Asian Avenue magazine

The Joy of Living Club’s Lunar New Year Celebration on Friday, January 23rd at 6:30pm will present not only delicious food, but food with deep cultural meanings. In Chinese culture, during the Lunar New Year festivities, what you eat and the rituals performed affect your fortune and luck in the coming year. Please attend our event at Empress Seafood Restaurant to start the year with good luck on your side!

Our New Year feast includes ten dishes, three of which we’ve provided a special sneak preview.

1) Beijing Roast Duck (Peking Duck)
This summer, tourists from Colorado may have traveled to the city of Beijing for the Olympic games and also to try eating the famous Peking duck. It is common that the first question you are asked in Beijing is, “have you tried the duck?”
FOOD: The skin of the Beijing duck is especially thick because the weather there is normally chilly or cold. The thick and tasty skin is marinated with special sauces before it is cooked, making it essential to eat along with the meat. Beijing people think it is a waste not to eat the duck’s skin.
MEANING: Chinese people say when you miss a good chance, “your cooked duck has fl own away.” This saying means that as you prepare to eat a warm and deliciously cooked duck, it gets away from you, like when good opportunities are in your grasp but are not taken. We hope this duck will ensure that you do not miss any great opportunities coming your way in 2009.

2) Lobster with Noodles
FOOD: The lobster is cooked to a fine balance of maintaining the soft lobster meat, while extracting the unique flavors from the lobster into a tasty sauce which is poured on top of the noodles. Due to this delicate process, the noodles have a savory lobster taste.
MEANING: The red of the lobster is a symbol of being auspicious. That is also why during the New Year, people like to wear red for their luck. By wearing red during this time, it translates into good luck for the entire year. The noodles signify longevity, and the noodle strands should not be bitten in half. Therefore, the American tradition to roll noodles around a fork comes in handy, so that they are eaten completely in a single bite.

3) Steamed Whole Fish
FOOD: This fish is steamed with soy sauce, a hint of sesame oil and a select wine. Sprinkled on top of the fish are hints of green onion and ginger. Although the fish has bits of bones, the meat is thick and juicy from the sauces.
MEANING: This fish, in its entirety, comes with everything from the head to the tail (and the bones). This symbolizes a surplus or abundance, which is what everyone is shooting for in 2009.

The New Year Feast also includes:
• Winter Melon Soup
• Scallop and Chicken Bird Nest
• Beef with Chinese Broccoli
• Shrimp with Walnuts
• Abalone Mushroom with Vegetables
• House Special Fried Rice
• Fresh Fruits

Thank you to Empress Seafood Restaurant for hosting our celebration. Through this dinner, you will not only gain a better understanding of the Chinese culture and holiday, but also a satisfied belly. We hope you will attend our event and help us to continue the JoL Club’s mission to introduce the best Asian dining experiences in Colorado to our readers.

Please RSVP for the event by January 16th. Xing Nian Kuai Le! Happy New Year!

EVENT INFORMATION:

Come celebrate the 2009 Lunar New Year, the Year of the Ox, (which falls on January 26, 2009) with Asian Avenue magazine!

Join us for an exquisite traditional Chinese dinner, learn how to celebrate the New Year, play fun riddles for door prizes, and enjoy cultural entertainment.

Friday, January 23
Begins at 6:30pm

Empress Seafood Restaurant
2825 W Alameda Ave.
Denver, CO 80219
303.922.2822

$25 for JoL members
$30 for non-members

RSVP by Friday, January 16 with a check or card payment. Contact us at 303.937.6888 or [email protected].