Sheng Kee Noodles Store - 盛記麵家

Some time ago I saw a TV programme on a noodles store in one of Shatin estates.  The characteristic of this dai-paai-dong is that its owner is a kind-hearted man who is giving away free noodles to needy elderly. Recently I read again about Mr Cheung Man-keung and Sheng Kee Noodles Store in the SCMP weekly column “Neighbourhood Sounds”. My curiously stirred up even further: I had to visit this eatery!

 

Black Sesame Glutinous Rice Dumplings

Happy Chinese New Year! Today is the first day of the Lunar New Year. LNY is an important festival in the Chinese (lunar) calendar.  Family members gather on LNY’s eve to share the last meal of the year together. It is customary to eat rice dumplings on that occasion as its name (in Cantonese) “t’ohng Yuen” 湯圓” sounds the same as “together/same - round/circular”.  In pronouncing the auspicious name of this dessert one’s wishes that it will bring her/him good fortune.

Buddha’s Delight – Jâai - 斋

First of all, better late than never, I wish you all a Happy and Prosperous New Year - Góng Hèi-Faat-Choi - 恭喜发财, and most of all to be in Good Health.

One week ago we celebrated the year of the dragon: we visited relatives, exchanged greetings (wishing everyone fortune and prosperity, and most importantly excellent health), gave lai see (red packets filled with money) to the young ones, and ate turnip pudding, new-year cake, candied fruits (lotus seeds, lotus roots, carrots, melon), watermelon seeds (gwâ-jí 瓜子), etc.

Daffodil in bloom

Candy box

Turnip Pudding - lòh-baahk-gôu 蘿蔔糕

Among the many traditional foods Cantonese people enjoy during the Lunar New Year festivities the turnip pudding lòh-baahk-gôu 蘿蔔 is the most popular.

Other favourites are: water chestnut cake máh-tàih-gôu. 馬蹄糕, the taro cake, 芋頭糕, wuh-táu-gôu and the new year cake níhn-gôu 年糕 (the red-colour gôu!).