If you’ve been following us for a while, you know we absolutely love Asian cuisine. That balance between simplicity and finesse, the respect for ingredients, and those incredible flavors… it makes us happy! Mid-February marks Chinese New Year, and for two weeks it’s all about togetherness and great food.

Did you know Chinese New Year is celebrated very differently from our own New Year’s Eve? Each year has its own name, and the coming year is the Year of the Fire Horse. In the Chinese community, the celebration lasts 15 days — from February 17 through March 3, to be exact — and we’re joining the celebration with a great promotion. During this period, we’re offering no less than 20% off classics from Chinese cuisine.

Special meat for a special celebration

Chinese New Year, also known as the Spring Festival, is the most important festive period in Chinese culture. It is a time when families gather, homes are decorated, and tables fill with symbolic dishes. For many Chinese families in the Netherlands, preparations begin weeks in advance. Shopping is part of the ritual, because the New Year’s meal revolves around abundance, prosperity, and quality — and good meat plays a leading role. Anyone looking for meat for traditional dishes such as hot pot, shabu shabu, and thinly sliced grill meat will find products in The Butchery’s assortment that are specially selected for these preparations.

Symbolism and traditions during Chinese New Year

The Spring Festival falls between late January and mid-February and follows the lunar calendar. For fifteen days, renewal and prosperity take center stage. Homes are cleaned to release old energy, red decorations bring luck, and families gather around elaborate meals. During Chinese New Year, food is never just food: every dish carries meaning and symbolizes wealth, health, or harmony.

Food with meaning

Dumplings (饺子, jiǎozi), for example, represent prosperity thanks to their shape, which resembles ancient silver ingots. Hot pot (火锅, huǒguō) symbolizes togetherness, because everyone cooks at the table and shares ingredients. Here, the quality of the meat is essential: paper-thin slices of beef must cook quickly, remain tender, and stay full of flavor. The shabu and thinly sliced cuts from The Butchery are tailored for this, ensuring texture and flavor are preserved in the broth.

Other dishes also carry their own message. Fish (鱼, yú) represents abundance, spring rolls (春卷, chūnjuǎn) refer to wealth, and roasted duck symbolizes harmony. Meat dishes are therefore an important part of the festive table, often combined with hot pot or grilling for larger gatherings.

Specialist in Asian meat preparations

For these meals, not only the origin of the meat matters, but also the cutting technique. The right thickness determines how quickly it cooks and how the flavor develops. The butchers at The Butchery work with precision and knowledge of Asian preparations, so the meat is ready to use immediately — without extra preparation.

Chinese New Year ultimately revolves around celebrating together with dishes that honor tradition. With artisan-cut meat selected for flavor and texture, The Butchery provides a strong foundation for a festive table centered on quality and connection.

Did you know you can also find Asian-inspired recipes at The Butchery? Below is already a selection from our recipes. Looking for more? Feel free to browse the recipe page, fill your cart, and get cooking!

Chicken

A whole chicken symbolizes family unity and completeness. Because the animal is presented uncut, it refers to the idea that the family remains whole and the year will unfold harmoniously.

Chicken is often prepared simply — for example poached or with soy sauce — so the natural shape is preserved. The focus is less on luxury and more on the symbolism of connection.

Beef

Beef carries a more subtle symbolism during Chinese New Year than fish or pork, but it still holds powerful meaning. The ox (牛, niú) has for centuries been seen in Chinese culture as a symbol of hard work, reliability, and perseverance. Eating beef can therefore be interpreted as a wish for personal growth, stability, and success earned through effort.

Pork

Pork traditionally represents wealth. In the past, pigs were seen as a sign of prosperity: anyone who could keep a pig had sufficient means.

Red-braised pork belly (hóng shāo ròu) is especially loved. The reddish-brown color refers to luck, as red symbolizes protection and prosperity in Chinese culture.

Lamb

Although less universal than chicken or fish, lamb is eaten in some regions because of its association with warmth and energy — exactly what people want at the start of a new year.

The Chinese character for lamb (羊, yáng) also resembles the character for “auspicious” or “good omen” (祥, xiáng), giving the dish an additional positive meaning.

Hot pot is a traditional table meal where cooking and eating become one shared experience. In the center of the table sits a pot of continuously boiling broth in which everyone cooks their ingredients and eats them immediately. It’s a social meal built around sharing, choosing, and enjoying together, perfect for festive occasions such as Chinese New Year. Around the steaming pot, a rhythm of cooking, tasting, and laughter develops while the table fills with meat, vegetables, noodles, and other delicacies.

Broth for Chinese hot pot

The foundation of hot pot is the broth, and it determines the flavor and character of the meal. A good broth is rich in flavor, clear, and constantly hot. Mild broths are made with chicken, vegetables, or aromatic herbs and are gentle in taste, while spicy broths such as Sichuan mala (麻辣) are packed with chili and peppercorns. For those who can’t choose, there is the yin-yang pot: a divided pot with a mild and a spicy side. The key is that the broth supports the ingredients and allows everything to cook quickly and evenly.

Common ingredients for Chinese hot pot

Hot pot is so versatile because everyone chooses their own combination. For meat lovers, thinly sliced beef, lamb, or pork is essential: paper-thin and ready to cook instantly in the broth, tender and full of flavor. Seafood such as shrimp, fish fillets, and fish balls are also popular additions. Vegetables like bok choy, Chinese cabbage, spinach, and mushrooms (shiitake, enoki) add fresh texture. Tofu, noodles, and extras like dumplings or quail eggs complete the meal. Everything is prepared fresh and cooked immediately, preserving the flavors.

Sauces and dips for hot pot

A hot pot is never complete without dipping sauces. They give each bite a personal twist and make the meal interactive. Classics include sesame paste, soy sauce, chili oil, and fermented tofu. Fresh herbs like cilantro, garlic, or scallions can be added to tailor your sauce to your taste. Mixing your own sauce is one of the most enjoyable parts of the hot pot experience: everyone creates their favorite combination.

What makes Chinese hot pot popular?

Hot pot is popular because it is social and interactive. Everyone chooses what they like, cooks it at the table, and eats it right away. The variety of ingredients and broths makes every meal different, while cooking and sharing together creates connection. Especially during winter holidays and special occasions like Chinese New Year, hot pot brings warmth, coziness, and a sense of abundance. Meat plays a central role: properly sliced, tender cuts ensure everything cooks smoothly and every bite is rich and juicy.

Hot pot is therefore not just a meal, but an evening-long ritual. It is food as togetherness, perfectly matching the atmosphere of Chinese New Year: a table full of fresh ingredients, warmth, connection, and abundance.