We went out to their home in a more rural part of Hong Kong and had a hot pot meal. Hot pot (fo-woh in Cantonese) is a communal experience that can serve enough food for a large group. Family members will sit around a stove and cook meats (usually pork or beef), vegetables (a variety of leafy greens) and seafood.
Meanwhile, with members of my aunt's family, we celebrated a bit earlier and we went out to a restaurant. This time we had different types of seafood cooked under a giant steamer. Unlike American and Western food, Chinese cuisine often uses steaming as a method for cooking food.
The popularity of seafood in Cantonese cuisine is one way the food is connected to the local environment. Hong Kong is a coastal city and fisherman still go out to catch fish. In certain towns in Hong Kong like Lei Yuen Mun, Sai Kung or Tai O, you can see giant tubs of live sea creatures waiting to be sold or eaten.
