Lunar New Year is just around the corner and there's an exciting menu launch happening from one of the city's most renowned chefs.
Executive Chef Eva Chin, formerly of Momofuku Kojin, joined Avling Kitchen + Brewery late fall last year. One of her biggest projects to date is a Lunar New Year menu that she's created with the Avling team.
Her philosophy for Avling's first Lunar New Year menu is to celebrate it with local ingredients that also share the same ground between North American and Chinese culture.
"We also preserve our own pickles and ferments, with vegetables, herbs and botanicals grown on our rooftop. We process whole animals and each part is used up with no waste," says Chin. "This is the heart of Avling combined with the stories of my family and culture intertwined in this festive menu."
On the menu is a 10-course meal that Chin has curated that is both traditional and innovative, and marries flavours from her childhood with local and seasonal ingredients. Starters include a BC Wild Side Stripe Shrimp toast, fermented turnip cake and a lo hei roll with winter root vegetables. Patrons will also enjoy Steamed Ling Cod, Roast Half Crown of Duck and desserts as well.
"Lunar New Year has always been so important to me and so many other communities and cultures. The meaning behind celebrating Lunar New Year lies behind so many different cultures and stories that I want to share mine and my family's to inspire everyone to share with their families as well." says Chin.
The Lunar New Year menu is available for pre-order until Feb. 1. You can order the special Lunar New Year Menu through their website. Delivery around Toronto will be $10, and if you're out in Mississauga, Brampton, Richmond Hill or Markham, you can get yours delivered as well for $15.
A portion of the Lunar New Year sales will be donated to the Asian Gold Ribbon Campaign, which helps to amplify Asian voices, promote education and furthering generations of feeling pride in who they are.
