KARACHI: The best way to celebrate any Chinese event is by digging into a heaped platter of egg fried rice with a generous helping of any gravy, preferably sweet and sour chicken or beef, but not before having a steaming bowl of chicken corn or hot and sour soup, mind you.

And that`s what everyone was doing on the eve of the Chinese New Year of the Rabbit being ushered in the most befitting way at the Nami Zumi restaurant at Karachi Marriott Hotel here on Friday.

You could taste all the sumptuous Chinese specialties with a market spread of Asian food on carts. There was a soup cart with skinned chickens hanging on hooks from the front along with the soup pots. An assortment of ingredient s including noodles, meats, seafood, etc, was also laid out on another cart to add to the bubbling hotpots to cook and enjoy one`s own delectable concoctions.

Even before the soup therewere small portions of finger fish and Beijing beef being served over bits of cabbage sprinkled with soy sauce in small glasses. Some of the dishes in the main course served as a buffet included Kung Pao Chicken, Beef Mongolian, Wok Chart Chicken, Stir Fry Beef Pepper, Mix Vegetables, Honey ChilliEggplant, Prawn Tempura, Steamed Crabs and Rabbit Cuts, of course, since it was the Year of the Rabbit being welcomed after all.

The Chinese food that one is familiar within Pakistan is basically a fusion of Pakistani and Chinese cuisine done to suit the local palate. There was also the option of enjoy-ing the food with chopsticks or relishing it with just a fork and spoon the normal way. To add a more local touch to it, this scribe took off the slice of lime from the fresh lime drink to squeeze over prawn tempura.

Chef Yasir Bin Yamin shared a bit of history about the Chinese lunar years, whichwas followed by a traditional dragon dance by a very funny little red and gold dragon with sharp white teeth who seemed to want to try food from everyone`s plate.

Later, while addressing the guests, Chinese diplomat Yang Guangyuan said that he was happy to be celebrating the new year with friendsin Pakistan.

`It`s occasions like these that you miss being with your loved ones the most,` he said.

`But here in this restaurant, the decorations are Chinese, the music is Chinese and, most importantly, the food is Chinese,` he added before wishing everyone a Happy New Year of the Rabbit.