On to the second part of my Chinese New Year feast – the big plate of food. Dapancai (大盘菜) originates from southern Guangzhou province. Because Hong Kong was historically part of Guangdong, and because of relative geographic proximity, the dish is also popular in HK. Dapancai is more of a ritual, than a dish per se: in small rural villages, where there were no large restaurants in which to celebrate New Years, villagers came up with this dish as a way to have a potluck feast. Each family prepares one dish – and in China as elsewhere, there is always has one signature dish that the chief cook is most proud of – and the village then gathers together, each family bringing their special dish, which are arranged in a communal massive bowl, or plate, or pot. A potluck in one bowl.… READ MORE