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It's not exactly chestnuts roasting
on an open fire. But for many people in the U.S.,
Moo Goo Gai Pan or maybe even the Pu Pu Platter
are traditional dishes for Christmas.
On Christmas Eve, Christmas Day and throughout the
holidays, Chinese restaurants do some of their briskest
business of the year. "As the years went on,
we became busier and busier during the holidays,"
said Stanley Wong, whose family has owned the Kowloon
restaurant for more than half a century. At Kowloon,
Gino Ferrir and his family brought a pile of Christmas
presents to unwrap as they waited for their lobster,
shrimp and duck dishes to arrive. "We come
here every Christmas," Ferrir said. "It's
my treat to my family."
Jewish customers account for much of Wong's business
this time of year. Chinese food has long been a
popular destination for those who do not celebrate
the Christmas holiday because few other restaurants
are open. "Chinese restaurants, Asian-owned
restaurants, those owners tended to be the only
folks who didn't have Christmas, too," said
Rabbi David Kay of Orlando, Florida. He said the
many vegetarian items on Chinese menus are appealing
to people who keep kosher.
For David and Maure Gardner, eating kosher Chinese
food on Christmas is a tradition. "On Thanksgiving,
we have turkey," said Maure Gardner, who was
dining with her husband at the Eden Wok in New York
City. "Christmas Day, we always go out for
Chinese food."
Jun Yang just opened a restaurant offering kosher
Chinese food in Brookline, a town bordering Boston
that has a large Jewish population. Shalom Beijing's
120 seats were nearly filled last Christmas Eve
and Christmas Day, said Yang's wife, Li Su.
Coincidentally, the Jewish festival of Hanukkah
began at sundown on Christmas. For that reason,
the restaurant added potato latkes to the menu,
which features plenty of fish, chicken and duck
but is free of pork and shellfish. A rabbi monitors
the kitchen to make sure the food is prepared in
accordance with Jewish law. In San Francisco, the
New Asia Restaurant offers a Kung Pao Kosher Comedy
Show. The dinner show featured a seven-course Chinese
dinner and a 90-minute comedy show.
Aside from those who do not celebrate the Thanksgiving
or Christmas holidays, there are also those people
who enjoy taking the holidays off, and would rather
celebrate by eating someone's cooking efforts. And
then there are those who have no one to celebrate
the holidays with, but do not want to sit at home.
So, not only can Asian restaurants take advantage
of this exclusive holiday business, but can also
provide a cozy place to sit down and enjoy a great
meal while helping to lift the spirits of the lonesome.
Source: China Daily Website
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