food for Chinese New Year

I am not...but I did take up cooking Chinese food in quarantine! My grandmother left me a bunch of her cookbooks one of which was for Chinese cooking (apparently it was very hip for Jewish ladies to take up Chinese cooking in Los Angeles during the 1960s and 1970s). My Char Siu Bao is getting pretty good (flavor wise...my dumpling folding technique... needs a lot of work). Char Siu Pork is pretty easy if you have access to the ingredients, a fridge, and an oven, and lots of time! 

Chinese New Year meals are always so rich in meaning and tradition! A lot of people go for dumplings, longevity noodles, or sweet rice cakes since they symbolize prosperity and good luck. If you want to mix in something a bit different but still festive, Filipino dishes can also be a great addition to the table—something like pancit or puto cheese adds a nice touch alongside classic Chinese New Year foods. I recently came across this site with lots of Filipino dish ideas: ambersmenu.com.ph — might give you some inspiration if you want to try something new this year.