How to plan a Chinese dinner party

We had so much fun shopping, planning and creating this menu. Thinking about having a Chinese New Year party this year? Look no further. Use this shopping guide, menu and all the links I've already sourced to have yourself a 美妙的时光 (Měimiào de shíguāng) fabulous time 🙏 Here are all the recipes from our 20th anniversary dinner party. Crispy chicken with honey garlic sauce, spicy cucumber salad, and a sesame carrot ginger slaw. We chose the theme based on our anniversary gift this year which was.. CHINA :) and our first date was Chinese food too! 🥡 Excited to share with you all the tips, recipes + our shopping guide to creating this intimate dinner party. Dinner party MENU: Appetizers: (Pick these up at your local Asian market or hit up good ol Trader Joe's) Pork Gyoza Sechwan steam buns-bao buns crispy egg rolls Main course: Orange chicken for the children ;) Crispy honey garlic ginger chicken Spicy cucumber salad Sesame carrot slaw Rice+mango of course ;) Dessert + treats for the table: Lychee Yellow kiwi Mini egg tarts With blackberry cheong (Korean I know ;) Coconut sticky rice+mango Meiji strawberry cookies Lychee jelly fruit bites Jin Jin Jelly strips Take home favor: Green Guava candies Norimaki arare rice crackers (Seaweed wrapped crunchies) Crispy honey garlic ginger chicken recipe: Chicken Marinade: 6 chicken breasts - sliced into long strips or chunks 2 cups buttermilk 1 tsp salt 1 tsp pepper 1 tsp garlic powder Crispy Coating: 3 cups flour 2 tsp salt 2 tsp ground black pepper 1 tsp garlic powder 1 tsp celery salt 2 tsp dried thyme 2 tsp paprika 2 tsp baking powder 2 tsp chilli flakes Honey Garlic Sauce: 2 tbsp vegetable/avocado oil 2 thumb-sized piece of ginger - peeled and minced 3 clove of garlic - peeled and minced 2 red chilli - finely chopped (optional) or a tablespoon or two of your favorite Chile paste 1T. Lemongrass paste 3/4 cup soy sauce 1/2 cup Honey 1/2 cup brown sugar pinch black pepper To Serve: Cooked rice 2 spring onions/scallions - sliced into thin strips Black or white sesame seeds 1 tsp dried chilli flakes stir fried or steamed veggies (Bok choy, broccolini, bell peppers) We love this cucumber salad as a side or as a topping for bimbimbap, along with a fried egg and any leftover roasted veggie in the fridge! Spicy Cucumber salad recipe: Ingredients 6 Mini/Persian cucumbers 2 tsp Salt-to dry out Dressing: 1 T soy sauce 2 cloves Garlic minced 1 T Rice vinegar or white vinegar 1 T Chinese chili oil 1 T white granulated sugar 1 tsp. Sesame oil Black sesame seeds Green onions thinly sliced Instructions Sprinkle salt over cucumbers. Let cucumbers soak in salt for 5 minutes (no more than 10 minutes or they will break down). Rinse with cold water 3-4 times to completely remove the salt. Strain+set aside. Combine dressing ingredients in a separate bowl. Pour dressing over cucumbers and gently mix. Enjoy! Our favorite carrot side dish: 2 medium-sized carrots, cleaned and peeled 1 tablespoon sesame oil 1 teaspoon rice wine vinegar 1 teaspoon toasted sesame seeds ½ teaspoon flaky sea salt ¼ teaspoon ground black pepper Use a vegetable peeler to peel the carrots into long, thin strips over a mixing bowl. Add all remaining ingredients: sesame oil, rice vinegar, sesame seeds, sea salt, and black pepper to the carrot strips. Toss several times to combine.  Serve immediately.