Poon choi: A Cantonese highlight of Spring Festival

On the eve of Chinese New Year, the must-have dish on every Cantonese dinner table is the magnificent and auspicious poon choi, which contains up to 20 luxury ingredients served in a big wooden or clay-pot bowl. The dish literally translates to "basin feast" because the dish was originally served in a washbasin.

The story goes that the dish was invented during the Song Dynasty (960-1279) to serve a young emperor when he and his army fled to the area around Guangdong province and Hong Kong. To treat them, local villagers cooked all the best food available and placed them in big washbasins for sharing.

With all the delicacies served together in a round container, the dish fosters auspicious meanings of unity and prosperity, and is served during traditional holidays and celebrations.