Devon Avenue in Chicago is famous for its variety of eateries and restaurants. You can find food and beverages from all over the world here. Among loads of Chinese restaurants on Devon Street, you can distinguish Usmania Chinese as we are Chicago’s top Zabiha Halal Chinese restaurant. On the occasion of Chinese New Year, celebrate with the best Chinese food at Usmania Chinese. You can choose from an array of appetizers, delicious soups, premium entrees, noodle variety and a lot more that we offer.
Chinese New Year
Chinese New Year or the Spring Festival marks the beginning of a new year on the Chinese traditional calendar. The first day of Chinese New Year begins on the new moon that appears between 21 January and 20 February. Observances traditionally take place from the evening preceding the first day of the year. They last till the beginning of the Lantern Festival, held on the 15th day of the year. In 2020, the first day of the Chinese New Year will be on Saturday, 25 January, initiating the Year of the Rat.
Chinese New Year is also celebrated worldwide in regions and countries with significant Overseas Chinese or Sinophone populations. These countries include Singapore, Indonesia, Malaysia, Myanmar, Thailand, Cambodia, the Philippines, and Mauritius, as well as many in North America and Europe.
Chinese New Year is associated with several myths and customs. The evening preceding Chinese New Year’s Day is frequently regarded as an occasion for Chinese families to gather for the annual reunion dinner. It is also traditional for every family to thoroughly clean their house, in order to sweep away any ill-fortune and to make way for incoming good luck. Another custom is the decoration of windows and doors with red paper-cuts and couplets. Other activities include lighting firecrackers and giving money in red paper envelopes.
Food, of course, is a very important part of the New Year celebrations. Foods that are associated with good fortune, wealth, health and prosperity are often a part of the Chinese New Year celebrations. Below is a list of the best Chinese food items that are most commonly prepared during the spring festival.
Chinese New Year Foods
1. Spring Rolls
“Spring” rolls are a part of the Spring Festival and can appear on the table as a dinner dish, appetizer or snack. More specifically, they are eaten on the first day of spring. The wrap of the spring rolls is of flour. The filling can be of personal choice but is typically of meat, Chinese cabbage, shiitake, carrots, and seasoning. Steamed, baked or fried, spring rolls are an important part of the New Year Dinner.
2. Dumplings
Another well-known dish, dumplings are the northern equivalent of spring rolls. In addition to the joy of eating delicious food, the making process is a family bonding activity too. During New Year’s preparations, every member of the family participates and wraps dumplings. The filling can be of one’s taste. It traditionally includes any type of meat, vegetables, eggs, and seasoning. Dumplings are undoubtedly one of the best Chinese dishes. Every special occasion usually has dumplings, but they are the most significant during Chinese New Year.
3. Noodles
For Chinese New Year, people like to eat long noodles. The Mandarin word for noodles means “longevity noodles”. You do not cut them and neither chew them while eating. The longer the noodle, the longer your life will be. This calls for a lot of slurping.
With noodles, there is great flexibility for sides and ingredients. Many vegetables and meats have symbolic meanings as well. For example:
- Eggs: big and healthy family
- Lobster: endless money rolling in
- Shrimp: fortune and wealth
- Roasted pig: peace
- Duck: loyalty
- Peaches: longevity
- Tofu: happiness and fortune for the entire family
- Fish: surplus and wealth
4. Steamed Fish
Fish is a must for the Chinese New Year. This is because the Mandarin word for the words “fish” and “surplus” have similar pronunciations. People will steam a whole fish for the New Year and eat half for dinner. They consume the second half the next day. This is to prolong the surplus and make the future prosperous as well. A whole fish also represents a harmonious and whole family.
5. Steamed Chicken
A whole chicken is another symbol of family. Rich in protein, one chicken is enough to feed an entire family. It represents reunion and rebirth. To express this auspicious meaning, people keep the head and claws. After cooking, people will first offer the chicken to their ancestors. For the first meal, some also cook eggs. The egg white and yolk represent gold and silver.
6. Nian Gao
Also known as “rice cake” or “New Year cake” in English, nian gao is a must for Chinese New Year. Nian gao has the same pronunciation as the Chinese word for tall/high. It’s a wish to be successful and “higher” each year, that every year will be better than the last. They are either made of sticky glutinous rice or yellow rice, giving nian gao two major colors and textures.
Nian gao from northern regions and the south almost seem like entirely different things. They are typically savory in the South. Rather than the usual batter, sugar can be added to the glutinous rice powder to make the sweet nian gao favored by the North.
7. Vegetable Dishes
A dish including all sorts of vegetables is always present on the table. Mushrooms, jujube and Chinese cabbage are common ingredients, in addition to your typical greens.
Some symbolic vegetables to consider are:
- Seaweed: symbolize wealth and fortune
- Lotus seeds: a blessing for many children and a healthy family
- Bamboo shoots: represent longevity, as well as going onward and up
- Muskmelon and grapefruit: symbolize family and hope. Also, grapefruit symbolizes wealth and prosperity
- Osmanthus flower petals: in Chinese, osmanthus is a homophone of the Mandarin word for noble and precious
- Leek/chives: leek sounds similar to long and everlasting in Chinese
- Poria mushrooms: another play on words, this mushroom sounds similar to blessings and fortune
8. Hot Pot
Hot pot is another one of the best Chinese dishes. Despite being loved by commoners and royalty alike, hot pots are quite basic. It’s simply a bubbling pot and plates of uncooked meat and vegetables. You can choose whatever you like to throw into the pot. Wait until it’s cooked, take it out and eat. Part of the flavor comes from the broth you choose in the pot. The other part is your dipping sauce. There are several hot pot sauces. Everything mentioned in this article can be included as an option to be put into the hot pot.
Now that you have read up on the special New Year foods, we bet you are feeling hungry. Head over to Usmania Chinese for the best Chinese food in Chicago. Our best Chinese dishes include a range of chicken, beef, seafood, noodles and vegetarian dishes. Feel free to contact us on 773-338-4488 for any queries and reservations. 新年快乐 to all!