迎接龍年的除夕夜菜單 (Chinese New Year of the Dragon - 2012)

今年(2012)，是我們在丹麥-哥本哈根的第三載農曆新年。




我們特邀一對VIP夫婦到家一起歡度除夕、迎接龍年；話說這對夫妻，就像是我們家人一樣、與我們來往相當密切，也經常是我們座上賓客，先生的來頭說了嚇死您....他是UNOPOS (聯合國項目事務處 www.unops.org/textimageflash/default.asp) 的老闆 ，之前提過他經常邀請老公Jason和我在周五傍晚到UNOPOS與他們歡度「Happy Hour」; 其妻子乃是我在哥本哈根之國際婦女會的好朋友，我們兩位女士都是在國際婦女會擔任委員，因為有相同熱情及理念，經常在一起辦一些活動，所以UNOPS老闆經常稱讚我們兩位女士才是真正的外交人員...哈哈哈！

當然，無論是自家人或盛邀VIP客人一起度過， 一年一度的饗宴是必要的； 而農曆年的除夕菜單更具相當的意義、充滿驚喜，為了詳細介紹我們的台灣農曆新年習俗，我特地擬了一份『好運龍總來』的龍年菜單，總共有十道菜，每一道菜各代表著不同的新年喜慶的意義。

相對於平常宴客的上菜方式 (一道一道菜慢慢的上)，今天(農曆新年除夕)，我將十道佳餚全部呈現在餐桌上，這種方式，讓賓客宛如看到台灣寶島的『多采多姿』、『五彩繽紛』的生活以及象徵著台灣人民的誠懇、熱情及好客。

象徵甜甜蜜蜜、事事順利的四色拼盤可裝滿糖果、開心果、糖蓮子及瓜子、喜洋洋的紅蘋果、大吉大利的桔子、招財進寶黃金香蕉…等的水果可以擺於客廳茶几，飯廳及廚房，以讓客人、主人、小朋友隨處取得， 每個人都可以過年沾沾喜氣。

以下時到年菜，「中文名稱」乃根據台灣傳統習俗、新年節慶、生肖年(龍年)以及喜悅氣氛而取名；而英文解釋部份，乃根據我的誠意分別呈現其不同的象徵意義；

～ 哥本哈根的除夕夜菜單～

（Chinese New Year''s Eve in Copenhagen）

～十道菜；象徵十全十美～

（10 Courses are served)

As per Chinese/Taiwanese Traditions, the number of '10' stands for perfection, fulfillment, contentment, gratification, completion or many different suggestions of 'good'. Every course suggests a significance of gratification；

(1)  三陽開泰、財源滾滾；每人三個元寶蒸餃  

【An auspicious beginning of a new years è the shape of dumpling and ancient oney are most alike which brings wealth and prosperity; and everybody served with 3 means an auspicious beginning of a new years.】；

(2)   全家福迎金雞蛋；香烤全雞 = 台灣話是『全家』

【Whole-Chicken and whole-family are homophones especially the hen lays a gold egg, which means health, happiness, and prosperity always go with whole family】；

(3)   扭轉乾坤；五香牛腱

【{Beef and Turning are homophones, which mean to turn the table/turn the scale/ turn the tide}】

(4)  諸事大吉； 蒜泥白肉

【Pork/Pig and Everything are homophones, which 'Luck go with us'】

(5)  金玉滿堂；什錦雜炒

【Chop-Suey implies 'anything affording pleasure to the taste or mind'】；

(6) 龍年旺旺；鳳梨蝦仁炒飯

【Pineapple and flourishing are homophones mean that 'economy is booming and business is flourishing】； 

(7)  好彩頭/好運氣；蘿蔔糕 / 菜頭高

【Radish in Taiwanese is good luck and good start】；

(8) 年年高升、結果年年；年糕搭配紅蘋果

【Chinese New Year Cake is booming after steam/bake, which stands for being promoted every year or a booming year; Apple implys 'reap' which to reap (get) the rewards of all our hard work】;

(9) 年年有餘: 2條嫩豆腐蒸鮮魚

【2 steam-fishes; one for dinner and another for leftover】

【Fish and ‘reserve' or 'surplus' are the homophone; for 'reserve' means to always keep some money in reserve, just in case; for 'surplus' is an amount of something that is more than what is needed or used or invested.】；;

(10)   <!--[endif]-->歡慶大團圓: 團圓火鍋

【The Fire-Pot is in round-shape which family gather around a year reunion; and its inside contains all kinds of round meat-balls and money-shape of dumplings which stands for perfection, fulfillment, contentment, gratification and completion.】

Before leaving, every guest has an orange with, which means "大吉大利" (Luck always go with you)!

大魚大肉，客人通常吃不下飽脹性的水果，不過幫助消化桔子是嘿部會拒絕的，所以，在客人離開時候，請他們各吃一個或帶走一個桔子， 告知客人其象徵的意義象徵式；人人大吉大利！這樣可以達到『賓主盡歡』效果。