Food and Drinks

Food

• Steamed Fish - Extremely traditional. Make it with a soy sauce mixture with scallions. It goes great with white rice. Usually Chinese eat a big yellow tail fish, but you can't finish the fish because then there will be no more surplus left (since fish means surplus).
• Fortune Cookies - Not really found in China, but get them for fun anyway.
• Nian gao - This is sticky rice cake that is eaten every new year. It's actually a really difficult recipe, but you can always buy it at the Chinese bakery, too. For kids, eating it symbolizes growth in height; for adults, eating it symbolizes a promotion in the coming year.
• Dumplings - Fried or water dumplings are both great choices for the night. What's fun about dumplings on Chinese New Year is that for a few dumplings, you can add either one red date (symbolizing fertility and new births) or one coin (symbolizing prosperity). Whoever eats a dumpling that has either of those things, well, that's just good luck!

Drinks

Tea is a great choice for your Chinese New Year party. You can serve your guests hot jasmine, chrysanthemum, or green tea. For cool drinks, try going to a Chinese supermarket and finding a classic sweet Chrysanthemum drink or cold Barley tea.

Cocktails
What party is complete without cocktails? Try some asian-inspired cocktails that will please the adults in the party. We have a Red Lotus and Lichitini for you cocktail-lovers.