Chinese New Year is a thing for my family. Since we are descended from Chinese Peranakans, our food preparation is like a military operation which can take days – without the order or strategy.

And for some reason, Chinese New Year eve lunch feels like a bigger deal for my family.

It usually takes Mum a day cutting and chopping and half a day just cooking the meals for prayers.

Each year I tell my Mum to just order said meals, each year she reacts in outrage. Though after each cookout she swears next year we will definitely order. And then next year I will remind her to order the food and she will again react with outrage.

It has been 20 years of this and I wonder why I keep trying 😆

After food is served and prayers are made, Dad will throw two coins to the floor and ask the ancestors if they have eaten.

If it is two heads they are laughing.

If two tails – no response.

If it’s one head and one tail, they have finished the meal.

Hey, I don’t make the rules. That’s what dad says.

Once the ancestors have eaten, dad will take a little tin container to burn paper money for my ancestors to enjoy.

Then only will the humans eat.

For the traditional Chinese New Year eve dinner, this year Mum wants to do something different.

We will be eating at Chilli’s 😆