Chinese New Year eve dinner has been the most important event of Guo Nian (过年，celebrating the new year) for a few thousand years. I remembered that people were all talking about dumpling (饺子, Jiaozi) on TV for CNY dinner since I was young. And if you happen to read any history about Chinese New Year, you will know Jiaozi is almost a “must-have” food on the new year eve. But in fact, my family never have Jiaozi for our CNY dinners, and I am sure that I haven’t eaten Jiaozi until I went to middle school. This is not weird if you understand how diversified Chinese food culture is.
This year, I did a small survey by asking six people (including myself) who are from difference provinces of China a same question:
“What are the must-have three dishes in your families’ Chinese New Year eve dinner?”
to satisfy my curiousity about FOOD: a. are all other people have Jiaozi for their CNY dinners? b. If not, what do they have for the dinners?
Before I announce the result of the survey, here is my answer as a Cantonese:
1. Chichen (白斩鸡， baizhanji)
2. Soup (老火汤， lao huo tang)
3.Sweet dumpling (汤圆，tangyuan)
Curious as I am? Check out the Chinese New Year Food Map I’ve created below.
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mmmmm…tang yuan…