Famu believes in mixing tradition with a touch of creativity to ensure a more memorable feast. “We always have some traditional dishes to celebrate Lunar New Year. These days, with access to good quality ingredients, we can create a modern feast to make it more interesting. Famu recommends steak with Asian sauces, slow cooked braised Wagyu shin-shank with five spices & lemongrass, roasted whole chicken finished with a touch of truffle oil, and, of course, steamboat with variety of Wagyu slices as the main delight.
1. Hotpot Goodness
What do you do when there's no time to whip up a fancy meal? Don't worry, the hotpot has got you covered! With a steamboat, you can enjoy a hassle-free experience by simply preparing the broth, dipping sauces, and fresh ingredients. In Asian culture, the roundness formed by the broth in the pot, the table, and the family seated around together indicates a happy family reunion.
Having a steamboat during Lunar New Year is one treasured family traditions that you may not miss. Famu recommends several Wagyu cuts that you can enjoy, from the most tender Ribeyes, to the beefy and rich with mix of knuckle (tri-tip and outside knuckle), or brisket slices for a balanced flavor. As a volume builder, Famu’s Premium Beef Ribeye slices and Beef Shoulder slices are great alternatives. For those craving pork options, Berkshire Pork Shoulder and Belly are the main recommendations.
As for the soup itself, you can try Sukiyaki style, which is mainly sweet and savory, or Shabu-shabu with kelp soup, which allows you to appreciate the natural taste of the beef. For more options, Famu offers a variety of soup bases such as Chicken Stock, Bonito Stock, Sesame Soy Milk, Miso, and Soy Sauce.
Since Famu prefers the beef to be non-marinated, just a simple dip is recommended. Famu suggests serving at least two main sauces: Sesame (Goma) and Ponzu. These will enhance and showcase the superb quality and flavor of Japanese Wagyu. Be sure to ask the Famu’s butcher for this specialty cut and a special package for your convenience.
2. Wagyu Steak with Asian sauces
Wagyu steak is always a center of attention on special occasion. A5 Kobe signifies the best beef in the world with very strict regulation and limited distribution. Serve Kobe steak, A5 Wagyu steak from Hyogo, or Hibachi style cut for this special moment with great deals from Famu. Follow how to cook wagyu steak with several tips from Famu, and enjoy it with several Asian sauces such as Ponzu sauce, Teriyaki Sauce, or Garlic-Soy sauce.
3. Slow cooked Wagyu Shin-Shank
Traditional Vietnamese Bo Kho soup is a Stewed meats, where different ingredients are braised in a fragrant soup broth infused with soy sauce and spices. For this aromatic delight, Famu recommends three beef options - beef tendon, Wagyu shin-shank, or beef Oxtail. To perfect it, the stew must be cooked over a small fire for hours so that the meat get soft and thanks to Wagyu rich collagen, you will have super rich thick soup. Consider adding this dish to your reunion feast for a belly-warming experience. Please try Bo Kho recipe from Becca!
4. Roasted Chicken with Truffle Sauce
The perfect centerpiece to any holiday dinner (especially Lunar New Year where a whole roast chicken which symbolize wholeness and abundance), the steps to make this chicken are simple: You season the bird (just salt & pepper!), then roast it at high heat until the skin is bronzed and crisp and the flesh juicy.
5. Chasiu
Braised pork belly is a popular dish that often shows up on dinner tables during Chinese New Year festivities in southern China. Pork is representative of 'a rich, prosperous life', 'wealth', 'strength', and 'abundant blessings'. Braised pork expresses the wish that the New Year will be prosperous. However, cooking chasiu can be a challenge due to long braise and complication preparation, that is why Famu’s ready to eat Chasiu can be much a help in the way!
6. Gyoza
Gyoza or “jiao zi”, on the other hand, are made of dough and meat stuffing and typically eaten all year round. The shape of the dumpling resembles the gold ingot (traditional Chinese money), which represents fortune and good luck, making it a must-have during the reunion feast.
7. Udon
How your long noodles are ultimately served is up to personal preference. The real emphasis here is on their length (to signify longevity), so no snapping those udon in half! Famu’s udon by Sanuki is a well-known hand-crafted udon in Toronto that guarantees quality.
8. Egg drop Soup
The secret to making a great bowl of egg drop soup is patience. To ensure you have the silkiest strands of eggs, let residual heat do the cooking: Bring your chicken broth up to a boil, thicken it with a cornstarch slurry, then turn the heat off before you add the eggs! This form of indirect heat will help the eggs stay tenderly soft and ethereally light. Famu recommends using Mennonite Egg which rich in Omega 3 that gives you healthy booster as well as appealing orange color in your bowl.