Having graduated from the kitchens of culinary stars Thomas Keller, Grant Achatz and Pierre Hermé, Singaporean chef Janice Wong has won raves for an artful take on the sweet and savory at her restaurants, 2am:dessert bar and 2am:lab. She’s nabbed numerous awards, too, including Best Pastry Chef from San Pellegrino Asia two years in a row. Here, we get her expert advice on Lunar New Year eats, including the dishes that will bring you prosperity and good luck.
Growing up, my favorite Lunar New Year traditions included…
Lo hei [fish salad] with the families on both sides and the gatherings. Another one of my favorite traditions is making my parents tea in the morning on the first day of the year as a form of respect.
This year I’ll celebrate by…
Having a big reunion dinner with our Singapore team before Chinese New Year.
Lucky foods for a LNY dinner include…
Fish, nian gao [New Year’s cake], kumquat, black moss and dumplings.
And unlucky foods include…
Squid.
My favorite LNY dishes growing up…
Vegetarian dish with fat choy [black moss].
And my favorite LNY dessert…
Tang yuan [dessert dumplings].
And favorite LNY beverage…
Always champagne.
The New Year superstitions I never fail to follow…
Don’t wash your hair on the first day of new year.
In Singapore, the holiday is…
On the eve of the New Year.
My Chinese zodiac sign is…
Pig.
Explore more features from the Lunar New Year Issue, past and present.
农历新年将至,在这好运与祝福漫溢的日子里,我们请教了“亚洲甜品女王”Janice Wong的专业建议,如何才能“食”来运转。
新加坡籍甜品师Janice Wong曾因对甜品的热爱只身前往巴黎进修,先后师从包括Thomas Keller,Grant Achatz 和Pierre Hermé传奇名厨。学成归国后,她打造新加坡著名甜品店2am:Dessertbar, 呈现艺术与美味相得益彰的创意美食。年纪轻轻的她更连续两年获得餐饮届的奥斯卡,亚洲San Pellegrino最佳甜点师大赏。
我最喜欢的新年传统食物包括……
‘捞起’– 它是一种捞鱼沙拉,我们会和家中双方父母一起在聚会中享用。
我也很喜欢敬茶的传统,在初一早上,我们会给父母敬茶以示爱戴和尊重。
今年我这样庆祝新年……
今年我会在农历新年之前,与我们的新加坡团队一起享用丰盛的团年饭迎接新年。
对我来说,好运食物包括……
鱼,年糕,金橘,发菜和饺子。
不好运的食物……
鱿鱼。
我最喜欢的新年食物……
用发菜烹调的素食小菜。
我最喜欢的新年点心……
汤圆。
我最喜欢的新年饮品……
香槟是我的最爱。
一个我不信的新年迷信……
大年初一不要洗头。
在新加坡,庆祝新年的那一天是……
除夕夜。
我的生肖是……
猪。