Green Lion Dance – photo Deb Martin
Yearly Archives: 2006
Eve & the Fire Horse group at Chinese New Year Parade: actor Phoebe Kut hands out fortune cookies – photo Todd Wong
Todd Wong, Suzanne Anton, Patrick Couling – Chinese New Year Day 2006 – photo Deb Martin
Eve & The Fire Horse parade team – with new friends producer Yves Ma (and daughter) on my left, actor Phoebe “Eve” Kut on my right – photo Deb Martin
BBQ Haggis with Duck – photo Adam Protter
Szechwan green beans with bashed neeps – photo Adam Protter
Adam Protter with BBQ haggis – photo courtesy of Adam Protter
Gung Haggis Fat Choy goes Whistler style – slow cooked on a BBQ!
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Gung Haggis Fat Choy goes Whistler style
– slow cooked on a BBQ!
Adam Protter shows his “ready sleight” with his cooking knife (cleaver) mixing chowmein, haggis, roast duck, green beans, and bashed neeps. – photo courtesy of Adam Protter.
who insists on holding a Robbie Burns Day Dinner every year. He is also
one of the founding members of the Whistler Slow Food Society. Adam sent me this report to share…
– slow cooked on a BBQ!
Adam Protter shows his “ready sleight” with his cooking knife (cleaver) mixing chowmein, haggis, roast duck, green beans, and bashed neeps. – photo courtesy of Adam Protter.
Well they say that imitation is the sincerest form of flattery. Last week on CBC Radio's national program “Freestyle”, I said that I would like to see Gung Haggis Fat Choy dinners coast to coast across Canada, and that my friends in Victoria, Toronto, Winnipeg, Montreal and Halifax would be hosting their own forms of Gung Haggis Fat Choy dinners, and hoisting a glass to “Toddish McWong.”
who insists on holding a Robbie Burns Day Dinner every year. He is also
one of the founding members of the Whistler Slow Food Society. Adam sent me this report to share…
My Burns
dinners are usually accompanied by much grumbling, eye rolling and
cries of “Do I have to eat the Haggis?” I
was thrilled to learn of your observation that Robbie Burns Day and The
Chinese New Year coincide in the same week and that a joint celebration
was in order!
So I hosted a dinner last night for a few friends
I
made some Peking Style, Tea Smoked Duck, Haggis (it's the good
stuff from Peter Blacks Scottish Butcher in West Van). I tea smoked
with the ducks, the other was steamed. I also stir-fried some Sichuan
Green Beans, using a Sichuan Chili, Garlc & Peanut paste. Rounding
out the meal were Roasted Garlic Ginger Chow Mein noodles with cabbage,
carrot, onions & peppers and Bashed Neeps (mashed Turnips &
Potatoes).
made some Peking Style, Tea Smoked Duck, Haggis (it's the good
stuff from Peter Blacks Scottish Butcher in West Van). I tea smoked
with the ducks, the other was steamed. I also stir-fried some Sichuan
Green Beans, using a Sichuan Chili, Garlc & Peanut paste. Rounding
out the meal were Roasted Garlic Ginger Chow Mein noodles with cabbage,
carrot, onions & peppers and Bashed Neeps (mashed Turnips &
Potatoes).
We had a decent Scotch Whiskey, lots of Wine and just for fun, a chocolate/marsala Pannetone cake.
Oh god, it was good!
I am bummed I missed you dinnner this year at Floata, both for the food and Rick Scott.
I'll try to do it next year and get some ideas for my own. (Todd's note: Adam… next year's Gung Haggis Fat Choy Dinner will be January 27th at Floata, in Vancouver Chinatown)
BBQ Haggis – yum yum… but it must be slow cooked! – – photo Adam Protter
All
of us were wearing a bright red item of clothing. One of my guests,
Sheila McQuillan, read the last two verses of Robbie Burns' Ode to the
haggis as I splashed a wee dram of good Single Malt over it's
glistening, steaming, beauty. I then slashed the Noble Pud open to
reveal it's tasty insides. The Proclaimers were playing on iTunes and I
said the Selkirk Grace:
Some hae meat and canna
eat,
And some wad eat that want it;
But we hae meat, and we can
eat,
And sae the Lord be thankit.
– Robert Burns
eat,
And some wad eat that want it;
But we hae meat, and we can
eat,
And sae the Lord be thankit.
– Robert Burns
That's about the point where discipline failed. We reverted to our adopted Japanese customs ” Itadakimasu”,
“Kampai” & Gochisosama Deshita” (we're a Karate family with many
Japanese friends & my eldest daughter went to Japan last summer on
a school exchange). (Todd's
note: not to worry, this year's GHFC Vancouver dinner had a distinct
Japanese-Canadian presence with writers Joy Kogawa, Lensey Namioka and
animater Jeff Chiba Stearns).
“Kampai” & Gochisosama Deshita” (we're a Karate family with many
Japanese friends & my eldest daughter went to Japan last summer on
a school exchange). (Todd's
note: not to worry, this year's GHFC Vancouver dinner had a distinct
Japanese-Canadian presence with writers Joy Kogawa, Lensey Namioka and
animater Jeff Chiba Stearns).
– photo Adam Protter
It degenerated into Chocolate Marsala Panetone with
Coffee & Bailey's Irish Cream fortified with tumblers of scotch
whisky. I redeemed myself this morning with fried haggis, eggs
and tomatoes for breakfast.
We also acknowledged your creative contribution and had a whack of fun! I
am very interested in taking this latest obsession to new heights and
look forward to receiving your guidance to help us on our journey.
am very interested in taking this latest obsession to new heights and
look forward to receiving your guidance to help us on our journey.
I
was disappointed in my duck. It was tender and tasty, but the
skin didn't crisp and I wanted a sweet glaze on it as well as a bright
red colour. I added Annatto seed paste to the marinade to get
a red colour, but the results were so so. The spices were gritty so
I'll use my spice/coffee grinder longer next time as well as starting a
day earlier and then let the duck dry in the fridge for 24 hours before
cooking. The smoking packet didn't work very well, rice, sugar &
tea in a foil envelope with holes.
was disappointed in my duck. It was tender and tasty, but the
skin didn't crisp and I wanted a sweet glaze on it as well as a bright
red colour. I added Annatto seed paste to the marinade to get
a red colour, but the results were so so. The spices were gritty so
I'll use my spice/coffee grinder longer next time as well as starting a
day earlier and then let the duck dry in the fridge for 24 hours before
cooking. The smoking packet didn't work very well, rice, sugar &
tea in a foil envelope with holes.
Got any recipes you are allowed to share?
Cheers & Thanks
Chinese Lunar New Year 2006 in Vancouver Chinatown
Chinese Lunar New Year 2006 in Vancouver Chinatown
The Chinese New Year parade in Vancouve's Chinatown is now Vancouver's longest continually run parade, since the demise of the PNE parade. Lots of action abounds as the many martial arts clubs all let loose their Lions to the streets. Along the parade route, some of the Lions will approach different stores and restaurants hanging lettuce as an offering to the Lions. After the parade, hang out on Pender and Keefer Streets afterwards as the Lions will roam the streets and even venture along Main St in search of lettuce and li-see (lucky red envelopes with money). If you are lucky, you may see people lean out the 2nd or 3rd floor balconies with a lettuce hanging from a stick. The lion may even try to climb up the building to get the lettuce to the loud applause of the crowd.
This year's parade featured the return of the Salvation Army Band, bangra dancing, the Carnival Band, and Brazillian dancers – but sadly no dragon boat.
I have never ever been a participant in the Chinese New Year Chinatown parade before, but this year I had 2 offers to join friends in Chinatown Revitalization Committee (Chair Glen Wong is an old childhood friend of mine), and the Dances With Dragons group (First Nations and Chinese supporters organized by Bill Chu). I chose instead to just watch and enjoy the parade with my girlfriend. It was amazing how many people we bumped into that we knew.
Todd Wong with friends City Councillor Suzanne Anton and dragon boater Patrick Couling – photo Deb Martin
First of all I bumped into Glen Wong with his young son – both dressed up in Chinese jackets. Next was Patrick Couling, one of my early dragon boat mentors, then City Councillor Suzanne Anton – who had attended the previous week's Gung Haggis Fat Choy dinner.
“Eve & the Fire Horse” group promote the film, as actor Phoebe Kut hands out fortune cookies – photo Todd Wong
We walked past and through the parade assembly area and I greeted friends with their different groups. I bumped into my 2nd cousin Nick with his two young sons and their martial arts club, as the club got ready to drum and do Lion Dances. I met up with Wing Siu Wong, and young son Andy who came and greeted me saying “Toddish McWong!” They were with the group for “Eve and the Fire Horse.” Producers Yves Ma and Erik Paulsson were there with the group holding up a big banner sign. Young actor Phoebe Kut was there too! After the parade I had a great chat with Yves and learned that we had other friends in common when his young daughter asked me “Are you Jessica's friend?”
Here
I am with the parade crew from “Eve and the Fire Horse”: actor Phoebe
Kut is delightful – she is on my right. producer Yves Ma is on my left
with his daughter – who remembered meeting me the week before at the
Firehall Arts Centre. What a small world! – photo Deb Martin.
How to survive in the year of the Dog – YAPPY NEW YEAR!
Things We Can Learn From a Dog
Yappy New Year
– How to survive in the year of the Dog
People are always asking for what it means to be born in the year of the dog. The standard answer is loyalty, friendship etc. etc.
What does in really mean to be a dog? Could be positive… could be negative… Usually I look up some of the many Chinese Astrology books on my book shelf… but today I succumb to something I found today that is listed as author unknown and can be found all over the internet (trust me).
Never pass up the opportunity to go for a joy ride.
Allow the experience of fresh air and the wind in your face to be pure ecstasy.
When loved ones come home, always run to greet them.
When it's in your best interest, always practice obedience.
Let others know when they've invaded your territory.
Take naps and always stretch before rising.
Run, romp, and play daily.
Eat with gusto and enthusiasm.
Be loyal.
Never pretend to be something you're not.
If what you want lies buried, dig until you find it.
When someone is having a bad day, be silent, sit close by and nuzzle them gently.
Delight in the simple joy of a long walk.
Thrive on attention and let people touch you.
Avoid biting when a simple growl will do.
On hot days, drink lots of water and lie under a shady tree.
When you are happy, dance around and wag your entire body.
No matter how often you are criticized, don't buy into the guilt thing and pout. Run right back and make friends.
Here I am in Kalamalka Lake Park on Dec 26th with my Border Collie doggie friends, Val, Tess and Hailey. Thank goodness my cat doesn't get jealous. Year of the Cat/Rabbit is not until 2011.