鱼生

I am too lazy to switch on Chinese script in this computer (having lots of problems switching between English, German and Chinese at the other pc), so now whenever I want to type Chinese words, I have to whack at the Google Translate. Very funny, especially when you are trying to type Chinese idioms. 

鱼生

There is a super popular dish in Singapore called 鱼生, which we only eat during Chinese New Year. To easily explain, it is like a salad, with shredded (and dried somewhat) cucumber, carrot and daikon. Supposedly the three symbolize luck and wealth. Then when you pour in sweet plum sauce, you say lame well-wishing statements like "甜甜蜜蜜", and then the little fried crackers, "富贵满堂", "财运当头" etc.

Vater is making sushi in the background

Usually the pièce de résistance is smoked or raw salmon, denoting "年年有鱼". But in this particular dish, my family used abalone.

Then everyone uses their chopsticks and lift up the entire mixture as high as they dare and yell more lame statements like "风声水起", "身体健康", "万事如意". The salad will fall all over the place and then we will nom nom nom nom.

So many pretty colors

The idea is that the dish is full of symbolism for good luck and prosperity and good wishes for wealth, capisce?