Yes, folks, CNY is here and it is only fair to talk about what is important on the dining table here in Singapore. Chinese New Year season involves hustle and bustle and lots of food. It’s a very busy time for our tour guides. We spring-clean the home, buy new clothes and prepare red packets. But before the actual day, there are several things that are important that can only happen on the eve.
The food in our reunion dinner.
One of the most important things we do here in Singapore has got to be the New Year’s Eve feast. Or what we call the Reunion Dinner. Singapore is quiet on the eve of Chinese New Year. We don’t run a food tour on this day as our guides will be at home with their families.
It is a mandatory custom and an age-old tradition in Singapore and beyond. Families come together to feast on delicious local and Chinese food. In Singapore the reunion dinner symbolizes a good start to the New Year. It’s also a great time bonding with the family over our favourite food.
This feast is quite a sumptuous fare and who else better to explore the food on the table than us. So let’s take a look at what is on the menu!
Most of the food are traditional dishes such as dumplings, chicken, and pork. But here are some popular dishes here in Singapore during reunion dinner.
1.Yee Shang or Yu Shang or YuSheng
This dish is only available only during Chinese New Year making it a popular favourite.
Yes, if you guess that this is the dish that we use for lohei, you are right. Watching people throw good food in the air may seem strange. Here in Singapore and Malaysia its as common as anything this time of year. Often around this time of year we see the food throwing on our tour. It is a bit of a strange sight.
2. Buddha Jumps Over The Wall
This dish is healthy and nutritious. It serves as the ideal food alternative for the ‘meaty’ dishes served. This vegetarian dish is popular for its “cooling” merits and easy preparation style.
3. Sui Yuk
Hah, this is definitely a popular dish. Crispy Roast Pork Belly or referred to as Sui Yuk. In Singapore, as in Malaysia and other Asian countries, the crispier the better! Our private Chinatown tour stops off at a great spot to try this dish.
4. Stir-Fried Leeks
Stir-Fried leeks, this auspicious dish symbolizes wealth. This dish consists of tofu, pork and other non-leafy vegetables (such as beansprout).
5. Braised Mushrooms and Abalone
Mushrooms and Abalone are inseparable during this festive season. Cook anything with it and it holds a permanent place on many reunion dinner tables.
6. Stir-fry Prawns
Well, prawns are also very necessary. Prawn is pronounced, “Ha” in the Chinese dialect, it is important to have a bit of laughter. And this is definitely necessary for a reunion dinner.
So that’s 6 popular dishes to have at a Chinese New Year Eve reunion dinner in Singapore. These are popular dishes but generally, this feast is huge with a lot of variety of food such as dumpling.
A Chinese New Year fun fact
Anyway, since we are on this topic, here’s a fun fact:
Do you know that on Chinese New Year’s Eve, children should stay up as late as possible?
It is said that it is to send off the old year and welcome the new. It is also believed that the later they stay awake, the longer their parents will live.
We at Singabites would like to wish our Singabiters, family & friends a joyful Chinese New Year!
If you’d like to learn more about Singapore and try some of our amazing food, book a food tour today. To book the best food tour in Singapore visit www.singabites.com
