Comfort Food for Me is Chinese.

Always Has Been.  I Guess I can Thank My Mom and Her Crazy Christmas Eve Tradition.

There was exactly one Chinese Restaurant in My Town on Long Island.

It was the place we picked for special occasions.  To me it was so exotic and fancy.  The dining room was a vision in red and black lacquer.  The tables were set with starched white linens.   Silk red lanterns hung from the ceiling and were reflected in the mirrored glass.

The waiters all dressed in starched black jackets.  They helped explain the huge menu that was written in English and Mandarin.   My father would order for the family.

I sat up straight and breathed in the wonderful smells.  The food was served in shiny covered dishes.  The waiter would lift the lids and announce each offering.

 

It was my favorite place to eat.  I went to school with the restaurant owner’s daughter.

It was Family Owned and Operated and was the Only One in Town.

Mei Ting Chinese Restaurant in Huntington Station, Long Island.

My mom began the tradition of eating Chinese Food on Christmas Eve.

She explained that all the Christmas Day cooking was done and she wanted to share a relaxing meal with her family.

Yes!  Chinese Food.

I thought Everyone had Chinese Food on Christmas Eve.

I Think it was One of My Mom’s More Stellar Ideas.

Back Then, I Never Dreamed I Would Travel to China…Twice…to Become a Mother.

To Have a Family of My Own.

And Continue with this Crazy Christmas Eve Tradition.

Such Magic.

Do You Have Crazy Christmas Eve Traditions?  Doesn’t Everyone?!