Chinese New Year is traditionally a whirlwind of passing around red envelopes and attending a flurry of family engagements all while enjoying plenty of good food and wine as you toast to the new year. For many in our community Hong Kong is home and this year, after several years, they are finally looking forward to gathering with friends and family to ring in the Year of the Rabbit.

A time of renewal and hope, a time to put the past behind and look forward to a year full of possibilities, for many the coming days are full of tradition, respect and memory. Hear from our team what some of their memorable moments and traditions are during this most auspicious time of year.

Head Chef ArChan, Ho Lee Fook

My fondest memories of Chinese New Year are of the first day. We would always gather at my grandparents’ place and have a huge family lunch. Because my grandfather was one of the eldest sons in the family, the relatives would all come to his house throughout the day to celebrate. We’d easily have anywhere between 15 to 30 people at once over the course of the day.

Celebrations look a bit different these days, but family gatherings are still something I still look forward to. Working in hospitality, you do not get the same holidays off so often throughout the year I do not get to visit with as much family as I would like, but the gathering on Chinese New Year is always a chance to connect with everyone, from close family to extended and beyond. The day is always filled with conversation, food and of course, red pockets.

Jonathan Leung, Operations Director Wan Chai

We have not been able to do so the last few years, but usually on the last day of every year, I go to my uncle’s house. My grandmother lived there, and when she was alive, she would always cook a big year end dinner with the whole family – somewhere close to 24 people spanning over two large tables.

The things we cook during Chinese New Year are still all my favourite things, from big prawns to tender steamed chicken. Around 10:30pm a bunch of us go to the night market at Victoria Park, where we line up, along with the rest of the city, to go in and shop for flowers and other trinkets we don’t need just because it is fun.

We return home and usually finish in the early hours of the morning. Of course, the next day is the first day of the year, so we always get together again, but this time we do not cook. Instead, we have hotpot with whatever is left over from the previous night. It is also on this day that we pay respects to our ancestors; I make hot tea for the elders in my family, my uncle, aunt, father, and of course some of us in the family receive or handout lai see. But mostly, we relax, enjoy our time together and, of course, play mahjong!

Chef Danvee Kwok, Fukuro

As a child I grew up in a big family. From grandparents, aunts and uncles to cousins, we all lived in the same building and Chinese New Year would mean all 25 getting together! On the last day of the year, we would stay up all night preparing festive treats for the new year.

My grandpa was a chef, and this was a chance for him to teach us how to make all sorts of different things. My favourite was always Lo Bak Go, a pan-fried radish and taro cake. Of course, then on the first day of the year, we would wake up really early, receive the first red pocket of the year and get to eat all the treats we prepared!

Tony Ferreira, Culinary Director and Operations Director SoHo

Right now, my family is spread out, from Canada to the UK and Australia but I remember back in 2018, when all my cousins were still in Hong Kong, my grandma was still alive and my mom and little brother were in town just in time for the new year festivities. This was really the last time the whole family got together to celebrate.

It was easily one of my best memories. Home-made lotus seed cakes and daikon cakes were flowing and of course each of my uncles and aunties brough their most “famous” dish. I’m lucky because good cooking runs in the family, so the spread on Chinese New Year was always one to look forward to. When dinner was finished, we would retreat to my auntie’s living room for karaoke and mahjong. It was this year that my grandmother would hand down to me some of her life learnings and Chinese soup recipes. Honestly, it was just one day of happiness, togetherness and lots of really good food.

Sous Chef Natalie Chan, Butter

Our Chinese New Year always kicks off with day one spent with my parents and my sister at home. We welcome in the year with fresh flowers and my mom usually cooks up a fantastic vegetarian feast, but what I look forward to most is the Chinese New Year snack box, or tray of togetherness. It is a traditional arrangement put out that is always filled up with goodies, usually symbolising your family’s hopes for the coming year, but I love all the different kinds of treats and small bites throughout the day.

As the festival continues, we celebrate with the extended family where everyone comes over to our house and enjoys a home cooked meal (usually dishes with good meanings) and, of course, it wouldn’t be a Chinese New Year celebration without a few rounds of mahjong!

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