Celebrate the Golden Pig: Dine your way through the Chinese New Year
suckling pig roasted like a crispy duck
The year of the pig occurs every 12 years. But when the Chinese Lunar New Year begins on February 18th it will not just be the year of any pig. It's the year of the Golden pig, something that only occurs every 60 years. Because it's such an auspicious year, hospitals across China are expecting a baby boom. But for us here in the States it is simply reason to rinse off the dumpling steamer and prepare the feast.
If you don't feel like cooking, here's where you should go for parades and celebratory Asian snacks. But be prepared for crowds and chaos. And if you plan to eat adventurously bring a friend who speaks and reads Mandarin or Cantonese so you can actually read the secret menu.
To properly celebrate the Chinese New Year this year, skip Chinatown, Manhattan and head to Flushing, Queens or Bensonhurst, Brooklyn.
Flushing Chinese New Years Parade, 2006
Flushing, Queens
Event: Lunar New Year Parade
When: Saturday, February 17, 11 am - 1 pm
Viewing Stands: At Flushing Library (Main and Kissena) and at the parade's end (Main and 37th Ave). Most people watch on Main St.
Route: Begins, Union St at 37th Ave >> south on Union >> right on Sanford >> right on Kissena >> right on Main >> ends at Main and 37th Ave. For more celebrations, the Chinese performers then head to the Flushing Mall, and the Korean contingent goes to Korea Village.
Food in Flushing:
Flushing Mall Food Court for that "this feels like Asia" experience. The Xinjiang stand and Ramen King are both authentic, good and cheap.
133-31 39th Ave, two blocks west of Main Street, a couple of blocks north of the 7 train
Imperial Palace (Chinese name is East Lake) for the best dim sum in Queens
136-13 37 Av (near the 7 train)
Flushing, Queens
718-939-3501
Waterfront It'l Enterprises
40-09 Prince St. at 40th Rd.
Flushing, Queens
718-321-1363
Bensonhurst, Brooklyn
We know. Everyone's talking about how Sunset Park is Brooklyn's Chinatown. But we have scoured the neighborhood in search of good Chinese for our readers and came up short. Save Sunset Park for Karaoke at the Rainbow Cafe at 5th Avenue and 39th Street. Head to Bensonhurst and Bayridge for a breakfast of Dim Sum this Chinese New Year.
Ocean Port Seafood Restaurant
6202 18th Avenue (62nd Street)
Bensonhurst, Brooklyn
(718) 236-8118
World Tong
18th Avenue & 62nd Street
Bensonhurst, Brooklyn
Ming Gee's Seafood Palace
618 62nd Street (corner of Sixth Ave.)
Bayridge, Brooklyn
Subway: R train to 59th St. and Fourth Ave.
Buses: B63 on Fifth Ave., B70 on Eighth Ave, B9 on 59th St.
If you don't feel like leaving the island, here's where you should go to dine in Manhattan:
Amazing 66 Restaurant
66 Mott St near Canal
(212) 334-0099
New Yeah Shanghai Deluxe
65 Bayard St., at Mott St.
212-566-4884
The name of this restaurant is especially appropriate for the holiday. You’ll be guided by your waiter to the soup dumplings, the de rigueur Shanghai-joint appetizer, but they’re only one example of the kitchen’s dexterity with dough—fried or steamed, stuffed with pork or springy snow-pea greens, the dumplings alone are worth a visit.
To learn more about traditional dishes eaten for the fifteen days of the Lunar New Year click here.
