New Year’s may be the end of a long holiday season, but that’s no reason to skimp on the food. While we’re all for New Year’s Eve parties and New Year’s resolutions, there’s really no better way to welcome the next 365 days than with a food coma. Here are five foods traditionally eaten to celebrate the new year, best enjoyed while hanging your 2016 calendar and watching the Rose Parade.
1. Mochi
Celebrating the new year by pounding rice into mochi is a Japanese tradition, but you can order yours from the experts if you want to take it easy. The Kito family has been making mochi at Fugetsu-Do in Little Tokyo since 1903, just be sure you order in advance!
2. Bacalao
In Mexico, once the clock strikes midnight you make a wish for the year and then quickly eat 12 grapes before the bells stop chiming. If you manage to wolf them down in time, the superstition says your wish will come true. The grapes are an important part of a Mexican New Year, but the bacalao is the star. This salted codfish is the traditional main course served to welcome in the New Year. Start off 2016 with a Bacalao torta from Cook’s Tortas to keep the tradition alive.
3. Black-eyed peas
In the States, eating black-eyed peas on New Year’s Day is a Southern tradition. The superstition states you should eat a pea for each day of the coming year to ensure luck, but if you can’t make it all the way to 365 you’ll have as many lucky days as you can eat. Head to Tart for your black-eyed pea fix. Tart, 115 S Fairfax Ave, Los Angeles
4. Doughnuts
Oliebollen, the Dutch ancestor of the doughnut, are traditionally eaten to ring in the new year in the Netherlands. Oliebollen translates literally to “oil balls,” for the oil they’re deep-fried in. If Amsterdam seems like too far of a trek, celebrate with a dozen from Donut Friend instead.
5. Dumplings
Although the Chinese New Year is still weeks away, dumplings are a New Year’s staple. Since they share their shape with Chinese ingots, eating dumplings is a way to ensure wealth in the coming year. For the best dumplings around, Din Tai Fung is the place to go.
What are you eating to celebrate 2016? Tag us in your food pics using #lagram!