"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"
WOOD DRAGON AND LACQUERWARE-INSPIRED CHARCOAL MOONCAKES
OPENING: This lunar year is special—it's the Year of the Wood Dragon, a symbol of strength, creativity, and renewal. The Wood Dragon is known for its energy, innovation, and growth, making this the perfect time to celebrate with something equally unique and powerful...
CHERRY BLOSSOMS, PEACH BLOSSOMS OR PLUM BLOSSOMS
OPENING: Well, It’s March again. We have been seeing signs of spring everywhere. The lovely small pink flowers are blooming now and decorating the streets of DC. ...
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…
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…
THE PEARL RIVER DELTA PASTRY COLLECTION
HISTORY: The Pearl River Delta area is in south China. It mainly includes Guangdong, Hongkong and Macau etc. …
MACAU ALMOND FLOUR CAKE (GF)
HISTORY: The almond flour cakes were further developed and expanded through the establishment of Liji Bakery in Macau …
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.
DANDAN or 担(Dàn)担(Dàn) NOODLES*
HISTORY: The story goes that Dandan, or 担(Dàn)担(Dàn), were invented 100 years ago during the Qing Dynasty by a street peddler in Zigong…
PAN-FRIED PORK STUFFED BUNS or 生(Shēng)煎(Jiān)馒(Mán)头(Tou)
HISTORY: More than a hundred years ago, the teahouses in Shanghai served only tea and water. Later, patrons began to seek out "tea desserts" as a snack…
HONG KONG-STYLED MILK TEA or 丝(Sī)袜(Wà)奶(Nǎi)茶(Chá)
HISTORY: Hong Kong milk tea gains the nickname “silk stocking milk tea” from the special filter for tea colliding — not the stocking, I promise you! To filter out the tea as clear as possible, milk-tea vendors in the 1940s and 1950s looked to dense fabrics…
MAPO TOFU or 麻(Má)婆(Pó)豆(Dòu)腐(Fu)
HISTORY: Mapo tofu originates in Chengdu, Sichuan Province’s capital city. The dish has become one of the most well-known offerings from Sichuan cuisine…
DIM SUM or 粤(Yuè)式 (Shì)点(Diǎn)心(Xīn) **
HISTORY: For many Cantonese people, drinking morning tea is the most important routine of the day, followed by tea at lunch and then in the evening…