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An international array of restaurants will be offering a variety of festive dishes for the holiday season across Maple Ridge and Pitt Meadows.
In many cultures the holiday season is a time to get together with family over food and enjoy the time spent together.
In Peru, Christmas is a cherished time when Peruvians gather with family and friends to enjoy delicious Creole dishes, explained Giuliana Curiante, and Chef Jean Mark Fuente, owners of Inkantu Peru Restaurant in Pitt Meadows.
Christmas in Peru, is called Navidad, and on Christmas Eve, Peruvians celebrate with a late dinner at around midnight with traditional dishes including roast turkey or roast pork, a sweet bread called paneton, enjoyed with hot chocolate.
At midnight families exchange gifts and toast with champagne or hot chocolate.
Nativity scenes, called nacimientos, and Christmas trees are important, explained Curiante.
Fuente said they are already dreaming of festive flavours at Inkantu and will have their Peruvian festive menu ready soon which will include: turkey or roast pork, sweet potato or apple puree, fresh salads, two classic types of rice to choose from, and their signature dish – ceviches, a cold dish generally made with fresh seafood, tomatoes, cucumber, red onion, cilantro, and citrus juices.
“Get ready for a celebration full of Peruvian flavor,” said Fuente.
Georgina Nikolopoulos, co-owner of Pyrgos Taverna, a family owned and operated Greek restaurant in Maple Ridge, explained the Greek tradition of vassilopita, which is a New Year’s cake.
The cake is a sweet, vanilla cake, traditionally with a cross made of dough on top, and a lucky coin is concealed in the middle. It is usually cut at midnight on New Year’s Eve with the first slice going to Jesus Christ, the second slice to the Virgin Mary, and the third slice going to the household.
Then each family member is served, starting with the eldest, and who ever finds the lucky coin, is supposed to have good luck and fortune for the rest of the year.
At Pyrgos Taverna, roasted lamb and souvlaki are favourite dishes for the holidays.
The lamb is slow roasted in the oven with a unique blend of seasoning, served with Greek rice, roasted potatoes, salad, and tzatziki and pita bread.
In India Christmas is referred to as Bada din, or big day, but there are many Indian and Punjabi festivals that are celebrated throughout the year, including Diwali, Holi, and Baisakhi.
Although each of these festivals have their own traditions when it comes to food, as part of the cultural customs of India, before any festival, every home is cleaned and refreshed to welcome positivity and good energy, explained Swarnjit and Joginder Shah, the proud owners of The GM Restaurant in Maple Ridge.
The Shah’s will be offering a variety of platters and combos for the holiday season, including shahi paneer combos, chicken curry thalis, and an assortment of samosas and pakoras, in addition to homemade cheesecakes.
“For us, it’s not just about Indian cuisine—we want to bring different cultures together, especially as the world continues to feel like a smaller, more connected place.”
• Check out upcoming Maple Ridge Pitt Meadows News editions for more stories in our Live Here, Shop Here series.