Chinese-Canadian Christmas Dinner

Our roasted pig about to be chopped into pieces...

First -- Merry Christmas everyone!

Wishing everyone all the best this holiday season.

This year we decided to forego roast turkey and have roast pig instead!

We had ordered one last year from Neptune BBQ House in Vancouver and it was around C$200 or so, but this year we were shocked to find out it was C$300, and another C$20 to chop it.

Airy meringue with whipped cream and fruit

So we asked around other places, but they too were around C$300... talk about inflation. But, with almost 20 people over for Christmas Eve dinner, we bit the bullet and ordered the roast pig at the said shop.

The pick-up time was 4pm and came five minutes early, only to find they were only halfway through roasting it!

One of the staff was good enough to give us paper cups of tea while we waited.., for half an hour.

It finally emerged from the kitchen and the sifu chopped it cleanly into numerous pieces that were carefully placed in the aluminium platter. Bits including the legs and spine were saved for congee tomorrow.

Following the maxim, "good things come to those who wait", the roast pig really was delicious, the skin a glowing russet colour, and very crispy, while the meat underneath was very tender.

Everyone enjoyed it, along with the baked salmon, Brussels sprouts with apple and bacon, braised beef with turnip, Chinese vegetarian, pickled chayote, roast goose, asparagus, and spare ribs. 

For dessert, a vanilla and strawberry mousse cake and homemade meringue topped with whipped cream and fresh fruit.