The Year of the Snake officially begins at the stroke of midnight on first day of the Chinese lunar calendar, which lands on February 10th this year, but in Hong Kong, the festivities last a full 14 days—this year, from February 4-17, 2013. While many locals take advantage of the public holidays to leave the city, for visitors in the know, the lunar new year is a time to experience Hong Kong during its most spirited season, when denizens feast like there's no tomorrow: every bite of food is highly symbolic, and eating becomes a means of shoring up good luck for the year ahead. At home, there are nightly family gatherings where the spreads easily rival Christmas and Thanksgiving combined, and the city's markets and restaurants feature auspicious delicacies and special dishes to help usher in the new year. In my mind, there's no better time to sample the delicious food of this dynamic city.
Keep reading »
