Year of the Tiger

Happy Chinese New Year! (I know I’m three days late with my wishes, but you’ll see why in a minute).

The Chinese New Year is celebrated in many countries around the world (well, in the Eastern Hemisphere), and is the most important festival in China. You can read more about it here.

2010 is the Year of the Tiger.

The cycle of 12 animals in the Chinese Zodiac repeats every 12 years, so if you were born in the year of the Tiger, you are (or will soon be) 12, 24, 36, 48, etc. years old. Or, you were just born this (Chinese lunar) year! Tigers are powerful but gracious, tend to be risk-takers, and are natural leaders (Courtney, this one is for you!). Find out which animal in the Chinese Zodiac you are and read about the other 11 animals here.

If you are Chinese, you probably received one of these at the Chinese New Year. I can’t tell you how thrilled I was to get my red envelope on Chinese New Year. Pretty exciting for a little kid 🙂

After my Counseling & Teaching test today (which went well!), Peter and I went out to dinner with his parents. We had to try the Chinese New Year special at one of our favorite restaurants: Charkoon. Peter and his family have been eating here since he was ten years old, and they’ve only gotten better with time. I want to stay in Connecticut just to continue eating here.

(Pictures dark. Can’t do nothin’ about it.)

The menu (Sophia: no Thousand-Year eggs, unfortunately 🙁 ):


Because four of us were at dinner, we ordered everything on the special menu except the lobster.

Drunken Prawn Soup:

With black fungus (much tastier than it sounds!):

Beijing Dumpling:

Filet Mignon (surprisingly the best dish of the night):

Lemon Sole:

Never going to use flash in a dark restaurant again. This picture looks like a food mug shot.

King of the Sea:

Nian Gao:

I tried a little of everything and felt completely satisfied at meal’s end.

So, if you’re ever in Glastonbury, eat at Charkoon! Just tell them the Molks sent you 🙂

What Chinese Zodiac animal are you?

7 Comments

  1. I am a rat. We have a family friend who is Chinese. I would always get an envelope every year when I was younger. That was so much fun!
    Dinner looks great!

    1. Hey, I’m a rat, too! 🙂

    1. Yay, happy Chinese New Year!

  2. I’m a tiger too!! Born leaders? The same thing is said for scorpios as well but, being both, I can swear it’s not true!!

    Though I’m not much into chinese this food looks delicious! I want to try those dumplings!!!

  3. hehe, this looks so cool!! I wish my Mom was here and the family have a dinner together on the New Years day!!
    The Niangao looks pretty good!! that’s actually the style I love!

  4. I’m a Tiger also, I didn’t know it was the year of the Tiger though…I read my chinese horoscope every day!

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *