The 8 Luckiest Spots to Spend Chinese New Year 2015
There are so many fun food events & festivals that have taken place this February, it’s almost made us forget about how bitterly cold it’s been (almost!). And here’s yet another upcoming celebration, to help you party your way into March — The Chinese New Year. The longest public holiday in China (commemorated from February 18th-24th this year), it’s an opportunity to get together with family, welcome the coming spring, and promote good luck during the months to come. And (whether you actually happen to be Chinese or not), it’s an especially excellent excuse to feast on some of the best Chinese food around, so here’s where to celebrate the Year of the Sheep in New York! From Thomas Chen’s hot newcomer Tuome to uber popular Danny Bowien’s Mission Chinese…
Tuome
Chinese-American chef Thomas Chen will serve up a variety of off-menu, Lunar New Year specials on February 19th at Tuome, his critically acclaimed, East Village eatery. Using the refined contemporary techniques he mastered at Eleven Madison Park, Chen’s modern “good luck” dishes will include Whole Branzino for two, served with root vegetables, fermented black bean sauce and fried wild rice, Uni-topped Pork Shu Mai with dashi uni sauce, and Lobster Spring Rolls with lovage dip.
Read MoreFung Tu
Known for making seasonal, modern American Chinese food, chef Jonathan Wu will offer creative takes on traditional Lunar New Year dishes, to ring in the year of the sheep. From February 17th through March 5th, you’ll find special menu items such as Scallops Wontons in celery-mushroom broth, which symbolize wealth because they’re shaped like silver and gold ingots, and Chinese “Porchetta;” crispy pork knuckles braised in soy, ginger, garlic, chilies, star anise, cinnamon and sugar.
Read MoreMission Chinese Food
Everything about Danny Bowien’s recently rebooted Mission Chinese Food screams abundance, making it a perfect place (if you can manage to snag a seat, that is) to spend the Lunar New Year. Crowd your large, round table with a lavish, banquette-style spread, composed of everything from classic Winter Melon Soup, Green Tea Noodles and “Beggars Duck” stuffed with sticky rice, to globally-inspired raw bar items like Tray of Sea Urchin with squid ink naan, caviar-topped Pizza, and a Smoked Prime Rib.
Read MoreYunnan Kitchen
Yunnan Kitchen is celebrating the Year of the Sheep with a seven-course, Chinese New Year feast on February 19th. Dishes include Pomelo Salad Mu’er with grilled shrimp and palm sugar dressing, Jia Chang Mushrooms flavored with chilies and Benton’s ham, and Tea Smoked Buddhist-Style Chicken with pickles and roasted peanuts, as well as Lamb & Golden Pumpkin Dumplings, Across the Bridge Noodles, Sweet Soy Milk Tapioca, and an assortment of 8 Treasure Oolong Tea Red Dates, Lychee and Salted Plums.
Read MoreAnnisa
Drawing inspiration from her Chinese and Malaysian upbringing, Anita Lo will host her annual Chinese New Year celebration at the beloved Greenwich Village restaurant Annisa, highlighting dishes that represent good luck, health, happiness and fortune. Offered on February 18th and 19th, the $108, six-course tasting menu will include Fresh Silken Tofu with sea urchin, crab and quail egg (golden urchin represents money, and eggs are symbolic of new beginnings), Shrimp and Pork Spring Rolls (signifying wealth, due to their resemblance to gold bars) and Slow Cooked Goat with radish and long noodles (promoting long life).
Read MorePasar Malam
To honor Chinese New Year (which is also celebrated in Malaysia), this Night Market-inspired Brooklyn spot will offer menu specials all month long. Look for Yu Sheng Salad; a colorful mixture of fried taro, pomelo, candied melon, persimmon, orange rind, plums, raisins, daikon, cucumber, shallot, lettuce and noodle crisps, believed to symbolize prosperity. Guests are also encouraged to use their special red chopsticks to mix the salad together as a sign of unity. And taking inspiration from the popular Chinese solitaire game, Mahjong, chef Salil Mehta has created lucky, edible dessert tiles, made from rice flour, coconut milk, sugar, salt and pandan, ornately decorated with traditional symbols.
Read MoreKing Noodle
Instead of throwing just one big blowout, this eccentric Bushwick joint is planning a massive Chinese New Year party that will last from February 19th-21st. Expect the spiciest chicken, the longest noodles, and the largest meatballs imaginable, as well as some especially celebratory cocktails and snacks. We’re talking Tofu Skin Rolls with ground pork and water chestnut, Braised Eggplant with scallions, hand-cut pasta ribbons with wood-ear mushrooms, and much, much more.
Read More2 Duck Goose
Along with their holiday-appropriate regular menu (love that Cantonese Roast Duck!), this Brooklyn newcomer is celebrating the Chinese New Year with a number of specials, offered from February 18th-22nd. Think Fried Turnip Cakes, Oyster Lettuce Wraps, Grilled Sweet and Sour Snapper and Lion’s Head Meatballs with bok choy, as well as Sesame Sticky Rice Dumplings in a ginger-scented broth for dessert.
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