My family hasn’t been very traditionally Chinese in years in many ways. So Lunar New Year this year wouldn’t prove any different… although last year, I tried very hard!
Above is the mango relish my brother in law made to go with…
the grilled chile lime shrimp, which was fantastic! Next to that in the platter is fried plaintains… nommy-ness!
Jhap chae, Korean glass noodles mixed with veggies and sesame oil. Yummmy!!!
Spicy marinated aged tofu slices… I think these are marinated in gochujang (spicy Korean red pepper paste), but I couldn’t be sure. Whatever it is, they are good! I just bought some recently for myself but discovered the package turns pretty quickly, so eat them fast!
Kimchi!
My mom made and brought this dish and called it ‘mun jue yuek’ – I think that translates loosely to pulled pork meat? – I can’t even describe it except to say it was tender and tasty. She said it’s super traditional, and she also told me that it’s really easy to make, then told me how to make it. Did I understand a word she said? Nope! 🙁
Homemade cole slaw – shredded cabbage, pineapples, carrots, a bunch of stuff…
My brother in law’s cousin made this; it’s ‘fat choy’ or some sort of sea vegetable that looks like hair. It’s also a homonym for ‘fortune’ or something in Chinese, so it’s good luck to have some…
LAMB CHOPS… totally delicious. The meet super tender, no gaminess of which to speak, and perfectly cooked. We dogged these quickly… mmm
Only to realize I’d foolishly filled up on food before the steaks were done! Noooooo! Well, no worries, that’s why we eat in rounds. As in, ROUND ONE, FIGHT! ROUND TWO, FIGHT!!! and so on. Delicious! Again, perfectly cooked and so juicy. Mmm!
If I wanted my family to kill me, I’d create a site called “This is why I’m fat” and just describe all of our family meals.
Happy eating!!!
T.C. says
I want some Jap Chae NOW!
The food looks awesome. Great lunar new year meal is all that matters.
Steve says
what did you make?
Nicholas says
This screams Korean so much more than it says Chinese lol. Then you went and threw in lamb chops and steak… still, everything looked absolutely delicious.
Hungry says
Mun Jue Yuek translates to braised pig meat. And you mom is right, it is a very tedious dish.
Also, fat choy (the black stringy stuff) is actually outlawed in China now because it destroys the environment where it’s cultivated. So everything is fake. Tastes the same to me. Didn’t know it was sea food though!
I love Lunar New Year!
Aimee S. says
Your family meals always look so good Yvo!
Ashley says
Looks delish! did you already know there is a website called this is why your fat
Hungry says
Nevermind, I just looked it up and it’s not seafood. It’s a plant that grows in arid places in China. And when it is harvested, it destroys the density of soil making it susceptible to erosion.
Edie says
Dude, I wish I’d gone to YOUR house for dinner; I think I had a bowl of cereal on New Year’s Eve. My family doesn’t celebrate the Lunar New Year in the old way anymore because my folks now spend the holiday in Shanghai. So no more homemade turnip cakes, sweet rice wine sponge cakes, my grandma’s famous steamed dumplings, long-life noodles, and shark’s fin soup for me. 🙁
skippymom says
Well, you KNOW what I am looking at. LOL – but I would’ve stolen the kimchi too. 😉
Your family is awesome