Monday, February 8, 2016

Chinese Festival Table


Dear Red Couch Readers, today is Chinese New Years Table.  My husband teaches at a University with a fair amount of foreign students.  His Chinese students call what we call Chinese New Years, Chinese Festival.  Who knew that?
 
We celebrated Chinese Festival with our neighbors on Saturday night.  They have three delightful little girls, so we put the Chinese Dragon puppet at the end of the table. 
 
 
I put three fans on the table for the girls to take home with them after dinner.
 
 
The table was set with a simple red dinner plate, chop sticks and a little orange.  Oranges in China are passed out liberally during Chinese New Years.  Red symbolizes good fortune and joy, and is used during Chinese New Years. 
 

 
 Gold, like the Chinese brass characters and the chargers, is considered the best color.  During Chinese New Year, money is given out in red envelopes.  We just had gold-foiled chocolate coins on the table, embossed with the words "United States."
 
 
I just love all the red on this table!
 



 
I set the Chinese brass characters, bought in San Francisco's Chinatown years ago.  The brass characters coordinate with the gold chargers.
 

A larger view of the table.
 


 Tulips graced the center of the table.  My daughter cutely asked if tulips were from China.
 
 
We had lemon chicken.  Sorry the photo is a bit off color, as we took the photos at night.  You can find the recipe for Lemon Chicken HERE.  We  have been making this recipe for over 30 years now.  We pressed the white rice in the ramekins, and then we unmolded it.  This was a fun little touch.
 
 
 We also made steamed pork dumplings, and we served them with a delicious Gyoza dipping sauce from Trader Joe's.  This was my first experience with a bamboo steamer, and it worked so well.


 
We had a simple dessert of fortune cookies, almond cookies, and cookie butter cookies.




Wishing you all a Happy Chinese New Years!  Gung Hoy Fat Choy!

Posted with Tablescape Thursday


7 comments:

www.thewhitefarmhouse2.blogspot.com said...

Loving all the red! That is one of my all time fav colors. You did a beautiful job on the table and food. It all looks so yummy! Do you have the recipe for your lemon chicken? I think it is the one you posted several years ago and it was fabulous! I want to make sure I pin it this time so I don't lose it!

Marigene said...

What a fun celebration...great table, Joni. I love all the red with the little pops of orange. The pork dumplings look delicious. I missed the lemon chicken post, so I went back and read it...now I want to make it!
Have a great week.

Sarah said...

Joni, your festival table is full of good luck. You included all the elements! I know your guests were thrilled to dine at this table, and the little girls were probably in awe of that dragon. I usually do a table for Chinese New Year, but haven't this year. I may just do a post on Year of the Monkey. Gung Hoy Fat Choy!

Debbie@Mountain Breaths said...

Joni, my friends and I were chatting last evening about the Year of the Monkey and want to do a dinner next year. The red is wonderful for your festival table, and the young girls will always remember this. Gung Hoy Fat Choy!

Pondside said...

The table is beautiful and reflects the time and effort you put into making it perfect. I am sure the little girls (and their parents!) were thrilled.

Jacqueline said...

I haven't made Lemon Chicken or Steamed Pork Wontons in years and years and years. Brings back memories of our fun cooking Chinese meals during college. This is one of my favorite dishes. We are going to have to bring it back.
The table is so pretty with all of the brilliant red and the gorgeous dragon! May the year of the Monkey bring you good fortune.

Tati said...

The table looks so wonderful!! (And so does the food!)

Engageya