Viewed as even more exhilarating event than the typical New Year celebration, the annual event introduces the element of tradition back into our daily lives, serving to keep us grounded amidst the vibrancy of it all.
I celebrated the date by requesting the rare day off. It had doubled as a buffer for pre-CNY cleaning preparations, while also providing an opportunity to peruse Square One on the first day of lockdown restrictions being lifted.
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In an attempt to maximize my temporary liberation from emails and disgust, I had my eyes set on The Rec Room. Equipped in sweatpants and an airy white t-shirt, I arrived to find the establishment closed - the ultimate disappointment. Behind the gates was a notification of closure.
I hung my head with a deep sigh, then retraced my footsteps to the parking garage. Had I sauntered to the street entrance of the entertainment franchise, I would have learned of a revised opening time of 4 PM - not that I would have returned at that time anyway.
I hung my head with a deep sigh, then retraced my footsteps to the parking garage. Had I sauntered to the street entrance of the entertainment franchise, I would have learned of a revised opening time of 4 PM - not that I would have returned at that time anyway.
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Back home, I drowned my frustrations in 笑口枣, small bits of fried dough coated thoroughly in sesame seeds. A few years have passed since my last one, which I recall to have sampled quite grudgingly. These were surprisingly scrumptious, proving airy instead of dense, and just sweet enough to balance the nuttiness.
Not to be excluded was homemade 年糕, which made appearances in past recaps and even more frequently throughout the pandemic - most notably during off-season periods!
Each iteration has seen minor tweaks, whether it be the type of cane sugar (light or dark), brand of coconut milk (we learned that individual AROY-D cans yield optimal fragrance and flavour), and even type of pan.
I strictly remain a sampler in its incarnation, yet have witnessed progressively more attractive outcomes over the years.
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Dinner comprised of homemade Buddha's Delight and a spectacular shrimp stir-fry.
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Supplementing the dishes were Braised Pig's Feet and Pig's Tongue and Pea Sprouts from Summit Garden. The former was fork-tender, supple enough to be separated with no more than a fork. In contrast were the rigid properties of the latter, consequently contributing a crippling sense of appetite suppression.
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We proceeded the devour the shrimp for days, marveling at its splendidly charred exterior and tangy sauce. Other dishes were consumed to the best of our abilities - admittedly limited in review of stomach capacities - for the subsequent days, until 齋/jai could be tolerated no more.
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