By Ricky Ly of TastyChomps.com on Jan 05, 2016 12:00 am
It’s that time of year again! Seems like only yesterday.
The local Asian American community here in Orlando will be celebrating the Lunar New Year once again – one of my favorite times of the year, not just for the festivities but also for the great food that goes along with the holiday celebrations.
I remember gathering around at home growing up with my uncles, aunts, cousins, and grandma around the family dinner table having a huge feast, praying to our ancestors and the gods of fortune for a lucky and healthy new year. My favorite dishes were the fried egg rolls and roasted duck, Hakka style, filled with Chinese spices, herbs and wild mushrooms.
This year the Chinese/Vietnamese Lunar New Year’s Official Date (which changes each year because – surprise – it follows the cycles of the moon) is Monday February 8th, 2016 – but the celebrations begin much earlier and last almost all month.
This is the year of the Monkey and those people born in the year of the Monkey are said to be “smart, clever and intelligent, especially in their career and wealth. They are lively, flexible, quick-witted and versatile. In addition, their gentleness and honesty bring them an everlasting love life. Although they were born with enviable skills, they still have several shortcomings, such as an impetuous temper and a tendency to look down upon others.”
Luckily for us here in the Central Florida community, we are home to the largest ethnic enclaves of Asian Americans in the entire state, particularly around the Mills 50 district with shops, restaurants, and markets all getting ready to celebrate the Lunar New Year.
Lunar New Year Traditions
Eating dinner together as a family – people journey from wherever they are, to come home and have dinner. Every year this time marks the largest mass migration of people when workers in the cities travel home to their home villages to visit their families again.
Giving/Recieving Red Envelopes - filled with lucky money from elders to the young. Asian culture is big on karma so want to start off the year doing good things for others and hope for good things to happen to you in return later in the year. Universal balance.
Clean the house before the new year start the year new, and pay off all your debts
Big parades with lots of firecrackers. The loud noise “scares” away any evil spirits so you can start off the new year fresh.
On that Monday, February 8th if you have lunch in the Mills 50 area, you will see the Wah Lum Kung Fu Lion Dance team “blessing” each business with their lion dance and fire works. Last year we had lunch at Chuan Lu and they came with fireworks and a dancing Buddha and two lions – quite the festive sight!
What to Order – Traditional Chinese Dishes for New Years
Eat
Noodles – The longer, the better – the noodles represent longevity and long life
Dumplings - They are shaped like little gold nuggets, symbols for good fortune and wealth
Fish – The word “yu” sounds like “abundance” in Chinese, so your new year will be abundant with good luck – eat whole fish so that your whole year is full of good luck
Fried Spring Rolls – The name also sounds like “good fortune” in Chinese, eat it for a lucky new year
Oranges are also plentiful during new years because the name and look of the orange is similar to gold. So giving oranges as a gift is also quite common, as it the giver is seen as wishing prosperity on the receivers.
Vietnamese Banh Tet – Bánh tét is a Vietnamese savoury but sometimes sweetened cake made primarily from glutinous rice, which is rolled in a banana leaf into a thick, log-like cylindrical shape, with mung bean or mung bean and pork fillings, then boiled. It is a must have traditional food in Vietnamese Lunar New Year. It demonstrates the importance of rice in the Vietnamese culture as well as historical value. During Vietnamese Tét, family members would gather together and enjoy feasting on bánh tét, the central food of this festive Vietnamese holiday to celebrate the coming of spring.
Drink
Wash it all down with a glass of Baijiu
Baijiu – traditional clear grain spirit made from sorghum and wheat
The number one drink in the world at about 40-60% alcohol
Like Vodka to the Russians, Rum to Puerto Rico, Baijiu is to the Chinese
It’s drank at almost all meal gatherings in China.
Say Happy New Year!
Vietnamese – Chuc Mung Nam Moi
Cantonese – Sun Lien Fai Lok
or Gung Hay Fat Choi (Literally : Congratulations on your Prosperity – have a prosperous new year)
Mandarin – Xin Nian Kuai Le
Places to Celebrate:
Local Orlando Restaurants:
Ming Bistro – Chinese Dim Sum – Great for Families/Friends/Groups
1212 Woodward Street #6, Orlando, FL (407) 898-9672
Chuan Lu Garden – Authentic Sichuan cuisine – for spicy food lovers
1101 East Colonial Drive, Orlando, FL – (407) 896-8966 http://chuanluyuan.com
Tasty Wok – Chinese street food / barbecue and noodles
1246 East Colonial Drive, Orlando, FL (407) 896-8988
Chan’s Chinese Cuisine – Dim sum and traditional Chinese cuisine
1901 East Colonial Drive, Orlando, FL (407) 896-0093
Golden Lotus Chinese – Dim sum and traditional Chinese cuisine
8365 South John Young Parkway, Orlando, FL (407) 352-3832
Local Markets – Pick up New Year goodies
Saigon Market
1232 East Colonial Drive, Orlando, FL 32803, United States
(407) 898-6899
Tien Hung Market
1112 East Colonial Drive, Orlando, FL 32803, United States
(407) 849-0205 http://tienhungmarket.com/
1st Oriental SuperMarket
5132 West Colonial Drive, Orlando, FL 32808, United States
(407) 292-3668 http://1storiental.com
Phuoc Loc Tho Super Market
2100 E Colonial Dr, Orlando, FL 32803, United States
(407) 898-6858
Vietnamese New Year Festival by the Vietnamese Community of Central Florida
Saturday February 6th – Sunday February 7th at the Central Florida Fairgrounds
– Street food and also Miss Vietnam of Florida Pageant on Sunday
See below for last year’s schedule for an idea of what will go on –
Vietnamese Vegetarian Food Festival at Bao An Temple
Sunday October 31st – 8am – 2pm (local cultural acts, lots of vegetarian Vietnamese food for sale)
and the new years eve celebration is the night of February 7th (they have singers, performers, food for sale)
Bao An Buddhist Temple – 5788 North Apopka Vineland Road, Orlando, FL 32818, United States
Last year’s flyer below for now –
Other temples such as Chua Phap Vu Temple on Dean Road will also have a Vietnamese new year celebration / ceremony on the eve of Lunar New Year – Sunday February 7th, usually around 8pm.
At the beginning of this month, we were invited to check out the grand opening of TR Fire Grill in Winter Park to try out handcrafted cocktails and dishes.
TR Fire Grill, which is part of Romacorp Inc, is a different concept from their other restaurant Tony Roma’s.
TR Fire Grill displays a more unique and down to earth vibe which prides themselves in fresh local ingredients, and local chef talents to match.
The atmosphere was astounding with live music which they pride themselves of showcasing local talent on the regular.
The cocktails offered at TR Fire grill were quite delicious, simple ingredients mixed together with expert precision to make a refreshing cocktail.
From cocktails such as The Swindler (shown above), with ingredients such as Fireball Whiskey, Apple Moonshine, Cinnamon, and fresh pressed lemon and lime made to their Wood Aged Margarita which contained Agave Nectar, Oak Aged Tequila, Grand Marnier and lime, all the drinks showcased that night were delectable to the palate however, was sure to put you in a “good mood” after a few drinks.
The food was splendid with dishes from Hawaiian Ahi Tuna (made with grilled pineapple salsa, edamame, crisp wonton tostada, apricot shallot sauce) to creative dishes such as their Shrimp & “Grits (containing smoked pork sausage, Sam’s Bayou sauce, jalapeno cheddar polenta) – each dish with their own different characteristics and personalities to them.
By Ricky Ly of TastyChomps.com on Jan 03, 2016 08:04 pm
2015 proved to be another great year for the continuing growth of the Orlando restaurant and dining scene, especially with new openings focusing more and more on locally sourced and produced food.
Here are some of our favorite Orlando restaurants and dining moments from 2015:
A breath of fresh air to Baldwin Park, this project by Jason and Sue Chin, owners of the very successful Seito Sushi Baldwin Park across the street brings together a dream team featuring Executive Chef Joseph Burnett (formerly of Norman’s and The Ravenous Pig), Executive Sous Chef Elek Kovacs, and Kristy Carlucci, Pastry Chef. Restaurant of the Year for 2015.
Recently undergoing a beautiful multimillion dollar renovation, the traditionally Indian restaurant has brought on Chef Ian Piamonte who spearheads their new Thai and Chinese offerings. My favorite dishes here are the gobi manchurian – little sweet and sour red cauliflower fritters and the lamb biryani rice dish.
They recently moved into bigger digs next door where Bananas Modern Diner was on Mills, but they still serve up great renditions of Louisiana cajun cuisine. Check out their story in the fabulous WMFE 90.7 FM series on What is Orlando’s Little Vietnam?
continues to impress – their garlic rock shrimp is one of the best things to eat in Orlando and their menu is always changing. They expanded to where the Table was earlier this year for a little more dining space.
At the JW Marriott Orlando, along with Chef de Cuisine Mariano Vegel continued a long standing tradition of excellence in farm to table cuisine. One of the highlights of my dining experiences for the year was the simple, yet so delicious Farmer’s Salad topped with a farm egg and house cured bacon.
Each Chef’s Night brings local top chefs into Second Harvest Food Bank of Central Florida to celebrate delicious food and raise money for a good cause. All proceeds benefit Second Harvest’s Culinary Training Program, which provides students with the skills and inspiration they need to obtain an entry-level position in a food service establishment.
Sadly Kappo closed this year at East End Market, with a small market to take its place. Do not be forlorn too long – the chef/owners are currently seeking a new space to continue Kappo’s legacy. We wish the owners Mark, Lo, and Jen a happy new year as they look to the future. Also, we wish Mark and Jen a very happy wedding and honeymoon this 2016!
founded by The Treehouse Truck’s Thomas Ward, their baby back ribs are revelatory, but don’t sleep on their shrimp and chorizo tacos either – fantastic flavors.
The Napoletana style pizza is thin & soft with a slight crisp to the crust; with a nice smokey char to the pizza crust from the wood burning ovens and topped with ingredients imported from Italy or locally grown and organic. Dan Bavaro, the founder was taught by 3rd generation, Neapolitan families and bases their entire menu around a stunning Italian imported wood-fired brick oven.
12. Peking roast duck at Morimoto’s Asia at Disney Springs -
Featuring a crispy Peking duck, a carved house-roasted whole duck sliced thin with crackling skin and tender meat, served with steamed flour pancakes, and a side of apricot sweet chili and hoisin miso sauces. It is the Japanese master chef’s first pan-Asian dining experience and showcases flavors from across the Asian continent with an emphasis on China, Korea, Japan and Thailand.
Chef Morimoto and team hanging out with Mickey Mouse at the grand opening of Morimoto’s Asia.
