Tools for Tomorrow: Lucky Foods for New Years

For many people, a new year is a new start. As we enter the holiday shopping season (less than 60 days until Christmas!) why not help your restaurant or bakery customers feel even “luckier” as they enter 2016 by preparing some of these lucky dishes for them?

Grapes

In Spain, revelers eat 12 grapes at midnight to “predict” the coming year. Each sweet grape is a sweet month to come, and the sour grapes indicate a less than savory month ahead.

Black-Eyed Peas

In the southern United States, black-eyed peas are often served as a side dish on New Year’s Day. The dish was originally served as a sign of humility (as it is a fairly inexpensive dish to prepare) and thus invites good fortune for the year to come.

Lentils

Italians often eat lentils on New Year’s Day as the tiny “seeds” are said to indicate abundance for the coming year.

Circular Foods

Cinnamon buns, pancakes, hamburgers – all of these yummy foods are circular, which is said to indicate “coming full circle” at the beginning of a new year.

Soba Noodles

In Japan, it’s customary to eat soba noodles at midnight. They represent longevity, so the longer they are – the better!

Pork

Because of their high fat content, ham or bacon are often eaten on New Year’s Day to bring a year rich with happiness.

Greens

Collards, mustard greens, spinach or other dark green leafy dishes are said to resemble money, and are thought to bring good fortune for the coming year.

Will you be serving any of these lucky foods this New Year’s Eve or Day?