Make Your Plans Now for Lunar New Year’s Feasts

By Morris Gut

The Chinese Lunar New Year, the Year of the Dragon, begins on Saturday, Feb. 10. Celebrations last for about two weeks. Many Asian eateries will be marking the festivities with special dishes and menus. Be sure to check ahead for dates, times and pricing. Here are some tasty suggestions.

Aberdeen Seafood & Dim Sum, 3 Barker Ave., White Plains in the Residence Inn. The staff told us they would be offering special banquets. You can also celebrate with a run through their popular dim sum, or from the regular menu. Info: 914-288-0188 or www.aberdeenwhiteplains.com.

David Chen, 85 Old Mount Kisco Rd., Armonk. Old world spot serving solid Cantonese cuisine to the community for more than 35 years. Specialties include the 10-ingredient fried rice, moo shu pork, pan-fried noodles and seafood pot. Enjoy the tea service. Info: 914-273-6767 or www.davidchens.com.

Mister Chen, 265 Mamaroneck Ave., Mamaroneck. This spot serves wonderful house-made soup dumplings and buns, chicken lo mein and tasty honey-glazed barbecue spare ribs. Info: 914-777-1212 or www.misterchenny.com.

Omandarin Chinese Cuisine, 361 N. Central Ave., Hartsdale. Will be serving some of the classics: Peking duck, assorted hot pots and hearty Mandarin pork shank in their beautifully decorated dining room. Info: 914-437-9168 or www.omandarin.com.

Goosefeather, 49 E. Sunnyside Lane, Tarrytown. Located in the Tarrytown House estate, noted Chef Dale Talde has reimagined upscale Hong Kong cuisine with modern twists. Info: 914-829-5454 or www.goosefeatherny.com.

Peking Garden, 56 Main St., Brewster. You can take out reasonably-priced retro Chinese specialties, including egg rolls, shrimp chow mein, vegetable chop suey and beef lo mein. Info: 845-279-4006 or www.pekinggardenny.com.

On’s Chinese Kitchen, 475 Bedford Rd., Pleasantville. A local favorite for take-out. Try the sesame chicken or shrimp with lobster sauce. Info: 914-741-6277 or www.onschinesekitchen.weebly.com.

Seven Woks, 1122 Wilmot Rd., Scarsdale. Try the scallion pancakes, moo shu pork or the spicy mixed mala pot. Info: 914-472-4774 or www.sevenwoksny.com.

Asian fusion, Vietnamese, Korean, Tibetan

Communities in Vietnam, Korea, Tibet, Thailand and Singapore also mark the Lunar New Year. Here are some local venues to check out.

Fatt Root Noodle Bar & Cocktail, 11 Wheeler Ave., Pleasantville. Chef Mogen Anthony’s latest venture features Asian steamed buns, dumplings and noodles. Info: 914-579-2552 or www.fattroot.com.

Asian Wave Bistro, 636 Columbus Ave., Thornwood (in the Rose Hill Shopping Center). Asian fusion menu in a modern setting. Dishes from China, Thailand and Singapore include tasty spicy Szechuan dumplings, Thai spring rolls, Peking duck crepes, sesame chicken and Singapore rice noodles. Info: 914-579-2777 or www.asianwavebistro.com.

Jewel of Himalaya, 751 Central Park Ave., Scarsdale, and 34 Triangle Center, Yorktown Heights. A tasty fusion of Tibetan, Indian and Nepalese cuisines serving Momo dumplings and stir-fried noodles. 914-874-5506 (Scarsdale) and 914-302-2886 (Yorktown Heights) or www.jewelofhimalayany.com.

Saigonese, 158 S. Central Ave., Hartsdale. A good spot for spring rolls, big bowls of pho, spare ribs and delicious bun vermicelli bowls with lettuce wraps. Closed on Feb. 10. Info: 914-288-9088 or www.saigonesehartsdale.com.

The Banh Mi Shop, 148 Mamaroneck Ave., White Plains. Len Dang’s specialties include grilled short ribs, a variety of banh mi sandwiches, great Brussels sprouts with lemongrass and garlic and grilled pepper shrimp. Info: 914-686-6888 or www.thebanhmishopny.com.

Vietnam’s Central, 694 Central Park Ave., Scarsdale. Tom Bui’s tasty bites include fried pot stickers, satays and jasmine fried rice. Closed Chinese New Year’s Day. Info: 914-723-7222 or www.vietnamscentral.com.

Bibille, 14 Main St., Tarrytown. Owners Junho Kim and Joohyun Kang operate a whimsical Korean fusion spot where you can build your own Bibimbap Bowl and bite into Korean fried chicken. Info: 914-372-7677 or www.bibille.com.

Cook it up yourself

You don’t have to travel to Chinatown or Flushing, Queens for authentic ingredients. If you are an intrepid home cook and want to pull the old wok out of the closet and oil it up, you may want to visit big, bustling H-Mart for a wide variety of pan-Asian products. There is a dining court and take-out, too.

H-Mart is located at 371 N. Central Ave. in Hartsdale and in the Highridge Shopping Center on Central Park Avenue in Yonkers. Visit www.hmart.com for more information.

Though smaller, New Golden Village Oriental Market at 365 Central Park Ave. in Scarsdale would also be a good bet for ingredients.

Winter Farmers Markets

Some of the area’s most popular farmers markets operate all winter, and while you may not get all the seasonal harvest that many are accustomed to in the other seasons, it still is a good place to pick up a variety of artisanal goods such as meats, cheeses, jams and bread. Here are some locations. Happy grazing!

Ossining Winter Farmers Market. Corner of Spring and Main streets, Ossining. Saturdays, 8:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. Year-round.Info: Visit www.downtoearthmarkets.com.

Pleasantville Farmers Market. 10 Memorial Plaza, Pleasantville. Saturdays, 9:30 a.m. to 12 through March. Info: Visit www.pleasantvillefarmersmarket.org.

Larchmont Winter Farmers Market. Metro-North upper lot, Chatsworth Avenue and Myrtle Boulevard, Saturdays, 8:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. Year-round. Info: Visit www.downtoearthmarkets.com.

Irvington Winter Farmers Market. Main Street School, 110 Main St., Irvington, second and fourth Sundays of the month, 9:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. Info: Visit www.theirvingtonfarmersmarket.org.

Hastings-on-Hudson Winter Farmers’ Market. 134 Southside Ave., Hastings-on-Hudson in the commuter parking lot across from the Metro-North station, first and third Saturdays of the month, 9:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. Info: Visit www.hastingsfarmersmarket.org.

Gossett’s Farm Market. Gossett Brothers Nursery, 1202 Route 35, South Salem, Saturdays, 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Year-round. Info: Visit www.gossettbrothers.com.

Cold Spring Indoor Farmers Market. Boscobel House and Gardens, 1601 Route 9D, Garrison, Saturdays, 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Info: Visit www.csfarmmarket.org.

Hudson Valley Regional Farmers Market. Hudson Valley Cerebral Palsy Association, 15 Mount Ebo Rd. South, Brewster, Sundays, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Year-round. Info: Visit www.hudsonvalleyfarmersmarket.org.

Westport Farmers Market. Gilbertie’s Herb Gardens, 7 Sylvan Lane, Westport, Conn., Thursdays, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Info: Visit www.westportfarmersmarket.com.

Morris Gut is a restaurant marketing consultant and former restaurant trade magazine editor. He has been tracking and writing about the food and dining scene in greater Westchester for 30 years. He may be reached at 914-235-6591 or gutreactions@optonline.net.