Today marks the beginning of the Chinese New Year, a celebration rich with culinary traditions thought to bring luck to those who follow them.
Food is one of the most essential parts of celebrating Lunar New Year, as many hours, sometimes days, are spent by families preparing food and cooking together and as we celebrate the Year of the Pig, Scottish celebrity chef Jimmy Lee from Lychee Oriental in Glasgow shares his must-have lucky Chinese New Year dishes.
Chef Jimmy Lee started working in his dads takeaway in Glasgow since he was 16. Today he and his family are preparing to cook for the Lunar New Year celebrations – considered the most important meal of the year when all members of a family get together.
This year is the Year of the Pig, which is one of the 12-year cycle animals on the Chinese Zodiac. Pigs symbolise good fortune and wealth in Chinese culture and this year’s celebrations brings a proliferation of porcine merchandise, greetings and decorations.
Jimmy said: ‘There are so many traditions and superstitions during the festivities including cleaning the house on New Years eve to sweep away bad luck. I remember when I was young we used to be given red envelopes filled with money by our relatives in exchange for wishing them health and prosperity. Today, many kids would get a digital transfer of money via red envelope apps.’
New Year’s Eve dinner is the most important meal of the year and as Jimmy explains many people around the world will be eating pork, noddles and fish. Today he will be cooking a feast for his family with Peking and Honey Bourbon Ribs, Steamed Seabass Fillets with Ginger Spring Onion and a one pan Beef and Black Bean Udon Noodles.
Jimmy continued: ‘There is a Chinese saying “may there be fish every year” – that’s why we normally have whole fish for prosperity during celebrations. Noodles are also served for happiness and longevity. During the festivities Dumplings would also be served to represent wealth. There would also be one lucky dumpling with a lucky coin inside’
Discover Jimmy’s Chinese New Year food throughout this week at Lychee Oriental on Mitchell Street in Glasgow and tune into STV News tonight from 6-6.30pm and see Jimmy cook his favourite Lunar New Year dishes.
Chef Jimmy Lee has a clutch of award wins, including Scottish Personality Chef of the Year at the 2018 Food & Drink Awards and Best Asian Restaurant in Scotland at the Entertainment Awards.
Jimmy also has a burgeoning media career, appearing on the BBC’s Great British Menu, Channel 4’s My Kitchen Rules and presenting cookery segments on popular ITV programmes. He started work in his dad’s takeaway when he was 16 years old and has seldom been far from a kitchen since.
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