Celebrating the Lunar New Year will be a relatively subdued affair in 2021, but a number of local restaurants are encouraging customers to dine in or order out, with a portion of their bill going to charity.
For example, Mui's Garden will make an $18 donation to the Richmond Surgical Restart Campaign when diners order a new year's dinner combo for $88, said Richmondite Jackie Lee, president of the Vancouver Diamond Lions Club president, which is partnering with the restaurant for the campaign.
The Richmond Hospital Foundation is in the midst of raising $2 million for the Surgical Restart Campaign, aimed at improving care and benefit all surgical specialities at Richmond Hospital.
Also in aid of the fundraising campaign, Lee’s Lions club is hosting an online music event.
"Sadly, lion dances and celebration events are muted this year due to COVID-19 restrictions, but we are thinking there is still a way to spread cheer and love through moving our annual celebration online," said Lee.
Diamond Lions Club invited acclaimed Hong Kong music producers to record several classic Cantonese songs in a local, professional studio where club members were given the chance to showcase their singing talent.
"Now those songs are available online on the Richmond Hospital Foundation's website for everyone to watch for free. You can have a glass of red wine, enjoy New Year's dinner while listening to those songs," said Lee.
The event has already raised over $20,000 for the Restart Campaign.
"I've never left Richmond since I emigrated from Hong Kong to Canada almost twenty years ago. I have witnessed the city's changes and the city has seen my growth. It's so important for us to step forward to support kind initiatives," said Lee.
For more information about the fundraising campaign: please visit:https://www.vvs1.shop/product-page/vancouver-diamond-lions-club-cny-fundraising-for-richmond-hospital-foundation.
Meanwhile, a team of Asian food enthusiasts with a strong passion for promoting regional Chinese cuisine in North America, will hold a dining event, dubbed “2021 Dining for the Feast of Fortune.”
A portion of the dining costs will go towards the new St. Paul’s at the Jim Pattison Medical Centre.
“This year, the Awards and St.Paul’s foundation wish to take this fundraiser to the next level by inviting the dining public to gift and taste this unique and first-of-its-kind dining series and celebrate the Lunar New Year with a meaningful mission,” noted the Chinese Restaurant Awards, which is hosting the event, on its website.
The dining series will run until Feb. 21 in celebration of the Lunar New Year. Foodies will find special lunch and dinner menus available for dining in and take-outs at four Richmond restaurants and three Vancouver restaurants.
The price for exclusive menus range from $38 to $100 per person, and the participating restaurants will donate $25 for each “Feast of Fortune” menu served.
In addition, some menus highlight “exclusive dishes” created by chefs who hope to bring diners good luck for the coming year. For example, The Fish Man on Alexandra Road will serve BC Dungeness Crabs and seafood rice, which symbolizes an abundance of wealth and joy in the New Year.
Hotpot Palace on Alderbridge Way will feature roasted bone marrow and handmade cheese beef meatballs.
Diners can also purchase gift certificates for family and friends, and the restaurant will donate $25 for each $100 gift certificate ordered.
The following restaurants have taken part in the Dining for the Feast of Fortune:
1: Fortune Terrace Chinese Cuisine (Richmond)
2: Heritage Asian Eatery (Vancouver)
3: Bamboo Grove Restaurant (Richmond)
4: Hotpot Palace (Richmond)
5: The Fish Man (Richmond)
6: JOY CAFÉ by Fortune Terrace (Vancouver)
7: Po Kong Vegetarian Restaurant (Vancouver)
8: Torafuku (Vancouver)
