Chinese Food Cart

It feels like social media is buzzing with excitement for Chinese New Year, and the energy is contagious. This year, I’m thrilled to share that we’ll be celebrating in Taiwan during the holiday festivities. While many are decorating and cooking, I’ve been teaching my kids the Chinese characters for our favorite foods by creating a Chinese food cart. We’re definitely a family that loves to eat! My four-year-old dreams of owning a food truck one day, though the Chinese mom in me hopes that will just be his hobby, supported by a well-paying corporate job!

Lately, my son has been resisting learning Chinese. I know this is common for kids when they start preschool, but it still takes time and creativity to keep him engaged. I told him that if he learns the menu items, he can eat anything he’s able to read. Naturally, the first characters he learned were 剉冰 (Taiwanese shaved ice)! He said, “Oh, Mommy, I know that. It’s your favorite!” Yes, son, it is.

There’s a strong Japanese influence in Taiwan, which inspired me to create an Izakaya-style hanging menu with a paper lantern. This look is often seen in local eateries. I printed the menu items on regular printer paper and mounted them on wood-grain scrapbooking paper from a craft store. The total cost was only $3, but I’ve been spending more on groceries—now I’m hungry all the time.

I’d love to see how everyone else is preparing for Chinese New Year. Share your ideas and traditions!