Dublin’s Asia Market – Ireland’s premier Asian supermarket – has been at the forefront of importing new and exciting far eastern flavours to Ireland for over 40 years. As part of its 2023 Lunar New Year celebrations, the store has announced exclusive collaborations with leading Asian chefs, restaurants, food writers, and bloggers that will shine a spotlight on the hottest new food trends from right across South East Asia.
The Lunar New Year festivities, which are traditionally celebrated throughout the entire South East Asia region, encompassing China, Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore, South Korea, and Vietnam, begin on Sunday 22nd January 2023 and continue for 15 days – ending on Sunday 5th February 2023.
To mark the upcoming year of the rabbit, Asia Market has planned a series of unmissable South East Asian food trend-inspired showcase events that will whip Asian food fans into a frenzy. From family-friendly festival celebrations and experiences, to complimentary food & drink tastings, exclusive restaurant takeovers, ‘Flash In The Pan?’ panel discussions, ‘Taste The Trends’ Bites Boxes, and a Lunar New Year Celebration Cocktail Kit, there are lots of ways to get involved in the festivities.
2: Asia Market’s Eva Pau (left), Food Writer Ali Dunworth (middle) and Food Blogger & Content Creator Irah Mari Pebredo (right)
Commenting on Asia Market’s plans for the upcoming Lunar New Year celebrations, the company’s Commercial Director, Eva Pau, said: “I am very excited to launch the theme for this year’s Asia Market Lunar New Year celebrations. Asia Market has been at the forefront of bringing the hottest new Asian food trends to Ireland for over 40 years now and is something we’ve become well known for. A go-to destination for chefs, restaurants and home cooks alike to access the latest ingredients. These compelling new collaborations and events allow us to showcase South East Asian flavours and textures in a really exciting experiential way that the whole family can enjoy.”
Sunday 22nd January – ‘Flash In The Pan?’ Food Trends Panel Discussion
Asia Market’s 2023 Lunar New Year festivities will kick off on Sunday 22nd January 2023 with an in-store ‘Flash In The Pan?’ South East Asian food trend-inspired panel discussion hosted by leading Food Writer & Consultant, Ali Dunworth.
She will be joined on stage by Asia Market’s Commercial Director, Eva Pau, along with Chef Richie Castillo from popular Filipino food truck, Bahay, Irish Food Blogger & Content Creator, Irah Mari Pebredo (from Foodstagram.ie), and award-winning Dublin Chinese restaurant Big Fan Bao’s Owner, Robert Hayes, and Head Chef, Alex Zhang.
Together they’ll discuss the hottest and most exciting new South East Asian Food trends, flavours and ingredients for 2023 and how these will influence and inspire what they cook and how we’re likely to eat in the year ahead. At the same time Asian food fans will be given the opportunity to taste some of the panel’s favourite flavours, with complimentary samples being handed out to attendees. This session is free to attend and will run at the back of Asia Market’s Dublin city centre Drury Street store from 12pm to 12.45pm on Sunday 22nd January 2023.
2: Mad Hatter’s Chinese Tea Party Experience
Sunday 29th January – Family-Friendly Festival Celebrations:
The following weekend, Asia Market, working with city partners, will host a day of family-friendly festival celebrations. Between 12pm to 5pm an eye-catching ten metre-long Chinese dragon will dance its way through Dublin city centre and down towards the action on Drury Street, where the sounds of oriental music and Asian aromas will fill the air. Shoppers will be tempted towards a street market selling traditional Asian arts and crafts, and tuk tuk stalls handing out sumptuous samples for passersby to enjoy. Complimentary Japanese Chicken & Vegetable Gyoza and Pork & Chinese Chive Dumplings, to ‘year of the rabbit’ themed Steamed Bunny Bao Buns and a variety of Mochi Monkey Bubble Teas are guaranteed to get shoppers into the festival mood. Meanwhile, in-store families will be able to avail of free kids entertainment that is set to include face painting, balloon artists, origami workshops, and more in a showcase of Chinese culture.
Sunday 29th January – Mad Hatter’s Chinese Tea Party Experience:
On the same day, Asia Market’s Drury Street store will host a magical one of a kind Mad Hatter’s Chinese Tea Party Experience for children aged between four and eight years of age (children must be accompanied by an adult) that will run throughout the day between 12pm and 5pm.
Upstairs, away from the hustle and bustle of the shop floor, children will be transported down the rabbit hole to a world of enchantment as they pull out a chair and take a seat alongside the Mad Hatter. There, they will be served Chinese tea and a treasure trove of Asian treats by the White Rabbit, while Alice regales them with stories of traditional Chinese folk tales. Young attendees will also take home an Asia Market goodie bag brimming with dainty delights to remember the experience by. The 40-minute long Mad Hatter’s Chinese Tea Party Experience, which is limited to 10 children per session, is priced at €20.00 per child + booking fee and can be booked online now via Eventbrite.
Thursday 2nd February – Asia Market Lunar New Year Restaurant Takeover @ Chimac
On Thursday 2nd February 2023 (7.30pm start), Asia Market will be teaming up with Korean-influenced fried chicken mecca, Chimac – one of the store’s local customers – for a Lunar New Year Restaurant Takeover of its hip new Terenure premises.
This one-off experience will see diners and their taste buds taken on a journey of discovery, greeted by traditional Chinese lion dancers and drummers, before sitting down to enjoy a series of innovative dishes highlighting hot new flavour combinations from across South East Asia.
The Asia Market Lunar New Year collaboration will see Richie Castillo of acclaimed Filipino food truck, Bahay, joining forces with Chimac’s Owner & Head Chef, Garret Fitzgerald, and Karen Smith (of Curated By Karen), former Pastry Chef at China Sichuan, to create a menu that celebrates South Asian cuisine (namely Filipino, Korean, and Chinese dishes), which will remain a secret until the night.
Their take on what tastes and textures are going to be a hit in 2023, using ingredients sourced from Asia Market, will be accompanied by a specially created welcome cocktail to mark the Lunar New Year celebrations. Diners will leave with Asia Market goodie bags packed full of some of South East Asia’s tastiest new trend-setting sweet and savoury snacks for them to enjoy at home. Tickets for the Asia Market Lunar New Year Restaurant Takeover @ Chimac are priced at €95.00 per person + booking fee, which includes all food, drink, and entertainment, and can be booked online now at Eventbrite.com.
2: Asia Market’s Eva Pau
Lunar New Year ‘Taste The Trends’ Bites Box
Throughout the Lunar New Year Festival period, Asian food lovers around the country will be able to welcome in the year of the rabbit by having some of the tastiest new South East Asian snacks delivered directly to their door. Asia Market will be offering a Lunar New Year ‘Taste The Trends’ Bites Box, consisting of sweet and savoury snacks and drinks that will introduce your taste buds to some of the most unique and exciting flavours and textures to come out of South East Asia in recent months. Sure to satisfy both your curiosity and your cravings, it will include the likes of Salted Egg Popcorn, Crispy Korean-style Seaweed with Almonds, and Hot Chilli Chicken Ramen. The Lunar New Year ‘Taste The Trends’ Bites Box is available for €38.00 plus delivery and can be purchased online now at asiamarket.ie for nationwide delivery until 28th February 2023.
Lunar New Year Celebration Cocktail Kit
If you fancy getting into the festive spirit with some South East Asian-inspired tipples, then you can shake things up with Asia Market’s Lunar New Year Celebration Cocktail Kit. To mark the occasion, Asia Market has partnered with two of the store’s most avid shoppers, Food Writers and cocktail aficionados, the GastroGays, to create two trendy South East Asian influenced cocktail recipes. The first, a fiery ‘Soju Mule’, is a twist on the classic Moscow Mule, showcasing South Korean spirit, Soju, and the second is a creamy strawberry-flavoured Snowball-esque, ‘Yaku Chika’, made using Japanese Hakutsuru Chika Sake. Chin-chin!
The Lunar New Year Celebration Cocktail Kit is priced at €60.00 plus delivery and includes easy to follow recipe cards and all of the ingredients (enough to make 12 cocktails in total) needed to make both signature cocktails in the comfort of your own home. Order yours online now at www.asiamarket.ie for nationwide delivery until 28th February 2023.
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