Chinese Lunar New Year feasts aren’t just about food. They’re about intent. A table set with symbolic dishes, where each ingredient is chosen to represent an intention for the coming year: wealth, long life, prosperity, peace.
Red 8 Chinese New Year
Last night we dined atRed 8 at Encore Boston Harbor for their Lunar New Year offerings and the most impressive aspect of the meal wasn’t only the flavor, but the fact that almost every dish followed traditional Lunar New Year ingredients. This wasn’t simply a themed menu. This was a true celebration!
The first indicator that we were at a Lunar New Year celebration was the Braised Abalone, Goose Feet & Black Moss ($88.88). In Chinese culture, abalone is used as an ingredient in high-end celebrations such as weddings, reunions, and new years because it represents wealth and high social standing. Goose feet represent financial advancement and taking steps toward your goals one at a time. Black Moss is directly related to prosperity and has a name that sounds similar to “getting rich” in Cantonese. This slow-braised dish in soy and oyster sauce with lettuce is very savory and warm, exactly the type of dish you’d want to use to set your intentions for the upcoming year.
The next dish served was the XO Seafood & Yi-Mein Noodles ($48.88). Long noodles are eaten at Lunar New Year celebrations for longevity purposes. You’re not supposed to cut them. The concept is simple: the longer the noodle, the longer the life. The dish itself was a seafood version tossed in XO sauce with shrimp and scallops. This was so tasty! Exactly the type of thing I would order!
Red 8 Chinese New Year Menu
My favorite bite from last nights meal was the Black Truffle Crispy Chicken (half $39.88, whole $75.88) aromatic garlic, cinnamon, and bay leaf layered with black truffle and served with a red bean curd sauce. Traditionally chicken is used to symbolize the importance of family unity and the idea of gathering together at the start of the new year. This dish is typically the centerpiece of the meal and is meant to be shared, not ordered as individual portions.
Finally, there were two bright, citrus-flavored dishes, the Orange Beef ($38.88) and Kung Pao Shrimp ($38.88). Citrus is lucky and brings good fortune, this is why mandarin oranges are often given as gifts during Chinese New Year. The spicy heat of the chilies in both dishes is meant to bring energy and momentum to the new year. Both dishes provided a nice balance to the richer courses on the menu.
Even the pricing, all of the prices ended in 8, is important. Eight is considered the luckiest number in Chinese culture because its pronunciation is the same as the word for wealth.
The lacquered wood and brass accents in Red 8 really give some ambiance to the dining room. I always love coming here.
This is a real Lunar New Year feast: begin with prosperity, add longevity, add family unity, and finish it all off with lots of happiness.
Red 8’s Lunar New Year Celebration runs until February 17th, so book a table at Encore Boston now!
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