2017 Chinese New Year Potluck

Nasi Tomato

2016, year of monkey was generally a good year that has gone by with some memorable achievements and accomplishments for most of my friends, notable the graduation of their children from various universities. Before I continue and as we all usher in the year of the rooster, I would like to wish all my readers, a Happy and Prosperous Chinese New Year. Keong Hee Huat Chai as we greet in Penang, from my family to your's, and may your year ahead be prosperous and full of joy. Similar to the years before since we landed in Vancouver, my family celebrated this year's Chinese New Year with a small group of close friends over a get together.

Fried Shanghai Noodle

So happen this year, the first day of Chinese New Year falls on a Saturday. We gathered with our usual potluck and a roasted pig to share. But, my family like every Chinese New Year, celebrate the first day by maintaining a vegetarian diet throughout the day. Tomorrow will be different, we will be hosting a group of international students, mostly Chinese Malaysians, in our humble home to celebrate the auspicious occasion with them.

Barbecue Chicken Wings

This is the time of the year that these students misses their families most as it is also an occasion for family members to reunite at the homes of their elders'. Besides the gathering of people, food is always a plenty on Chinese New Year. This is also the day where we celebrate, "Plenty", everything around must be plenty and overflowing. We also wear red, give red packets and decorate our homes with red and gold colored ornaments.

Suckling Roast Pig

During these kind of gatherings, we have all kinds of Malaysian cuisines that each of us contribute to the potluck. The host prepared fried shanghai noodles, barbecue chicken wings and the beverages. I came with a plater of tomato rice and another fried noodles. There were stir fried vegetables, mushrooms and tofu cuisines, popular Malaysian desserts, fruit cocktails, cookies and cakes of all taste and flavours. And importantly, the suckling roast pig. Every year, we would order one whole roasted pig and share the cost of it among everyone that comes to the potluck. Then, we would chop the roasted pig down to smaller portions to be shared by everyone to take home.

Mushrooms, Soy Bean Curd and Glass Noodle Cuisine

The Chinese New Year gathering has somewhat become a tradition for these few Malaysian families living in Vancouver. And we all put in the effort to make it happen each year. We involved our whole family in this gathering, our kids, the second generation immigrants also attend to celebrate the occasion. Especially, this year, there is no excuse not to come because the first day of Chinese New year is actually a non working day for most of us.