Chinese New Year celebration potluck party [General]
2008 Feb 18
Although our attention mostly went to the salmon fish, the dish that a friend's mom made at home was the one that every one was looking forward to eating again. Our friend's parent are retired chefs in Singapore. They brought all the spices from Singapore that we can't buy in Ottawa. We tried their spicy tomato chicken last year and we always talked about it. So, per every one's demand, our friend brought the same dish to satisfy our appetite. Our friend's parent even made extra sauce for few friends to take home since they like the sauce so much!
I tell you the sauce was spicy enough to create enough heat in your mouth. But we all loved it! OMG sooooooo great! We told our friend that his parents should open a restaurant here in Ottawa.
I tell you the sauce was spicy enough to create enough heat in your mouth. But we all loved it! OMG sooooooo great! We told our friend that his parents should open a restaurant here in Ottawa.
2008 Feb 19
I also made the bean curd rolls. My friend's rolls were a dry version whereas my rolls were a wet version (just like the bean curd roll dim-sum dishes you see at Chinese restaurant).
Originally I wanted to make a spinach dish with a variety of mushrooms. But I changed my mind and forget that bean curd roll was already on the menu list. So, we had a duplicate. Luckily, the ingredients I used were different. I put shredded pork meat, shredded mushroom and bean spouts inside the rolls. Besides, after deep-frying the rolls, I simmered the rolls in chicken broth for another 20 minutes to enhance the favour.
Originally I wanted to make a spinach dish with a variety of mushrooms. But I changed my mind and forget that bean curd roll was already on the menu list. So, we had a duplicate. Luckily, the ingredients I used were different. I put shredded pork meat, shredded mushroom and bean spouts inside the rolls. Besides, after deep-frying the rolls, I simmered the rolls in chicken broth for another 20 minutes to enhance the favour.
2008 Feb 19
My friend (the host) bought the BBQ duck and Char-siu from Kowloon Market, Kowloon Market. We told her that she can try Jo Ming Ting's BBQ duck, Jo Moon Ting
.
Our friend also made some choy sum vegetable dishes (no photo).
Our friend also made some choy sum vegetable dishes (no photo).
2008 Feb 19
This is the jello ice cream cubes my friend make. The recipe has been posted before. See www.ottawafoodies.com
2008 Feb 23
Oh! Forgot to add the photo showing the Margarita cocktail table and wine bottles (Jackson-Triggs white wine, cabernet sauvignon, merlot, and Chinese brand white wine that I didn't try). Wines are meant to accompany good meals!
Note: My friend also placed a Chinese calendar (with the word good fortune, or happiness in Gold color on red background) on the table along with fresh red roses for decoration (fresh flower for good Feng Shui). Do you know that most of the banks here give out Chinese calendar to their Chinese clients?
Note: My friend also placed a Chinese calendar (with the word good fortune, or happiness in Gold color on red background) on the table along with fresh red roses for decoration (fresh flower for good Feng Shui). Do you know that most of the banks here give out Chinese calendar to their Chinese clients?
2008 Feb 23
yeah, i agree with Candice on this: great photo summaries!
i have 2 questions.
Are those green chilies or green beans (or...?) sitting atop the Singaporean chicken dish?
And, second, the Chinese wine you refer to: is this a grape-based wine? Or, is it more of spirit? Can it be purchased locally?
i have 2 questions.
Are those green chilies or green beans (or...?) sitting atop the Singaporean chicken dish?
And, second, the Chinese wine you refer to: is this a grape-based wine? Or, is it more of spirit? Can it be purchased locally?
Ashley
The highlight of the dinner was the salmon fish that one of our friends made (look at the photo, isn’t it cute?) The salmon was inside the pastry. Although many of us claim to be a good chef at home, we admit that we can’t make the fish dish that our friend made. We all want her to teach us how to make this fish dish. Not only it looked good, it tasted great!
For Chinese, having fish in Chinese New Year celebration is significant since fish is a symbol of plentiful food for a family (fish sounds like “plentiful”). Our friend also placed two Red Packets (with money in it) beside the fish to symbolize luck and wealth.
Note: Traditionally red packets are handed out to younger generation by their parents, grand parents, relatives, and even close neighbors and friends during Chinese New Year. They are also popular gifts for weddings and birthdays. When I was a kid, I was always excited to receive Red Packets during Chinese New Year.