The Lunar New Year begins on Wednesday, January 29, the Year of the Snake. It’s known as the Year of the Wood and Green Snake because, according to the Chinese Five Elements theory, wood is associated with green. The year promises to be a lucky one, with growth in careers, finances, and relationships expected. Here are some hopeful ways to celebrate.

 Starting today, Din Tai FungⓇ, known for the art of Xiao Long Bao, will celebrate the Lunar New Year 2025 in collaboration with noted Taiwanese American artist James Jean. Tapped to design artwork inspired by the Year of the Snake and honoring the cultural traditions of the holiday, Jean’s creation will be featured on several special, limited-edition gifts for guests who participate in the celebration in the restaurant or at home.  

One of those is a limited-edition reusable takeout tote bag featuring the James Jean artwork to those ordering $175 or more of takeout items on dtf.com, pre-tax and while supplies last. Each bag will also receive a red envelope like those given to dine-in guests. Inside the red envelopes, Din Tai Fung will share a curated selection of symbolic dishes highlighting their special significance for the New Year, including symbols of prosperity, longevity, joy, growth, and abundance.  

Year of the Snake

James Jean-designed bags and boxes (Courtesy Din Tai Fung)

Starting on Wednesday, Jan.  29 through Sunday, Feb 2, Crustacean Beverly Hills will be celebrating the Lunar New Year with an a la carte menu that includes: Money Bag shumai, salt and pepper crispy quail, caviar fried chicken, poached sea bass, uni garlic noodles with 24K gold, The Snake Shortcake and more. On Friday, Jan 31 they will have dragon dance performances at 6 p.m. and 8 p.m., and on  Sunday, Feb 2, they will be having a LNY Brunch with a dragon dance as well, where they will feature their An-Sum Cart and more good luck dishes on the brunch menu. The menu items are also available for takeout. Reservations can be made online on RESY

Commerce Casino and Hotel are still offering discounted rates for displaced families and individuals and complimentary stays for first responders. For the Lunar New Year, the casino will kick things off on Saturday, Jan. 25  with a special banquet celebrating the Year of the Snake with  Feng Shui Master  So Man Fung from Hong Kong hosted by Chinese celebrity Ms. Gao Haiqing. The event will feature performances such as traditional lion dances, musical showcases, and cultural demonstrations. 

On Wednesday, Jan. 29th there will be lion dance performances, food, Johnny Walker, and Remy Cointreau Year of the Snake bottles and gold bracelets for VIP guests.  On Friday, Jan. 31 a   Happy Tết dinner dance Vietnamese show will feature the  Phi Khanh, Ngọc Anh, Nhu Loan, Khánh Anh, Trọng Bắc, Quốc Thái, and DCP Dance Group as well as a buffet. For tickets call   626-350-1318

Year of the Snake

Courtesy Lunasia

The Peninsula Beverly Hills has partnered with the popular dim sum house Lunasia for an afternoon tea Lunar New Year experience. Now through Jan.  Now through Friday, Jan. 31, you can celebrate the Year of the Snake in  The Living Room with an afternoon tea that features signature Lunasia egg custard pastry,  shrimp har-gow, supreme beef balls, decadent egg yolk sakura, specialty teas and a glass of Laurent Perrier Champagne. Reservations can be made via TOCK. 

Located inside the  Kelly Wearstler-designed Downtown L.A. Proper Hotel, Dahlia is celebrating the Lunar New Year with a special afternoon tea menu that is only available for two weekends, January 24-26 and January 31- February 2. Highlights include shrimp toast with scallions and lemongrass,  fried purple sticky rice with wagyu beef bacon, handheld bites like spring rolls, Asian chicken salad, and smoked salmon with lemon crème fraîche and aleppo. Pastry Chef Irene Widjaya will provide chocolate praline tarts, strawberry blondies, pear pomegranate marshmallows, and spiced blood orange macarons. Teas in partnership with TEALEAVES include organic jasmine pearl white tea, Imperial Dragon black tea, Osmanthus oolong, and a mocha mousse tea inspired by 2025’s Pantone Color of the Year, with cocoa, cinnamon, dandelion root, and vanilla.

  

For those celebrating at home,  the Washington, D.C.-based homeware house Maison de Carine offers elegant snake-inspired pieces for the dining table. There’s the  Serpente Dinner Plate, the richly textured Gold Snake Bookend Set,  and Gold and Platinum snake magnifying glasses to honor the occasion. 

The Snake Charmer mocktail is the perfect accompaniment to your serpentine tablescape that symbolizes transformation, wisdom, and renewal.  Chinese-American entrepreneur Rosa Li,  founder of wildwonder, the prebiotic/probiotic sparkling beverage brand, created the beverage as a love letter to her grandmother and her passion for the healing properties of traditional herbs and plants. Raised in Beijing by her grandmother until age 12, the two spent time in the kitchen concocting herbal remedies, discussing Eastern herbal wisdom, and how to  use food as medicine 

Made with sparkling Strawberry Passion prebiotic and probiotic  (ripe strawberries, tart passion fruit, and freshly brewed hibiscus flowers),  here’s the recipe.

 

Snake Charmer Mocktail Recipe  

3 oz Strawberry Passion wildwonder

1 oz Prickly Pear

Activated Charcoal

Lemon peel

 

Directions: Shake activated charcoal and prickly pear juice and strain into a coupe glass. Top with Strawberry Passion. Make a long lemon peel that mimics a snake as garnish.

 

Year of the Snake

Courtesy Maison de Carine