Come sit with me for awhile . . .
and see what I’m bringing to the table ®

Gong hei fat choy!!!!!!!!

The Chinese New Year is a mere breath or two away from our doorstep, come January 22nd. Always a celebration of excitement, parades, well wishes and special foods. A two week event that turns away from the past, while eagerly looking toward bright tomorrows. New promises of exciting horizons and hidden surprises.

To keep all you foodies in the know .    .    . I have done my research, and here are some VERY  important tidbits .   .   . tidbits that will keep you light years ahead of some of your fellow foodies .    .    .

“Lucky Foods” .   .   . yup .    .    . you read it right .   .    .  these “lucky foods”  are easy to come by, and not unusual items .   .   . BUT .    .    . here’s the kicker.   .   . each food I name has a special meaning attached and should be considered most important to starting the New Year off on the right foot… so to speak!

OK here’s my list .   .    . lettuce, rising fortune …mm hmmmmm … do I have your attention now? Tangerines, oranges, egg rolls, black moss seaweed … luck, and wealth. Pomelos (citrus fruit, similar, but a larger grapefruit, from SE Asia)… signifies abundance. Noodles, and peanuts are considered symbols for a long life, while eggs are a sign of fertility. Traditionally a cooked whole fish is served as the last of the main courses and portends prosperity. For desert lychee nuts, close family ties.   Whether you choose to throw a Chinese New Year’s bash at home, or partake in a local restaurant .    .    . you now have been armed with vital information to rival most foodies you invite to your table!

Are you a card-carrying-member of the one-and-done club? I have affectionately dubbed this not-so-exclusive membership the GBCSC, aka the grab-bite-chew-swallow-club. I call it the one-and-done meal! Yes, yes I get that it is just you after putting in a full day, in fact it is conceivable that your day may not be done. I really do understand butttt, buttttt, butttttt. . . can you pllleeease humor me for just a few seconds? Whether you are a full-time, part-time or occasionally dip your toe-in member of the one-and-done-club please read on. Whoa,whoa, whoa . . . to those of you who think I am sending a disparaging message to the eat-over-the-sink or heaven forbid right-out-of-the-refrigerator crew. I am merely throwing out the idea that you deserve a welcoming table to come home to. 

Soooo . . . here is my suggestion. Of course it is merely a suggestion. Try thinking of dinner as a brief yoga class, set aside as your oasis of calm. Hey! I heard some of you snickering. Laugh if you will, however, when was the last time some of you stopped long enough to taste what you are eating??? Hmmm . . . yes, yes, I hear that you haven’t eaten all day or have work to finish, laundry to do etc., and only have time for ‘GBCSC’. Quick remedy is . . . one plate, one napkin, needed eating utensils AND a place to sit with a table of any kind to place said simple fare on. Now take a breath and congratulate yourself for graduating from the eat out of the pot category. 

Are you looking for a new twist on the same-old, ho-hum table setting? Well look no further .   .   . help is here .   .   . Now on Amazon “a collection of… Tableofferings from the go-to expert tablescaper” Available in E-book and HARDCOVER getBook.at/Tableofferings

For the kiddies in your life “I am sooo Lucky!!!” Series AVAILABLE on Amazon

Book1  getBook.at/book1Lucky    Book2   getBook.at/lucky2

Book3   getBook.at/Lucky3

Remember if you’re a Prime Amazon member you can read for free!

Sharon Insul is the former owner of the globally recognized  Beverly Hills boutique Candle light and… Beverly Hills, California, as well as a former contributing columnist for the Beverly Hills Courier.