attempt it, but I thought they were definitely traditional celebratory foods.
Nina Simonds: Steamed Glutinous New Year's cake is definitely a New Year's classic. You could make a whole chicken. Some families only eat vegetarian for the traditional New Year's banquet.
Rockville, Md.:
I've heard that it's the Year of the Goat and also the Year of the Sheep---which is correct?
Nina Simonds: It is the Year of the Sheep or Ram.
Washington, D.C.:
I'm having a dinner party tomorrow that is Lunar New Year (or Tet, as we Vietnamese like to call it)-themed. I've been having a hard time finding decorations for the party...Eden Center in Falls Church has plenty of food, but almost no decorations. What are your suggestions?
Thanks!
Nina Simonds: Since i don't live in the area, that is a hard question for me to answer.
washingtonpost.com:
From our Entertainment Guide, here is a listing of local Chinese New Year events:
Chinese New Year Celebration at Lakeforest Mall
Chinese New Year Parade
Chinese New Year Dances at the Kennedy Center
Philadelphia, Pa.:
Your book sounds enchanting, can you tell us the tale of the Kitchen God?
Nina Simonds: I will tell it briefly, but it's a WONDERFUL story and the first one in our book.
The Kitchen God is the overseer of the househoild and each year he returns to heaven to make a report to the Jade Emperor. One year, he was lazy and he had nothign to report. he made up a story that people used constarch to repair their shoes. The Jade Emperor misunderstood and thought that people were using products of the earth needlessly. He decided to punish the people on earth. Forn one year, he withheld rain and the earth became very parched. The people had been told what the Kitchen God ahd said and they were afraid he might do the same thing again so they stuffed him with food and made luscious melon candies. He loved them so much and was so greedy that he stuffed them into his mouth. When he wetn to heaven and tried to give his report, he couldn't talk because his mouth was stuffed with candy. The Jade Emperor looked at his full belly and saw he had nothing to say and was pleased. From that time on, people make melon cany at Chinese New Year.
Upstate New York:
Hello Nina,
I was surprised to see this topic as a live session. Great way to spread the word! Chinese New Year (the whole period lasting from the 12th month through mid-late 1st month) was my favorite holiday as a child in Taiwan. We also celebrated Christmas (commercially) but I'll tell ya, even gifts didn't come close to the festivities around New Year's.
We'd stay up all night on 12/31 (lunar). Three generations under one roof. Fish is a dish for prosperity because it sounds phonetically the same as the word for "surplus", i.e. you want to have wealth and resources saved up, going from year to year. Oranges are also a positive symbol because the word sounds similar to "good omen".
By the way - goat/sheep/ram basically fall under the same root in the Chinese language, i.e. the terms in Chinese have the same suffix. It is the suffix that denotes the category of animal. It is the suffix that is referred to and there is no significant distinction beyond that.
Nina Simonds: Thanks so much for sharing your information!! I lived in Taiwan for slose to four years in the seventies so I also have some wonderful memories. Happy New Year!!
Philadelphia, Pa.:
I was in a Chinese bakery in Philadelphia's Chinatown a few days ago and, on a whim, purchased what was labeled "Chinese New Year Steamed Pudding." It's in a deep-dish pie plate and dark-tan in color. I have no idea what this dish is or how to prepare it, but I'm very curious to try it. Can you explain its symbolism and how to prepare it properly? (Also, if you can tell me what's in it, that would be great, too--this is a "homemade" item that doesn't have an ingredients list on it.)
Nina Simonds: This is the traditional Sweet Rice Steamed Pudding. Some say it represents high honors for the new year. It is made of sweet rice powder and sugar. We used to cut it into slices, dip it into a batter, and fry it. It is delicious!!
Arlington, Va.:
Hi Nina - it's Karen. Just wanted to remind you that the Da Hua market in Chinatown had decorations and would be a good place for shopping and/or restaurants. Good luck!
Nina Simonds: Karen:
You are terrific!! Thanks for reminding me! Everyone, the Da Hua Market is a lovely store with some nice decorations.
Washington, D.C.:
I am invited to a Chinese New Year's celebration. Is there a traditional type of gift that is appropriate to bring?
Thanks,
Vijay
Nina Simonds: Very often some of the best gifts are food delicacies such as superior dried black mushrooms, great sausage, fruit baskets, shark's fin, etc. You could bring a bottle of brandy or a nice gesture might be to bring something that you made. My surrogate Chinese family was given a live chicken one year!
Chicago, Ill.:
What inspired you to be interested in Chinese Cuisine, Culture, and Language? Also in your opinion, what is the best Chinese New Year's Tradition to share with my new in-laws (who are not Chinese). I plan on distributing red bags with money to my nieces.
Thanks!
Nina Simonds: I studied Mandarin in high school, and a semester in college. I dropped out of college and went to live in Taiwan to study, food, language, and culture. To me, food is a great springboard to learn about a country's culture, history, and rituals. That's why this book ("Moonbeams. Dumplings, and Dragon Boats" is so important to me.
Washington, D.C.:
Hi, what exactly is the lunar new year? thanks
Nina Simonds: The Chinese celenrate their holidays according to the moon or the lunar calendar. This has to do with their history of being farmers and following the seasonal calendar. New Year is the day of the first moon of the year. It is the biggest holiday or celebration of the year and everyone usually takes time off to honor the family, celebrate the new year, and welcome the coming of spring. It's also called the Spring holiday in some places and spring rolls are served.
Lansdowne, Pa.:
Descriptions of the foods associated with Chinese holidays usually focus on meat and seafood dishes. Can you suggest any dishes for vegetarians? China has a long history of vegetarianism, and my hunch is that strict Buddhists and other vegetarians in that culture have their own culinary contributions to festive occasions.
Nina Simonds: We have a lovely recipe for pan-fried noodles with a vegetarina topping in "Moonbeams". You could also make vegetarian dumplings. I do have some nice vegetarian recipes in my last book "A Spoonful of Ginger",
Syracuse NY:
What significance is there in the animal that is assigned to a particular year, does it have implications for a year itself? Or just people born in that year? IE: Being the year of the goat/ram/black sheep, what does that mean specifically?
Nina Simonds: The animals relate more to the personality traits of the people, but there are certain years which have better associations than others. So the Chinese would try to have a child or get married in that year.
Sheep tend to be gentle, loving, passionate, and creative. They are best suited to being with a rabbit, pig, or a horse.
Washington, D.C.:
I heard you being interviewed on NPR this morning. I was wondering which restaurant you were eating in during the story.
Thanks
Nina Simonds: For the NPR piece, we were eating at the Full Kee restaurant in Chinatown. The food was excellent! We had barbecued pork, a tossed noodle dish with chicken, some stir-fried snow pea shoots, and congee with beef.
Somewhere, USA:
Kitchen God: I'm sold, I WILL be stopping off - Borders on the way home this evening to purchase your book. Thank you.
Nina Simonds: Thanks so much! You might want to call ahead and make sure they have the book! (Tell them to order some if they don't.) I hope you enjoy. I think Melo So, the illustrator, did a wonderful job and the activities from the Boston Children's Museum are terrific!
Washington, D.C.:
What year are you Nina? And did it factor into who you married? How often do you travel to China?
Nina Simonds: I am a Dragon- which some say are the stars of the universe. As it turns out, my husband is a sheep, but I didn't ask and 27 years later, we are stll together. Don't ask. Sometimes ignorance is bliss.
Vienna, Va.:
Can you give a quick recipe on how to make the dumplings? Can you use any meat or keep it vegetarian?
Nina Simonds: Sorry, dumpling recipes are not really quick. We have a wonderful one in "Moonbeams". You can invite friends over, have a dumpling party, and make a lot!! Make certain to say ONLY good things whene you are stuffing them so you will have good luck in the coming year.
Centreville, Va.:
Readers might want to try Penang in Bethesda if they are looking for special Chinese New Year dishes. I was there with a group of friends about a week ago and the dishes were delicious. The staff is very helpful too and will walk through the menu with you and make suggestions. Happy eating!
Nina Simonds: Thanks so much for sharing this! I LOVE Malaysian food!
Syracuse, N.Y.:
Could you give us a recipe for melon candy please?
Nina Simonds: Sorry, I don't have a good recipe for the melon candy, but "Moonbeams" has some really neat cookies and sweets (Mooncakes, Sweet Rice Balls, etc.)
Vienna, Va. :
Can you at least share the recipe for the dumpling from your book?
Nina Simonds: I just remembered that Martha Stewart and I prepared New Year's Dumplings on her program yesterday and she has posted the recipe on her website. Good luck!
washingtonpost.com:
Here is the link that Simonds mentions for New Year's Dumplings
Maryland:
Do you have an idea on how other Asian cultures celebrate the lunar new year? Is it similar to the Chinese?
Nina Simonds: Yes, many Asian cultures clebreat New Year's in a similar fashion. The Japanese and some Asians celebrate New Year on January 1st.
Somewhere, USA:
On the year/animal sign topic...: As you might imagine, the animal sign has little bearing on a person's traits - as you might expect with astrology, for example. (No offense to any astrology believer...)
Take this year (lunar, again) for instance. If you were born this year, or any previous year that is a multiple-of-12 away, then this year could be a make-or-break year for you.
I'm a 'rabbit' (1975) - when I was 24, nothing terribly significant happened. Shrug.
Even though I adore the story behind how the 12 signs came about ("once upon a time there was a catastrophic flood (think Noah's magnitude) and the animals were racing to get before the All Knowing. The order in which they came in was supposed to determine their "rank". The mouse/rat got in first because, it being so small, but clever, it got the idea to hide in/behind the ear of the ox while the ox was swimming in the flood, and when the ox got close to the "finish line" the mouse hopped out and darted in front of him...) I don't personally subscribe to any of the modern stuff...
It's actually embarrassing for me to go to a Chinese restaurant and see those placemats...the impression one gets is that the restaurant thinks they would appeal to the quote-unquote Americans.
Nina Simonds: Thanks so much for sharing your thoughts and stories! i know what you mean anout the placemats, but they are a small introduction to a very rich culture!! Happy New Year!
Washington, D.C.:
Should we be doing anything special like wear certain colors or any superstitions on the new year day? I heard kids shouldn't cry. Also, is there anything specific to do for the year of the sheep?
Nina Simonds: Ther are some superstitions like not light fires or using knives or scissors. And it's true you shouldn't let your children cry. Have a HAPPY new year!!
Nina Simonds: Thanks everyone so much for sharing your thoughts and stories. Here's wishing everyone a very happy, healthy, and prosperous new year!
washingtonpost.com:
That wraps up today's show. Thanks to everyone who joined the
discussion.
Stay Tuned to Live Online:
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