What to Eat for Lunar New Year in Los Angeles | Eater LA

"This restaurant makes bánh tét from scratch (priced at $28 for a three-pound bánh tét). Bánh tét is traditionally offered to the ancestral altar and then eaten by revelers; it is typically cylindrical and stuffed with glutinous rice, pork fat, mung bean seasoned with shallots and black pepper, rolled in banana leaves and boiled for many hours, then sliced into wheel shapes. The rice cakes are served with pickled scallions, pickled vegetables, and fish sauce; some people eat them steamed while others fry the cake so the result is chewy and crispy. You can also sprinkle sugar on top or dip with chile and soy sauce for more umami. The cylindrical form is popular in southern Vietnam, whereas squared shapes are prepared in central and northern regions. Beyond being a food offering, the true meaning behind the dish is to promote family bonding, since making it is time-consuming." - Kristie Hang