Desiree Koh:
Chinese New Year doesn't begin on Chinese New Year. It starts on the eve, or whenever your family decides to host the reunion dinner. For us, it was the Thursday before the holiday this year.
Desiree Koh:
The "lo hei" ritual was invented by Singaporean chef Than Mui Kai in 1964. Friends and family gather around a salad with raw fish (yusheng) and toss it together, as high as they can!
Desiree Koh:
The higher, to symbolize greater achievements and bigger and better things to come.
Desiree Koh:
A very gleeful occasion - as you toss, you yell out happy greetings and warm wishes to all!
Desiree Koh:
My immediate family had our own little reunion dinner on the actual eve of the holiday at local neighborhood favorite, Sin Hoi Sai coffee shop.
Desiree Koh:
Here we are about to toss again! The salad consists of ingredients, each with its own auspicious symbolic significance.
Desiree Koh:
Let's see, they include cinnamon, pepper, carrots, pomelo, peanuts, plum sauce, fried crackers, ginger, radish, oil, lime juice, toasted sesame seeds and raw slices of mackerel.
Desiree Koh:
We wished for peace, loving kindness and well-being to all!
Desiree Koh:
That's what the prettily laid out salad looks by the time the assault is over.
Desiree Koh:
Fried baby squid in a sweet soy sauce - I've loved this dish ever since I was a kid! I could lick the plate clean of all the sauce.
Desiree Koh:
Claypot chicken braised in three wines. We couldn't quite taste the wine, though.
Desiree Koh:
Claypot pork ribs stewed in a yam sauce.
Desiree Koh:
Mmmmm, Guinness pork ribs...
Desiree Koh:
Sprouts stir-fried with salted fish. One of my favorites, too! This is what happens when Dion and I take control of the menu.
Desiree Koh:
Happy new year! For the first time in our lives, we celebrated Chinese New Year without our grandma (the entire family spent the holiday in Bangkok last year) and so hosting duties took place at the Kows'. We miss Ah Ma, but lots of happy memories!
Desiree Koh:
Our annual photo-taking ritual - no eating until the pictures are taken!
Desiree Koh:
The Koh-sins. Missing Sean, Mark and Phebe!
Desiree Koh:
The Koh women - my aunts!
Desiree Koh:
Dad was waiting for our family picture and had no idea what was happening behind him.
Desiree Koh:
Sorry! Maybe. ;)
Desiree Koh:
Every family had their picture taken.
Desiree Koh:
Kevin's colleague gave him this funky tiger structure that you can fill with oranges. Cool!
Desiree Koh:
It's our family tradition to start the new year with a vegetarian brunch. This is "nga ku" or slices from the arrowhead bulb, an auspicious dish because the plant's leaves point upwards, symbolizing continuous improvement. Also, the pointed ends of the le
Desiree Koh:
Vegetarian siew mai - filled with yam!
Desiree Koh:
A vegetable stir-fry with strands of black fungs (known as "fatt choy", or to strike gold).
Desiree Koh:
Fried tofu.
Desiree Koh:
Stewed radish wrapped in beancurd skin.
Desiree Koh:
Fake barbequed roast pork (char siew) and fish!
Desiree Koh:
Let's go!!!
