农 历 新 年

Gung Hei Fat Choy to all

Today is the Lunar New Year or Chinese New Year 4706, which brings in the Year of the Rat. Since moving to the San Francisco Bay Area 32 years ago the Chinese New Year has been a cursory part of my life. I have benefited from this joyous time of the year by taking in all it has to offer.

Chinese New Year (农历新年) or Spring Festival is the most important of the traditional Chinese holidays and for many this day is more important than birthdays or religious holidays. The festival traditionally begins on the first day of the first lunar month and ends on the 15th; this day is called Lantern Festival. In the Bay Area, the Celebration will continue for most of the month and will be punctuated with the San Francisco Parade on February 23. The Bay Area events have taken on a very American Twist with the Chinese Community Street Fair, San Francisco Symphony Chinese New Year Concert, Chinatown 10K/5K Run/Walk, Miss Chinatown U.S.A. Pageant, and the Miss Chinatown U.S.A. Coronation Ball.

Traditionally, the Chinese New Year celebrations are marked by visits to kin, relatives and friends, a practice known as "new-year visits." New clothings are usually worn to signify a new year and the color red is liberally used in all decorations. Red packets are given to juniors and children by the married and elders. As a student in San Francisco, I remember receiving my first red envelops from a teacher with a quarter in it and boy I thought this was great holiday. Red packets for the immediate family are sometimes distributed during the reunion dinner. The packets contain money in certain numbers that reflect good luck and honorability. Twenty five cents in 1976 was very fortunate.

The great thing about most holidays is they generally surround foods. I know this week many people around the world celebrated Fat Tuesday (for all you lapse Catholics) and with it the food and drink, so too, with the Chinese New Year. So here are a couple of places to grab a bite.

If you are on the run or would like to eat home, stop in Oakland at the Delicious Food Company, 734 Webster St, for some tempting items. The Delicious Food Company's steam pork buns are awesome, grab some of the other steamed items and a six pack of Tsingtao Beer and you have the makings to start the celebration of the New Year in a low key style.

Looking to dine out for the Lunar celebration. If you are in San Francisco, try the House of Nanking, 919 Kearny St, the lines can be very long, but the food is good and is worth the wait. Nanking is located near the end of Parade route. Just two blocks North of Nanking is Brandi Ho’s, this has the look of a tourist trap, but the deep fried pot stickers and the Si Fo Chicken are worth the stop. Finally, if you are out late at night and have a little liquid in your stomach needing to be soaked up by a little food a stop at Sam Wo’s, 813 Washington Street, is essential. Sam's is a legendary for its late night service and less than customer oriented service.

So how does such a dirty, sticky place with shaky service at times get rave reviews from locals? It is easy when the food exceeds your expectations the food here is probably the best you'll find afterhours, plus it's after midnight and you have few choices in the City. As you walk past the kitchen and up a narrow spinning staircase to get to the upper level it has a very San Francisco feel. Even though Sam is now gone, the old lady will take your order, then tell you what you ordered is no good, and order for you, just charming in the Sam's tradition.

So enjoy the start of the New Year, my you find luck and success in 4706.

http://www.sanfranciscochinatown.com/

http://www.sfgate.com/cny/

http://www.oaklandchinatownchamber.org/index.html