Louisville’s international chef community will strut its stuff on Feb. 4 at the Crane House’s Lunar New Year Celebration. Among the master chefs putting together the menu for the optional black-tie/Asian-formal-attire affair are Peng S. Looi of Asiatique and August Moon, Joe Castro of the English Grill, John Castro of Winston’s Restaurant, Tokie Hui of Maido Essential Japanese Cuisine and Jas Singh of Shalimar. Multiple courses with wine pairings will be served. The gustatory event is the only Asian-focused dinner in the city this year. As such, it offers a unique opportunity for “community members to participate in another culture,” says Crane House executive director Lisa Work. “Many people go into Americanized Asian restaurants and only experience Asian cuisine at that level.” This is a chance to taste the best of Asian cuisine served up by local pros.
The evening begins at 6:30 with cocktails and a silent auction. The more than 100 auction items will include lacquered screens, silk pillows, framed masks and a traditional Korean blanket chest. Dinner begins at 8 with accompanying Far East-focused entertainment. Last year children from the Louisville Kentuckiana Chinese School and a Korean dancer performed traditional dances. After the meal, hongbaos (decorated red envelopes with treats inside) will be handed out to guests in accordance with the Chinese practice and a live auction will begin.
While Louisvillians have hailed in the Lunar New Year for 17 years with the Crane House, the original observance of this holiday has ancient roots. It began 4,704 years ago in China and gradually extended to Korea, Vietnam and Japan. The event is celebrated on the first full moon of every year, which occurs between Jan. 23 and Feb. 19. Customary New Year activities include a good cleaning of the home (to set the tone for the year), decorating in red (for fortune and prosperity) and setting off firecrackers (to s/files/storyimages/out the old year and welcome the new).
Proceeds from the dinner will benefit the Crane House. “Everything we do is education-based. That’s our mission — to foster mutual understanding between the people of Asia and the people of the U.S.,” says Crane House education coordinator Lillian Hwang Peiper. Programming includes lectures, film festivals, language classes, professional-development courses, tai chi groups and cooking classes. Cost for the New Year Celebration is $150 for Crane House members and $175 for non-members. For more information, visit www.crane.org or call 635-2240.
— Kelly Blewett
