chinese reunion dinner

SPLINTER WORKSHOP DESIGN IN ACTION

Along with completed contemporary furniture and objects in a workshop environment, see works in progress and take the opportunity to speak to designer/makers about their influences and methods. Splinter Workshop – Design in Action in an experiential event that connects visitors with the designers, makers, design process, the craft, materials and the completed pieces.

sydney design 09

SUSTAIN ME: CONTEMPORARY DESIGN

The word “sustainability” is in danger of losing its tangible value and status as a universal catch-cry from chronic over use. Sustain me: contemporary design explores the conventional role design and designers play in creating and developing a deeper understanding of sustainability. Exhibitors include David Trubridge, Green Life 21 project (designs by Yoshikazu Hasegawa and Prue Venerables), Elliat Rich Steven Harrison, Luisa Cevese: RIEDIZIONI, Instyle Contract Textiles, Mark Vaarwerk, Andrew Maynard Architects and Julie Paterson: clothfabric.

New Year Traditions

Traditionally the Chinese New Year begins ten days before New Year's Day by cleaning and decorating the house. New Year's Greetings in the forms of cards and letters are sent to friends and family living far away. The entire family would get together to clean their homes from top to bottom so that they could begin the year clean and fresh in the hopes that the next year would be healthy and happy.Chinese couplets wishing good luck in the New Year are pasted on either side of the doors and the Chinese Character Fu is placed throughout the house. Another popular tradition is pasting colorful New Year's prints throughout the house. This ancient art form featuring beautiful colors and auspicious designs have recently made a comeback and can be seen throughout China.
Chinese papercuts are placed in the windows of homes. Flowers which have auspicious meanings are displayed throughout the house. Seven days before New Year's Day is celebrated with sacrifices to the Kitchen God. In China, almost every person returns to their hometown on New Year's Eve. In the evening a huge family reunion dinner is held with a lot of food. Many of the dishes symbolize good luck and fortune for the upcoming year. At the stroke of midnight families light fireworks and they can be heard for hours. In the early morning of New Year's Day each person in China puts on new clothing and cooks many dishes. The food is taken to pay homage to each family's ancestors.Ancestor worship is an important part of each Chinese New Year and it reminds each family member where they came from. Children are given hongbao (Red Envelopes) which contain money in the hopes that they will have wealth in the future. On the second day of The Chinese New Year, people go out to visit the wife's family. The first day of Spring Festival traditionally is spent with the husband's family. During the visit, more Hongbao are given to the children and many sweets, and food is shared. After visiting the in-laws, friends are visited. It is a great time to see family and friends that perhaps live far away and are rarely seen. The rest of the holiday is spent with friends and family. The last day of the Chinese New Year is the latern festival when each person goes to their hometown's parks, or downtown areas and look at the lantern displays held there.
Chinese New Year is looked forward by every person in China. It is a time of family, of celebration, and of fun. Children through the elderly take part in the festival and revel in the part they get to play. It is wonderful time of the year, which is filled with ancient traditions which are an integral part of the festival.

Chinese Reunion Dinner

Some of the key pont is Reunion dinner is less of a ceremony and more of a promise that the family will once again unite despite their work and studies outside.


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cqDdhloTLM4

Rules in japanese dinning

Some rules to remember:
Never pass food to someone using chopsticks. This act parallels passing cremated bones of a deceased relative at a Japanese funeral. If you must share food, pass them the plate so that they can pick from it instead.
If you take food from a shared plate (such as in the above situation), use the reverse ends of your chopsticks rather than the ends which go in your mouth.
Never bite into a piece of food and then replace the other half on your plate. Once you have picked something up you should eat all of it.
When not using your chopsticks, you should place them in front of you, parallel to the edge of the sushi bar, with the narrow ends in the provided hashi oki; never place them directly on the bar.
Never leave rice after a meal. Leaving any kind of food is considered rude, but leaving rice is especially so.
Never smoke in a sushi bar, it obscures the delicate flavours of the fish for everyone else. Ashtrays will likely be provided in many sushi bars (especially in Europe and America) but to use them is dismissive of the efforts of the chef.
Never expect the chef to handle money, another employee will settle the bill for you. People who handle the food never touch the money.
Do not ask for knives. This would imply that the food is so tough it can't be properly eaten without them.
Don't make wasabi soup with your soy sauce! Sushi Chef's cringe at this spectacle that Americans often make. Wasabi paralyzes your palette and will hide the subtle flavors that fish has when eaten raw.

Common Dinner Menu in Japan

boiled rice (gohan)
suimono or clear soup; misoshiru or miso soup
nimono, or boiled foods (boiled vegetables, fish or meat)
yakimono or agemono or both (broiled or deep-fried vegetables, fish or meat)
sunomono (vinegared vegetables, fish or shellfish)
aemono (dressed vegetables, fish or shellfish) or hitashimono (boiled greens in soy sauce)
sashimi (sliced raw fish)
koonomono (pickles)