Chinese New Year Eve: the build-up

Chinese New Year festivities always involve food. And lots of it. Of course they should!

Our family doesn't make a big deal of Chinese New Year, but luckily for me, I have friends who do! Friends who cook! Obsessively! And who think nothing of ordering a whole suckling pig for a modest New Year gathering just because we can!

As we raced to Bankstown late on Saturday afternoon for some last minute dinner items, most shops were already closed or in the process of doing so. It was bizarre to see the usually bustling Greenfield Parade begin to look desserted as shopkeepers packed up their boxes of longans and pomelos and spruiked the last remaining army-green parcels of Vietnamese sticky rice.

Gift-giving is a big deal during Chinese New Year. There are criss-cross visits from family to family with auspicious-sounding fruits delivered, well wishes exchanged and lots of happy children receiving lucky red envelopes with money inside.


Chinese New Year gift baskets


Gift basket with a Year of the Dog lucky red envelope


Rambutans

Back at Foodie Central there was an impressive display of bananas, oranges, pomelos, giant watermelons, sticky rice bundles and two very cute statues to watch over it all:



And then there was the food.



I told you there was lots!

See the feast.