Lunar New Year Tag

If you’ve never explored Strathcona’s gallery district before, this February is the perfect time to dive in. Vancouver Art Walk offers immersive self-guided tours in the Vancouver Arts District of Strathcona and Chinatown, with events happening the first Saturday of every month. Follow their carefully crafted map and discover a diverse selection of contemporary art from acclaimed local, international and Indigenous artists. 

The urban industrial district of Strathcona is home to some of the most dynamic and groundbreaking galleries Vancouver has to offer. With Lunar New Year around the corner, what better time to immerse yourself, get inspired, and take in the art scene in the cultural and historic areas of Strathcona and Chinatown. The opportunity to engage with the work of several Asian-Canadian artists at the gallery exhibitions this month is a special way of honoring the rich tapestry of Asian-Canadian cultural identity in the community. Read on for some of the exciting exhibitions you’ll find along the Vancouver Art Walk in the neighbourhood this month.

First Saturday with Vancouver Art Walk

This Saturday February 3, the several galleries will have exhibitions open for the Vancouver Art Walk.

Outsiders and Others at 716 East Hastings will be hosting an opening reception for their first exhibition of 2024, Cour d’Blax-Neeck: The Aitcheverse from 2pm-4pm.

THIS Gallery at 268 Keefer will also be hosting an opening reception from 12pm-4pm for Re-Imagining Chinatown, a new solo exhibition by Vancouver artist/illustrator Donna Seto. 

Immersive Art Installation Coming to Strathcona to Celebrate Lunar New Year

Where I’m From Exhibition Dates at Gallery 881: February 10 – March 9, 2024

Make sure to return to Strathcona for more immersive art debuting the second weekend in February. Opening on February 10th to kick off Lunar New Year, Where I’m From is a site-specific installation at Gallery 881 by Vancouver based artists, Megan Kwan and Jeremy Jude Lee. Featuring a collection of 55 photographs, the exhibit explores themes of (be)longing captured during Vancouver’s summer time in conversation with physical objects and locations nostalgic to the Asian-Canadian experience. 

Set in Strathcona’s distinctive neighbourhood, Where I’m From collages cinematic photography with video and everyday artifacts, rediscovering the lesser-seen beauties of Vancouver while highlighting the mutual influence of Asian culture in a Western World. The Strathcona BIA is proud to be supporting this collaborative exhibition that the artists’ hope will bridge local artists with Strathcona businesses to foster a culture of belonging and community support for creative entrepreneurs. Participating businesses include: Gallery 881, Printmaker Studio, Sunrise Soya Foods, Sunrise Market, Coolite Bamboo Products, CINCO Drink Co, Allegra – Vancouver, and Alterior/A Living Taste.  

Admission to the gallery exhibition is free and regular operating hours at Gallery 881 are from Tuesday to Friday 10am-5pm and Saturday from 12pm-5pm. Gallery 881 is proudly part of the Vancouver Art Walk initiative, so be sure to pick up a gallery tour map and unlock the doors to a world of creativity in Strathcona and Chinatown.

Lunar New Year, also commonly called Chinese New Year, is a New Year’s celebration that is celebrated in China and throughout various Asian countries aligning with the first new moon of the lunar calendar. The celebration lasts for 15 days and ends on the first full moon of the lunar calendar. 

Fireworks, dancing, food and family are key elements throughout the holidays, leading into the Lantern Festival, which is celebrated on the last day of the New Year’s celebrations. This is when lanterns begin to light up family homes, and traditional foods are prepared and enjoyed and loved ones gather to celebrate a new year. 

Vancouver, and more specifically Strathcona, is an area rich with Asian heritage and culture embedded into many parts of our neighborhood including our grocery stores, restaurants, and vendors. 

For this year’s Lunar New Year, which begins on Tuesday, February 1, we wanted to highlight some of the incredible creators, restaurants, recipes, and Strathcona-made products and establishments that contribute to the spectacular diversity that makes Vancouver so unique. 

Read on to discover more!

5 Color Radiance and Abundance Vegan Tofu Stir Fry 五彩金銀滿屋豆乾小炒王 with @instanomss

We teamed up with Vancouver food-blogger @instanomss to showcase a plant-based Tofu Stir Fry that is worthy of repeat meals during Lunar New Year. Using Sunrise Soya Marinated Tofu, she creates a bright and meaningful dish that symbolizes good fortune, radiance, and abundance. The colourful combination of the five key ingredients remind us of the colourful lights and fireworks that are often displayed during Lunar New Year celebrations. 

Sunrise Soya Foods was founded in 1956 by Leslie and Susan Joe after immigrating to Vancouver and recognizing a demand for tofu in Vancouver’s Chinese community. They began by making small batches of fresh tofu in the back of their grocery store, Sunrise Market, which led to them being a current staple in Canadian households in 2022. 

@instanomms is a Vancouver based creator who creates Asian inspired recipes with a focus on plant-based ingredients, healthy family, wellness, and sustainability. The Vegan Tofu Stir-fry recipe uses colourful vegetables that each have a special colour symbolism for Lunar New Year. Find the full recipe and more at Nomss.com 

Lunar New Year Dim Sum at Pink Pearl Restaurant with @nomsmag

Pink Pearl is the go-to spot in Strathcona for authentic Chinese food and when it comes to Lunar New Year, it is a must for dim sum. Noms Magazine contributors take readers through the must-order dishes from Pink Pearl for your dim sum feast including Har Gao (Shrimp Dumplings), Sui Mai (Pork Shrimp Dumplings), Daan Tat, Cheung Fun (Rice Rolles), Cha Siu Bao (BBQ Pork Bun), Lo Mai Gai (Sticky Rice in Lotus Leaf), and more! 

Find out about Noms Magazine’s experience at Pink Pearl and why this special place oozes with nostalgia on their blog or watch a video from their experience on Instagram.

Making Tangyuan from ingredients at Sunrise Market with @constellationinspiration

For a special Lunar New Year treat, we teamed up with @constellationinspiration to create Tangyuan, a sweet glutinous rice ball in hot broth that is traditionally served during the Lantern Festival on the last day of Lunar New Year. The auspicious rice balls symbolize family and togetherness. For this recipe, ingredients were sourced from Sunrise Market in Strathcona. This family-owned and operated grocery store has been operating for over six decades and continues to foster a great sense of community in the neighbourhood.  

@constellationinspiration is a Vancouver creator who develops incredible dessert and treat recipes inspired by seasonal flavours and Asian culture. She shared her Tangyuan recipe for our readers below. See a video of how they were made on her Instagram, and find more delicious recipes on her blog.

Peanut Glutinous Rice Ball Recipe by @constellationinspiration

Makes 20 – 24 rice balls

Glutinous rice balls, or tangyuan, are a popular dessert for Lunar New Year. The pronunciation of the name tangyuan sounds like tuanyuan, the Chinese word for ‘togetherness.’ Lunar New Year is a 15-day celebration, with this year’s beginning on Feb 1. Tangyuan is usually consumed on the last day, which is celebrated as the Lantern Festival. The key ingredient for these tender rice balls is glutinous rice flour (don’t mix it up with regular rice flour!), which give it it’s signature chew. These rice balls are filled with peanut but black sesame is another popular filling. All ingredients for this recipe can be found at Sunrise Market in Strathcona.

FOR THE FILLING:

• 50 g (1/3 cup) roasted peanuts
• 40 g (3 tbsp) granulated sugar
• 90 g (3 tbsp) creamy peanut butter

FOR THE DOUGH:

• 175 g (1 ¼ cups) glutinous rice flour, plus more as needed 
• 160ml (2/3 cup) boiling water

GINGER SOUP

• 473ml (2 cups) water
• 100g (½ cup) rock sugar or granulated sugar
• a few slices ginger

Make the filling:

Using a food processor or by hand, finely chop roasted peanuts. Add sugar and peanut butter to the chopped peanuts. Mix until combined. 

Portion filling into 20 small balls and transfer to a plate or baking sheet. Transfer balls into the freezer to firm up while you make the wrapper. 

Make the dough:

Add glutinous rice flour to a large bowl. Slowly stream in boiling water while mixing with a rubber spatula. Mix flour and got water until smooth. Once the dough is no longer to hot to the touch, knead the dough for 3 minutes. Portion out dough evenly into 20 pieces.

Remove the filling from the freezer.

Take a piece of dough and using your fingers, press the dough until it becomes a 2-inch round disc. Place a piece of the filling into the centre and pinch seams shut and roll between palms of hands until smooth. Repeat with the remaining filling and dough.

In a large pot of boiling water, cook rice balls until they float to the top, about 8 – 10 minutes. 

Make the ginger soup:

While the rice balls are cooking in the large pot, bring water to boil in a medium size pot. Add sugar and ginger slices. Bring to a boil.

To serve:

Place cooked rice balls into a bowl. Add ginger soup and serve hot.

The Strathcona BIA wishes a Happy Lunar New Year to all who celebrate! May the Year of the Tiger bring you plenty of prosperity and good fortune 🐯