House of Lu II owner Cindy Lu sits among appetizers and main courses that will be on the menu for Chinese New Year, which falls on Valentine’s Day this year. Among the dishes are, front row from left, appetizers crab rangoons, Chinese yellow custard buns, firecracker beef, shrimp dumplings and chocolate-dipped fortune cookies for dessert; second row from left, sizzling rice shrimp, Shanghai bok choy with shrimp, and Beijing sweet and sour chicken; back row from left, Shanghai bok choy with beef and dry stir fried shredded beef.
Photo by Laura Moon
Photo by Laura Moon
"Chinese New Year is about celebrating the future," said Cindy Lu, Jr. daughter of Cindy Lu, owner of House of Lu II. Although House of Lu II will remain open for Chinese New Year, in Hong Kong and other parts of China, businesses close for the week.
"It's a time for family. It's a time for sharing and eating," she said.
The holiday, linked to the Chinese zodiac, ascribes a different animal to represent each year. This year is the Year of the Tiger.
To celebrate the Year of the Tiger (and Valentine's Day), House of Lu II is offering a special fixed price 3-course dinner for $14.95 per person. A variety of selections are offered from appetizer, dinner and dessert courses. "We're having some specialty items we don't normally sell," Lu said, including shrimp dumplings, Hunan filet of fish and chocolate covered fortune cookies.
Observing the New Year as established by the lunar calendar is one of the most important holidays for Chinese families such as the Lus.
"The calendar is based on the cycles of the moon so every year it (Chinese New Year) varies," Lu said.
Although the 365-day solar calendar (366 during leap year) has been the official calendar of China since 1912, the lunar calendar is still used to determine traditional holidays such as Chinese New Year that dates back to ancient times.
Like most Chinese families, the Lus, who have had a presence on the Marietta Square for 14 years, will observe certain customs such as wearing new clothes on the holiday. The Lus won't sweep or clean the house either. "You never sweep on New Year's Eve or New Years Day because you're sweeping fortune out of your house. Even if it's dirty, you just don't touch it," she said.
On Chinese New Year, Lu's parents might also be seen giving out red envelopes to their children filled with money or candy to wish them good luck for the New Year. "Normally parents give kids a dollar. If it's their own kids, they would give more," she said.
Whether you're celebrating Chinese New Year or Valentine's Day, House of Lu II, which enjoys a reputation for its good food, quality and cleanliness will not disappoint.
"We keep on doing what we do best, making sure our food is good and has good quality and taste," Lu said. Following that philosophy, the Lus will continue their good fortune into the future.
Visit www.houseoflu.com or call (770) 794-8831 for more.
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