The Chinese New Year or Lunar New Year is a major traditional holiday celebrated on Tuesday February 1, 2022. This celebration based on the lunar calendar marks the beginning of the new year, the year of the Tiger. On the occasion, a parade is usually held in the streets of Paris, while people enjoy traditional dishes and treats with their family to guarantee luck and prosperity.
Do you want to learn more about these specialties? Let us walk you through some of them and the places where you can order them in Paris!
Long life noodles
This is a tradition that actually looks like a real-life challenge. On the Lunar New Year, among the specialties stealing the show from one another, we have noodles made longer for the occasion. Not that extraordinary, you may think. But it gets more difficult once it is time to eat. Since they represent the wish of a long life, the longer the better. And therefore, you cannot cut them to eat them easier. And let us tell you time will be needed to get the hang of it.
Where to enjoy them: La Cantine Chinoise, Les pâtes vivantes, Happy Nouilles
Bánh chưng: Chung cake
This is a staple Vietnamese specialty that is a must on the Têt Lunar New Year. This sticky rice cake is stuffed with fatty pork and mung beans. It is served squared, covered in banana leaves or La Dong. According to the legend, it has been created by Prince Lang Lieu, the 18th son of King Hung Vuong. On the occasion of a contest held by the latter, each prince was to present a culinary creation. The one who will serve the most delicious dish will get the throne. Lang Lieu then created a cake based on simple ingredients usually find in most peasant dishes. since then, bánh chưng has become a major Vietnamese New Year staple.
Where to enjoy it: Saison, Pâtisserie de Choisy (upon order)
Lok Ba Go: Radish cake
A radish cake can sound surprising. And yet, this is a highly-coveted specialty for the Chinese New Year. Lok Ba Go is generally based on white radish, rice flour, vegetables or even shrimps. For your information, this Cantonese specialty is sometimes nicknamed parsnip or carrot cake, although this is not carrot cake but Daikon.
Where to enjoy it: Pâtisserie de Choisy
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