Every Tuesday in The Feed @CTFoodGirly comes on to talk food, dining, and drinks here in Connecticut.

This week we’re diving into the tastiest ways to celebrate Lunar New Year in Connecticut! From traditional dumplings and savory egg rolls to yummy noodles. Also the tradition, backstory and what these food symbolize for the upcoming year.

Then with Valentine’s Day around the corner, we’re sweetening things up with a guide to the best local chocolate shops in the state.

Lunar New Year

• culinary traditions (dumplings, rice cakes, hot pot, etc)
  Lunar New Year is a major celebration in many East and Southeast Asian cultures, marking the
  start of the lunar calendar year. The date varies each year, but it generally falls between
  January 21 and February 20. This year, Lunar New Year will be celebrated on February 17, and
  it will be the Year of the Snake in the Chinese zodiac.
  Festivities typically include family gatherings, special meals, parades, dragon dances, fireworks,
  and giving red envelopes with money (especially for children) as symbols of good luck and
  prosperity. I wanted to dive into the special meals for this radio segment since the foods are
  symbolic, often representing good fortune, wealth, and health.
  Dumplings: These are a classic dish for Lunar New Year, especially in northern China. Their
  shape resembles ancient Chinese gold ingots, symbolizing wealth and prosperity for the coming
  year. Dumplings are often filled with pork, cabbage, or even seafood.
• In CT, I have had great dumplings at the Dumpling House in Milford, Funju Noodle Bar in
  Wallingford, Mecha Noodle Bar in Stamford, and MOLI in Greenwich.
  Spring Rolls: These crispy, golden rolls are a symbol of wealth because their shape resembles
  gold bars. Filled with vegetables, pork, or shrimp, they’re a crunchy snack during the
  celebrations.
• In CT, I have had amazing spring rolls at Pho & Spice in Cheshire,
  Pho Nha Trang in Fairfield, and Blue Orchid in New Haven
  Longevity Noodles: Long noodles symbolize a wish for a long life. They’re typically served in
  broth with vegetables and meat, and the longer the noodles, the better!

Chocolate Lovers

Connecticut has a rich history with chocolate, especially in the early 20th century, when it
became known as a hub for chocolate manufacturing.
In the late 19th century, Stephen Whitman, a candy maker in Philadelphia, founded Whitman’s
Chocolates in the mid-1800s. In the early 1900s, the company moved its operations to Hartford,
Connecticut. Connecticut is also notable for being the home of The Hershey Company’s early
rival. The Schaefer Chocolate Factory was founded in 1927 in New Haven. It was once a major
chocolate manufacturer before being acquired by larger companies. Another significant player in
Connecticut’s chocolate history is Palmer Candy Company, founded in 1840 in Meriden,
Connecticut. Palmer became well-known for its Easter chocolates, especially its chocolate
bunnies. By the mid-20th century, Connecticut was already home to several successful candy
and chocolate manufacturers, including Fannie May, See’s Candies, and Dum Dum Lollipops.
Today, while many of the original Connecticut chocolate manufacturers have been absorbed by
larger companies or moved elsewhere, Connecticut still maintains a chocolate legacy, with
boutique chocolatiers and local candy companies continuing the tradition.
Since Valentine’s Day is going to creep up before we know it, I wanted to introduce our listeners
to some great local chocolatier and candy companies in CT.

• Sweet Cioccolata – Wallingford
• Sweet Creations – Branford
• Munson’s Chocolates – Orange
• MELT Chocolatier – Milford
• Atelier BE Chocolat – Fairfiel

Image credit: Getty Images

Every Monday Kevin talks high school sports in Connecticut with Dave Ruden from therudenreport.com.

This week Dave previews a few of the big games this week for boys basketball. He also gives a recap of some exciting games over the weekend including a HUGE upset. Finally he makes some predications on who’s going to come out on top after this week’s games.

Image credit: Getty Images