Hi friends,

新年快樂 ! A festive Lunar New Year to those who celebrate–a fitting symbol of shedding scales of the past to usher in new energy in this year of the snake. A reminder of the power in regeneration and a hope for change.

I’ve been taking Mandarin lessons the last 7 months and in learning (humbled by) the nuances of tone I am finding resonance with a new tongue through recipes, culture, and connection. Nothing will shake your world view quite like a new-to-you language. 

For Mid-Autumn Festival this past fall, our teacher led us through the delicacies of handmade Chinese dumplings, lightly scolding us for too-thick wrappers and overfilled pockets. Her hands pinching folds along a perfect half moon shape in quick succession as she explained in English, then Mandarin her tradition of yearly preparation. Fumbling through my own prep I followed her movements, rolling and spinning my dough in tandem to keep the center raised and edges thinned just so. I practiced “餃子, 餃子, 餃子” repeating the word for dumpling in a matching rhythm to my hands, forgetting immediately once I moved onto filling. They were doughy, and delicious. A mix of tofu and vegetables, our teacher reminding us to not rely on recipes for the best dumpling. You must feel for yourself the changes in your dough, the weight of your filling, and learn first by doing.

In a quickly changing timeline, our best bet is in doing the work. Learning through iteration, amongst community when possible. It’s only through 100 dough wrappers that you find the ideal spread of dough. Or through consistent, imperfect conversation do you understand the nuance of a language. We’re building muscle memory to keep us moving into the rest of this new year, finding progress in every mistake, and every effort.

To celebrate, I’m indulging in my new tahini ginger blondie recipe and sharing out a round up of incredible creators for LNY this week. Scroll on for more!

Stay hungry,
Hawnuh Lee | Founder, Closed Loop Cooking

Tahini ginger blondies.

The dish >>

• My recent interview with Bold Journey is live.

• I’m cutting into these flavor packed tahini ginger blondies and comfort eating in style. With mini dark chocolate chips and a perfectly fudgy texture they are a can’t miss.

• Zero waste experiments have led me to this caffeine-free date seed “coffee”. An unexpected (but totally edible ingredient) this might be a helpful alternative or half-caf option as coffee prices rise.

• Will be following Civil Eats Food Policy Tracker from now on.

• Over 130 orgs have supported this letter for the EU to develop an action plan for plant-based foods by 2026.

• Strongly considering applying to the next CARAT Cohort to help develop community based resilient food systems. Applications open until 2/14!

• How do we feel about pasta water ice cubes?

• Literally the only way I want to hit the slopes. Ski leek season.

• If you’re wondering what it looks like BTS on air–it me.

A very Lunar New Year round-up

curated by Maia Welbel

Lunar New Year is honored with a variety of traditions, across cultures, regions and families in Asian cultures and their diasporas. To celebrate the first day of the first new moon in the lunisolar calendar, festive meals are had, homes are decorated with symbols of good luck, dances are performed, games are played, and crafts are crafted. The Year of the Snake officially began on January 29, kicking of a 15 day spring festival. A time for shedding old skins and slithering into new experiences. We’re ringing (er - rattling?) it in with a roundup of LNY recipes, events, adornments, and AAPI artists, chefs, and entrepreneurs that we love, and we think you will too!

Hetty McKinnon’s latest issue of To Vegetables, With Love is the perfect Lunar New Year read. Recipes, recommendations, and the story of what, in her childhood home, was called “steamboat night.” If you’re cooking LNY dinner, this is the guidance you should seek. 

Anna Ye Tea specializes in premium loose leaf teas from Việt Nam that rarely make it to the global market. Anna started the company with a mission to highlight the vibrant tea heritage of Việt Nam; improving representation of single origin Vietnamese teas so more people can discover how delicious they are all over the world. Anna Ye Tea will be popping up at Welcome to Chinatown’s Lunar New Year Fair at Gotham Park 2/7-2/9. If you’re not in NY you can shop her beautiful selection online. 

The Oakland Asian Cultural Center is hosting the third annual Lunar New Year x Black History Month Community Celebration on 2/1 — a celebration of Asian and African-American solidarity through art, music, and dance, including live performances, local vendors’ marketplace, and exhibition on Black and Asian solidarity. 

Nian gao is a sweet rice cake, often included in Chinese New Year celebrations to symbolize progress and growth. If you want to try making it yourself, Judy’s recipe on Woks of Life makes it super accessible!

On the savory side, Okonomi Kitchen’s Chǎo Nián Gāom, or stir fried rice cakes, is a Chinese New Year dish that symbolizes good fortune, and also happens to make a deliciously comforting weeknight dinner. (Unrelated to LNY, but we all need to be trying out Lisa’s rice cooker sweet potato trick too).

Now would be a great time to donate to or volunteer with Heart of Dinner, an organization dedicated to nourishing and uplifting Asian Elders facing inequities in care. They are aiming to deliver 1,000 care packages to Los Angeles Elders recovering from the devastating wildfires. Shoutout to longtime CLC art crush Nancy Pappas for her beautiful designs. 

Mt. Kakigori is Japanese-style shaved ice pop-up inspired by california produce. These fruity, creamy delights, perfected by founder and food scientist Ting Lin, will be at the Teance Fine Teas x White Magnolia Acupuncture Lunar New Year Celebration in Berkeley on 2/1 alongside lots of other eats and activities to welcome in the Year of the Snake including a pipa performance, Chinese calligraphy workshop, local artists’ wares, and more. Definitely stop by if you’re in the East Bay! 

Abacus Row, an independent handmade jewelry brand designed and founded by Christine Trac, released a Lunar New Year collection for the ultimate sophisticate — blending playful LNY iconography with minimalist forms and fine materials. I am totally smitten with the Year of the Snake fortune bracelet, and I think this mandarin-donning reptile needs a place on my bookshelf. 

Need more ways to adorn yourself for Lunar New Year? Check out this one of a kind garnet persimmon charm from Soft Good Studio, or snag the Alluring Snake ring and matching earrings from Roulette 18. 

New Yorkers — head to Chelsea Market on 2/9 for Lunar New Year Extravaganza hosted by Pearl River. Dancing, mahjong, tea, noodles, and more!

All you need is a steamer basket and ingredients you probably already have on hand to make these deceptively simple but absolutely splendid carrot steamed buns from the queen of cute cooking projects, Molly Yeh. Invite friends over to help and get pinching! 

If you’ve been wanting to try Vietnamese coffee for your morning brew, now is the time. Every order from Nguyen Coffee Supply comes with a limited edition lucky red envelope while supplies last.  

Speaking of envelopes, chic mom extraordinaire Vy Tran shared this sweet way of connecting to community this time of year. 

If you’re anywhere near Austin, you must check out Paper Craft Pantry’s Lunar New Year Festival on 2/2. There will be a pop-up market with all AAPI-owned small businesses, dance performances, bilingual book readings, face painting, eats and drinks from Austin vendors, and more. 

Of course Christine Wong of Conscious Cooking has a Lunar New Year dish that is equal parts gorgeous, nourishing, and delicious. Her latest cookbook, The Vibrant Hong Kong Table, is a must-add to any plant lover’s collection. 

Rounding things out with a reminder to be gentle with yourself from The Misnakes.

I love this bug.

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