介绍:
Chinese restaurants around the world are gearing up for Lunar New Year's celebrations on January 31st.
In the US, more and more high-end options are emerging for those looking for a more lavish meal to ring in the Year of the Horse.
CRI's Alexander Aucott has more.
Going for a Chinese meal has a whole new meaning.
No longer is it a cheap takeaway or a quick bite in a Chinatown cafe.
The latest trend is for Chinese haute cuisine and it's being served in high end restaurants across the USA from Los Angeles to New York to San Francisco and Miami.
Chinese haute cuisine is changing the perception of Chinese food by fusing modern, healthy dishes like this kale and pomegranate salad with traditional dishes like dim sum.
And in addition to the food, diners experience something they don't usually get in Chinatown - luxurious settings and cool vibes.
Clarissa Wei, food writer for the LA Times, says one of the reasons this trend is growing so
"Children of Chinese immigrants are coming of age and they are kind of getting sucked into this whole food culture, so because of that Chinese food is really becoming popularised. Not just Chinese food, but Asian food in general. So that's just been kind of a trend that's opening up. For example Los Angeles' San Gabriel valley has long been a hot spot for authentic Chinese eats, but because you know a lot of us are now the second generation, people grew up in America, we want the quality, the atmosphere and something more accessible than cheap Chinese food."
Albert Charbonneau, general manager of Hakkasan, a successful modern Cantonese restaurant chain, says the Chinese haute cuisine trend in Hollywood is all about healthy, delicious food.
"This trend is coming from a misconception of thr Chinese perception of dining that it's low cost, more unhealthy, but now since the haute Chinese cuisine came to the market everybody just came into a different direction being more healthy and health conscious, choosing more refined dishes and that's how the haute Chinese cuisine came about. It's all about service, fine ingredients and serving it at the table and enjoying it."
The chefs are gearing up for Chinese New Year on January 31st which is traditionally celebrated with a huge feast.
Situated on the famed Sunset Strip, restaurant Chi Lin has a menu of regional Chinese specialties, ranging from traditional noodle dishes with a modern twist to healthy salads.
To mark the start of the Year of the Horse, executive chef Tyson Wong will be preparing whole fish, noodles with truffles and green beans, and traditional Peking duck.
"People are travelling all over the world now. They Google. They Yahoo. They You Tube. People know more about education, the food, the idea, the concept, variety, so people are trying to explore a lot of different things."
Also, this New Year coincides with the 40th anniversary of restaurant Mr. Chow in Beverly Hills.
This was the first upscale Chinese restaurant chain founded by Michael Chow, son of Peking Opera Grand Master Zhou Xinfang.
Famed for its fresh noodle making, Mr. Chow remains the grandfather of Chinese haute cuisine.
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