40 Somethings: Soup Dumplings and the Chinese New Year

Today, I’m checking off two items on my 40 somethings list as I celebrate my 40th circle around the sun. This month is all about Chinese New Year and I’ve had my first soup dumplings and attended an official Chinese New Year celebration. 

It’s no secret that I love a good food holiday and I treat this day like I do Cinco de Mayo. I like to know the reason behind cultural holidays, but I really love exploring the ethnic cuisine tied to other cultures. So, Chinese New Year, Kwanza, Fat Tuesday/Mardi Gras, St. Patrick’s Day, and Cinco de Mayo are all little things we try to entertain when we have a chance. 

At the end of last month, a library near us hosted a Chinese New Year celebration for families. A Mandarin Chinese teacher taught us a little about the holiday and traditions and helped us learn to say a few words in the process. Then, we got to experience a few cultural dances, including a traditional lion dance. 

I may or may not have teared up at the end of it. I love getting to expose my son to these experiences, and I love seeing youth preserving the cultural experiences of their heritage. It was a really special thing. I don’t know that I’ll ever travel to China, so outside of being near a China town, it’s the closest we will ever come to experiencing something like that.

Then, we were able to taste some traditional food and complete a craft and game tied to the theme. It was the perfect kind of experience for my kid. 

I really encourage you if you can find a celebration or way to learn more about Chinese New Year and the traditions tied to the culture, it’s very meaningful.

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Last fall, my mom and I found a new Asian fusion restaurant and when I was scanning the menu I noticed they had soup dumplings. They were known for their street noodles and the combination of the two is what really drew me to choose this place. The noodle chef was off that day, but we still ordered the dumplings.

I’d always seen these dim sum type dumplings in movies set in NYC. It always looks like a fun meal with a table full of baskets that seem to bring surprise after surprise. But, I was most curious about the soup dumplings.

One of my favorite things about eating out with my mom is her, “I’ll eat whatever you order me” attitude. There is a responsibility when you share a meal with someone under that mindset, but I know she trusts me for a reason, and for the most part we have a similar taste in food. 

But, soup dumplings were so cool and weird all at the same time. They are round, kinda like a potsticker, but folded differently. They have a meat pod in the middle that is surrounded by a broth inside the dumpling wrapper. It’s kinda mind-boggling to me how you get a liquid inside a solid, but that’s what makes them so cool. You eat them out of a spoon unless you can put the whole thing in your mouth at once, but I’m so glad I tried them because I want to keep trying more!  

Now, I really want to add a dim sum dinner to my list of new experiences I want to encounter.

Have you ever had a soup dumpling?? Am I missing something else that is just as cool?

Practical food ideas to help you celebrate Chinese New Year at home:

• Go out to eat together as a family at an Asian restaurant. For a traditional experience, find a traditional Chinese restaurant, but that type of thing may not be available in your area. Really push yourself and try to eat your dinner with chopsticks.
• Make Egg Roll in a Bowl
• Eat potstickers or spring rolls – just prepare them from frozen in the steam or fried methods
• Eat frozen Chinese/Asian meals – PF Chang or AsianFusion are both great options
• Add orange to your meal or make a mandarin orange cake – oranges bring fortune in the new year
• Eat Ramen – try a traditional bowl or just buy the college staple and prepare it at home