"See our blog of the special dishes we have been proud to share with our community below and learn about the history of these dishes.

Please note: these are not our current offerings but were offered during our culture events and popups in the past. We are keeping these posts up to share the cultural history associated with these dishes and as a record of the delicious food we have been able to share. Please stay tuned our upcoming events by sign up on our list serv"

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YEAR OF THE WOOD DRAGON

OPENING: Do Chinese couples — especially in recent decades — really plan pregnancies in advance (by the end of the third month of the lunar year), aiming to have dragon babies? You will find this very much of a misconception if you read the data regarding birth rate…

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THE ELIXIR-POUNDING RABBIT

OPENING: The Mid-Autumn Festival (中秋節) is just around the corner(!). The Chinese Street Market Community has prepared stories and traditional snacks for the year. We thought it was interesting to mention that this is the year of the rabbit and the rabbit is one of the important mythological creatures in the Mid-Autumn Festival stories…

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MAKING SENSE OF MOON

OPENING: This year, our inspiration is to feel the sentiments as described in the Chinese classic literature and poetry - after the pandemic lockdown period, expressing our feelings towards life for its high or its low. “ It is like the Moon changing from the crescent moon to the full moon repeatedly” (人有悲欢离合,月有阴晴圆缺). Chinese Street Market will prepare traditional literary mooncake flavors described in a Fall party in Yihong Garden from the Chinese classic novel The Dream of the Red Chamber (红楼梦), suggesting pairing with the “hairy crab tea and osmanthus blend” (毛蟹茶, a type of Oolong Tea, read more on our website why it is called “hairy crab tea”) from our friends at Teaism DC. More highlights about this year's collection: We have fermented our own duck eggs which were freshly picked from local Amish farmers at Pecan and Meadows Farm. We are also collaborating with our guest chef who has designed the gluten-free version of the mooncakes with various exciting ice-cream fillings.

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MORE THAN JUST COMFORT FOOD KEYNOTES SPEAKER AT USDA

OPENING: At Asian cultural events, ethnic food is always the center of the attention, people stand in long lines just to wait for their turns of instant satisfaction. What is not instant is the thoughts with regards to why these dishes are served in certain ways only and in certain seasons only? Are people only interested in food itself or are they also intrigued by the cultural aspects of these dishes? Being a cultural farmers market vendor myself, I have seen so much interest regarding to what we have brought to the markets. I believe people are excited at experiencing the culture at our tent and food is just one of the great vehicles to do so. …

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FOUR SEASONS Sū or 四(Sì)季(Jì)酥(Sū)

HISTORY: Chef Jing’s Vegan Mochi Shortcakes: A Cookie of “Year,” A Bite of “Life” Inspiration: Rice cake — a sticky block prepared from steamed glutinous rice — is one of the most popular in East Asian (Lunar) New Year cooking repertoire …

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