Date published: 01.09.08 - not release date

Health, wealth and happiness this Chinese New Year

With our ever-expanding waistlines becoming more and more of a focus, it’s good to know we can still get into the Oriental spirit this Chinese New Year with no need to worry, as Ken Hom has created some tasty, but healthy recipes for your very own banquet at home.

“This year I have specially chosen recipes that are low in calories and low in fat, while remaining nutritious and delicious. So, you can feast away at Chinese New Year in a healthy fashion”, says Ken Hom.

Ken will show you ‘the way’ with his range of Tao woks and Tao dining accessories. Tao, a word of oriental origin, means ‘the way’.

The range contains all you'll ever need for a veritable oriental feast! The striking red and black ceramic Tao dining sets are finished in a deep red crackle glaze. They include bowls, dipping dishes, rectangular sushi plates, chopsticks and rests and bamboo mats.

The stainless steel range of woks look great on the dining table but are robust in the kitchen as they have an ultra tough 3-layer titanium based coating which is safe to use with metal tools. The range includes the 32cm Stir Fry Pan, the 28cm and 32cm Peking Woks both with glass lids, and the 32cm Cantonese Wok with glass lid. All have a five year guarantee.

In the carbon steel range, which has a non-stick coating, there's the hanging wok (available in 28cm, 32cm and 36cm) as well as wok sets: the 4-piece (32cm), the 6-piece (32cm) or the 8-piece (36cm), which all come with glass lids and a one year guarantee.

The Tao range is completed by a sizzling dish, bamboo steamer, bamboo tool set, cleaver and chopstick set.

Healthy Chinese New Year Recipes
by Ken Hom

“Here are two recipes from a typical Chinese New Year party at my house, they are really easy to make and taste wonderful” – Ken Hom

Chicken with Rice Noodles in Soup

2 pints (1.1 litres) Chicken Stock
4oz (110g) boneless chicken breast
4 oz (110g) dried rice noodles
1 teaspoon salt
2 teaspoons sesame oil
2 finely chopped spring onions to garnish
fresh black pepper to taste


Bring the chicken stock to a simmer in the wok or a saucepan. Finely shred the chicken breast. Add the chicken and rice noodles to the stock and simmer for 5 minutes or until the chicken is just cooked through. Add salt and sesame oil, sprinkle the spring onions over the top and serve at once.

Serves 4 – 6


10 Minute Salmon with Spring Onion Sauce

1lb (450g) fresh salmon fillets
2 teaspoons salt
½ teaspoon freshly ground white or black pepper
1 pint (570ml) water
6 tablespoons coarsely chopped spring onions
1 tablespoon finely chopped fresh root ginger
1 tablespoon finely chopped fresh root ginger
1½ tablespoons oil (preferably ground nut)
2 teaspoons sesame oil

Rub the salmon fillets with 1 teaspoon of the salt and the pepper.

Bring the water to the simmer in the wok. Add the salmon, simmer for 2-3 minutes, cover tightly and turn off the heat. Allow to stand for 4 minutes.

Combine the spring onions, ginger and the remaining 1 teaspoon salt together in a small bowl. In a small pan combine the oil and sesame oil and bring it to the smoking point.

Remove the salmon from the water and arrange on a platter. Scatter the spring onion mixture on top and pour hot oil over it. Serve at once.

Serves 4


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For more press information and photography, contact:

Sara Bailey or Andrew Potter at icasPR,
Russell Chambers, The Piazza, London WC2E 8AA.
Tel: 020 7632 2400
Fax: 020 7240 2520
Email: sbailey@icas.co.uk / apotter@icas.co.uk

Chinese New Year 2007 – The year of the pig

People born in the Year of the Pig are honest, sincere and genuine. They have a heart of gold and everyone admires Pig people the most. They are called upon when sincere advice is needed and will always give a helping hand. Pig people are the best friend anyone can have. They are also fun-loving and know how to throw a good party, but if rubbed up the wrong way they can be extremely vengeful. They can also be naive which allows others to take advantage of them. They have a great thirst for knowledge and although they do not always say much when they do decide to speak nothing can stop them.

What is the Pig personality?

Those born in the Year of the Pig enjoy life and all it has to offer. They are friendly and loving and will do anything for anyone they care about.

Key Pig characteristics:

•Hardworking
•Giving
•Willing
•Helpful
•Well Informed
•Affectionate
•Loyal
•Honest
•Patient
•Understanding

Color Preference: Dark Blue

Gems and Stones: Lapis lazuli, Coral and Beryl

Suitable Gifts: Makeup, body lotion, bathrobe and mineral oils

Hobbies and Pastimes: Shopping, parties and going to the theatre

Pigs Dislike: Illegal behaviour, discord, being hungry

Suitable careers:

Pigs are hardworking and well informed. They aren't afraid of taking on more work to help others out. They are very loyal in the workplace and build and maintain solid relationships with their colleagues. A Pig’s caring and friendly nature make them well suited to jobs where they are in regular contact with people and are in a position to help others out. They enjoy jobs where they can express themselves and are generally quite creative, with a good eye for detail. Therefore Pigs make excellent:

•Doctors
•Caterers
•Students
•Dentists
•Entertainers
•Hotel Managers
•Vets
•Interior decorators

Famous pig people are:

•Arnold Schwarzenegger
•Alfred Hitchcock
•Bryan Adams
•Woody Allen
•Julie Andrews
•Glenn Close
•Ewan McGregor

Symbolic food…….what does it mean for you?

Chinese cooking is flavoursome, with fantastic aromas created from the ingredients used in the cooking, some of which are symbolic.

So, if you’re planning to celebrate this New Year with some fine Chinese dishes, take note of what the ingredients could mean:

•A whole fish = togetherness, abundance and good fortune

•A chicken = prosperity (the chicken must be presented with a head, tail and feet to symbolize completeness)

•A duck = a harmonious marriage

•Prawns = happiness, liveliness and laughter

•Dried oyster = all things good.

•Peaches = immortality

•Oranges = wealth and prosperity

•Lotus seed = having many male offspring

•Black moss seaweed = wealth

•Dried bean curd = fulfillment of wealth and happiness

•Fresh bean curd or tofu is not included as it is white and unlucky for New Year as the color signifies death and misfortune

•Noodles should be uncut, as they represent long life.

Chinese New Year superstitions

Chinese New Year is steeped in superstition – here are just some of the ones you could come across:

•The entire house should be cleaned before New Year's Day. On New Year's Eve, all brooms, brushes, dusters, dust pans and other cleaning equipment should be put away. Sweeping or dusting should not be done on New Year's Day for fear that good fortune will be swept away.

•Shooting off firecrackers on New Year's Eve is the Chinese way of sending out the old year and welcoming in the New Year.

•On the stroke of midnight on New Year's Eve, every door in the house, and even windows, has to be open to allow the old year to go out.

•All debts had to paid by this time. Nothing should be lent on this day, as anyone who does so will be lending all the year. Back when tinder and flint were used, no one would lend them on this day or give a light to others.

•Shooting off firecrackers on New Year's Eve is the Chinese way of sending out the old year and welcoming in the New Year. On the stroke of midnight on New Year's Eve, every door in the house, and even windows, has to be open to allow the old year to go out.

•If you cry on New Year's Day, you'll cry all through the year. Therefore, children are tolerated and aren't spanked, even though they are mischievous.

•On New Year's Day, we aren't suppose to wash our hair because it would mean we would have washed away good luck for the New Year

•A home is thought to be lucky if a plant blooms on New Year's Day, as this foretells the start of a prosperous year.

•It is considered unlucky to greet anyone in their bedroom so that is why everyone, even the sick, should get dressed and sit in the living room.

•Do not use knives or scissors on New Year's Day as this may cut off fortune.

Whilst many Chinese people today may not believe in these do's and don'ts, these traditions and customs are still practiced. Most families say that it is these very traditions, whether believed or not, that provide continuity with the past and provide the family with an identity.

-Ends-

For more press information & images, contact:

Sara Bailey or Andrew Potter at icasPR,
Russell Chambers, The Piazza, London WC2E 8AA.
Tel: 020 7632 2400
Fax: 020 7240 2520
Email: sbailey@icas.co.uk/apotter@icas.co.uk