How we eat: Tết (Lunar New Year) with Ben from Greener Corner
Ben from Greener Corner
Ben and Ivy run Greener Corner – the lush nursery that greets you when you step out of the Market’s lift. They moved to Australia from Vietnam ten years ago; now it's just the two of them and their young son, their Tết in celebrations are a small affair but back home with their families, they would go all out with a days-long celebration.
Tết is a big festive season like Christmas is in western countries. Everyone comes back home to celebrate with their family. I’m from the north, two hours from the capital. My parents and grandparents all gather in the days beforehand to prepare the food and other traditions. Then on the first day of the new year, the whole extended family gathers for a feast. It’s our most important celebration.
It’s not just about living family – the souls of Ben’s ancestors are also invited to join the celebration and are the most honoured guests at the feast.
For three or four days before new year we prepare a meal to bring to our ancestors at the altar. On the last day we don’t eat the meal straight away, we have to wait until after midnight so our ancestors will enjoy the food first. After praying and the fireworks then we can eat – but we must stay awake till one o’clock in the morning!
The star of the show is Bánh Chưng, a steamed parcel that is made especially for Tết. Undo the tightly wrapped banana leaves and you’ll find a layer of sticky rice, followed by mung beans and then a piece of perfectly seasoned fatty pork belly nestled right in the middle. But be prepared for the long haul, this definitely isn’t fast food…
We eat square cake (Bánh Chưng) which takes a few days to make. Before, making it was very tiring. The family had to sit up all night to make sure the fire didn’t go out and to keep the water topped up. Some people in the countryside still make it like this but now most people buy it. We eat it with pickled onion – its sour and salty and balances out the rich square cake.
We also always have a soup made with pork or chicken bones and vegetable and meat stir fry.
Coriander isn’t just for eating and will bring good luck for the year ahead.
On the last day before the new year we have a bath with coriander. You boil coriander plants and seeds in water, or you can buy the mix readymade. It washes away bad luck from the old year and brings good luck for the new one.
Plants play an important role
In the north of Vietnam the cherry blossoms are in season. We decorate with the branches to symbolise the new year. After the celebrations on New Year’s Eve, one or two people will go into the street to buy branches from traditional plants, like sugar cane shoots. They bring them back to the house as a symbol of growth.
You can find Greener Corner at Stall 158 in aisle E.
If you would like to join in the Lunar New Year celebrations, visit the Market this Saturday 1 February, 9:30am - 11:30am to watch the Lion Dancers bring our traders luck and prosperity for the new year.