Happy Chinese New Year! The new lunar year begins on February 12 and to celebrate I made this black sesame cake with tangerine buttercream. We could all celebrate another chance for a fresh start, couldn’t we? It’s going to be the year of the Ox, which usually symbolizes hard work, discipline, and stability. Working towards […]...
Chinese New Year Cotton Cheesecake (Year of the Rat)
The lunar new year is on January 25, and I’m celebrating the Year the Rat with some cheesecake. Namely, Japanese style cotton cheesecake adapted from Joanne Chang’s Pastry Love. Coincidentally, this recipe appeared in the New York Times around the time I was contemplating making it so maybe we were on the same wavelength! […]...
Chick Egg Custard Tarts for Chinese New Year
Happy Year of the Rooster! Saturday, January 28 is the first day of the lunar new year and my family in Hong Kong will be celebrating with a lot of good eating. Although eating is pretty much the official pastime in Hong Kong, it’s never pursued more vigorously than at Chinese New Year, when every restaurant and […]...
Happy Year of the Monkey! With Chinese Pineapple Cakes (Feng Li Su)
Happy Chinese New Year! I’ve just returned from Hong Kong, where preparations for the Year of the Monkey were fully underway. I’m sad I couldn’t stay for the actual new year festivities, but I’ve brought back plenty of new year treats, including these traditional Chinese pineapple cakes that are a wonderfully simple baking project as well. […]...
{Weekend Break}: Chinese New Year in San Francisco
Chinese New Year: Sesame Seed Balls
The Sunday just past (Feb. 18) marked the first day of the Chinese New Year 4705, or the Year of the Pig. There have been firecrackers going off late into the night, lucky oranges and plum blossoms in shop windows, and a lot of red and gold decorations everywhere. Many Chinese holiday traditions are heavily […]...
Anita Chu, also known as pastrygirl, is a baker, writer, and photographer with a passion for pastry. She trained at Tante Marie's Cooking School and is the author of Field Guide to Cookies, Field Guide to Candy, and Lollipop Love. Anita lives in San Francisco with her husband, daughter, and dog Max. 
