2/21 The Year of the Horse- Lunar New Year Cooking Class

The Year of the Horse- Lunar New Year Cooking Class

Saturday February 21st, 6:30 to 10:00PM

Chef Aerin Zavory

Welcoming the Year of the Horse

Chef Aerin Zavory will use her background in pasta-making to guide us through the menu of foods for the Lunar New Year!  Lunar (or Chinese) New Year is more than a celebration—it is a renewal of intention, a time when food becomes language, symbolism, and blessing. Each dish in the menu carries meaning meant to nourish not only the body, but the year ahead.

This year, we welcome the Year of the Horse, a sign associated with energy, momentum, independence, and forward movement. The Horse symbolizes progress, confidence, and the courage to travel new paths. It is a year that favors action over hesitation and rewards those who move with purpose.

Our menu reflects that spirit—vibrant, generous, and rooted in tradition.

Thai Citrus Salad
Bright citrus represents good fortune and abundance, as oranges and pomelos are traditionally symbols of wealth and prosperity across East and Southeast Asia. The balance of sweet, sour, salty, and spicy mirrors the harmony we hope to cultivate in the coming year.

Dumplings
Dumplings are shaped like ancient Chinese gold ingots, making them a powerful symbol of wealth and prosperity. It’s said that the more dumplings you eat during the New Year, the more fortune you invite. Preparing them together also represents family unity and shared intention.

Longevity Noodles
Long, unbroken noodles symbolize long life, health, and continuity. Traditionally, they are never cut—each strand representing an unbroken wish for longevity and resilience. In the Year of the Horse, these noodles also echo the idea of life’s journey and forward motion.

Crispy Fried Whole Fish
A whole fish represents abundance, completeness, and surplus. The Chinese word for fish (yú) sounds like “extra,” symbolizing having more than enough—financially, emotionally, and spiritually—by year’s end. Serving the fish whole reinforces wholeness and prosperity from beginning to end.

Chinese Almond Cookies
Round and golden, these cookies symbolize coins, wealth, and sweetness in the year ahead. Traditionally shared with family and guests, they represent generosity and the hope that life will be both prosperous and joyful.