Miss Yip’s Chinese New Year

When the leading personalities in the food and hospitality industry look to launch a new restaurant, their first call is to Jennie Yip. Over the years, the restaurant consultant has become the go-to girl for top chefs, restaurateurs and hoteliers including Jean Georges Vongerichten, Andre Balazs, Ian Schrager and Jonathan Morr (her partner in Townhouse Hotel, BondSt and APT). We chatted with our globe trotting friend to ask about her passion for food, her impressive career and her plans for the upcoming Chinese New Year celebration at her namesake Shanghai brasserie in Miami, Miss Yip Chinese Cafe.

When did you discover your passion for food?
My love of food started at home with my parents who were great chefs. In the mid-90’s I worked with Jean-Georges Vongerichten (Mercer Kitchen) and Geoffrey Zakarian (44) who introduced me to organic markets and micro greens and gave me an appreciation for the taste and smell of natural herbs and spices. I learned to experiment and infuse flavors, but most of all, to cook passionately and appreciate food.

Where do you find your inspiration for new restaurant and menu concepts?
From street vendors in Bangkok to asados in Bariloche (Argentina) to hawker centers in Singapore to the Egyptian Spice Market in Istanbul, my experiences from travel are my biggest inspiration. My restaurant concepts are always finalized on the plane home. It’s the best time for me to decompress, focus, and put final thoughts to paper.

What are your plans for Chinese New Year?
Every year, I am in Miami hosting our Chinese New Year party at Miss Yip Chinese Café with my co-owner Amir Ben-Zion. We start with a 12-course dinner prepared by Chef Vincent Cheng for family and friends followed by a lion dance, which is accompanied by a gong and drums. Red packets are hung on the ceiling for guests to give to the lions, which brings good fortune. We set off firecrackers in the front of the restaurant to represent the descent of good luck.

What are some of your traditions for the holiday?
I am quite old fashioned when it comes to following the Chinese traditions taught by my mother. I clean my house a few days before Chinese New Year to sweep away the old fortune to make room for the new, decorate my business and home with paper-cut outs of popular themes of happiness, wealth and longevity, and visit a temple.

Favorite Chinese restaurant in New York?
In New York, I like Ping’s on Mott Street, Congee Village and Jing Fong for Dim Sum.

For those celebrating at home, what are some original ideas/resources?
Pearl River has a great selection of decorations like paper cut-outs and lanterns to hang in your home. KamMan on Canal Street (in New York) has amazing Chinese plastic melamine plates and porcelain tea kettles to match. It’s easy to decorate your dining table with a red tablecloth and paper animal puppets. Hand out red envelopes or “lai see” filled with money to your guests. Serve dumplings for wealth and noodles for long life.

To learn more about Chinese New Year (February 7th, 2008), click here or read The Year of the Rat (Chinese Zodiac).

For reservations at Miss Yip Chinese Cafe (1661 Meridian Avenue, Miami) call 305-534-5488.

PHOTO CREDIT: Courtesy of Bill Wissler, Jennie Yip and Pearl River