“Happiness, Wealth, Prosperity”: Chinese Canadian Food Culture and Lunar New Year Traditions

From traditional hair moss soup to cream cheese wontons, experience the rich layers of Lunar New Year foods with Chinese Canadian home cooks and chefs in Grande Prairie, Alberta.  

Join director Ryan Mah and chef and author Jackie Kai Ellis from the TELUS originals docu-series House Special for an engaging conversation on their journey through Chinese restaurants, homes, and places across BC and Alberta as an opportunity to experience diverse Asian stories in a deeper way.  

Participants are invited to watch Episode 5, “Happiness, Wealth, Prosperity“, in advance of the virtual program.

This free program is presented by the Chinese Canadian Museum.  

About House Special: 

A five-part TELUS originals docu-series that chronicles the Chinese Canadian experience through the lens of small-town Asian food joints and the families that run them. Ride the rails with chef and author, Jackie Kai Ellis, as she explores Canadian Chop Suey cuisine. This is House Special. 

EPISODE 5: HAPPINESS, WEALTH, PROSPERITY (22mins) 

Grande Prairie, Alberta 

Jackie learns about the biggest celebration in the Asian calendar – Lunar New Year. Cream cheese wontons, hair moss soup, and handmade dumplings are on the menu. Jackie goes Ice fishing with Jeremy, to catch fish to create a classic Asian dish, salted fish and chicken fried rice. She learns about the dwindling Asian community and the locals who are fighting to keep traditions like lion dancing alive. Settle in as she has her fortune read for the coming year and creates a Lunar New Year classic dish, Nian Gao.