Meals are an integral part of the Chinese custom during this festivity, and the kitchen surface plays a crucial role as family members come together to cook or bake up a storm. It is more important than ever now to select the right kitchen surface to keep your sanity in check as you brace yourself for the busiest time of the year ensuring your family have the best time and are on the right track to welcome the New Year.
Selecting a kitchen countertop surface that is safe for baking and cooking
The Lunar New Year is the time where most families will dish out all their kitchen equipment as they knead and dough away to create an abundance of traditional delicacies such as pineapple tarts that symbolise a sweet life to a new year, or Chinese peanut cookies which symbolises longevity and health. Hence, it is important to select a safe and toxic-free countertop to ensure that any meals or delicacies would be safe for consumption. For example, the Ethereal by Silestone collection is made of the HybriQ+ technology, where the presence of crystalline silica is significantly reduced, which means you can rest assured that no harmful or artificial gases will be emitted affecting the food prepared on it.
Toss for prosperity without worrying about stains
Most Chinese families in Malaysia enjoy coming together to share meals, typically preparing two key dishes that are a common favourite for sharing. The first would be “Yusheng” known as “Prosperity Toss” consisting of various sauces and condiments among other ingredients. Secondly would be hotpot or steamboat. As these dishes contain various sauces and condiments, it is very easy for surfaces to absorb and leave unwanted stains. Opt for a durable and easy-to-maintain surface with low porosity that guarantees zero liquid absorption.
Beautify your spaces with surfaces
A big part of any festivities is its ambience and decorations. A good kitchen surface is vital when hosting and contributing to the overall Lunar meal experience. You can go for a classy-marble inspired piece, or elegant yet festive colours like minimal red, gold or even pink. Next to your dining surfaces, add a small tangerine or kumquat tree display which signifies a year of growing wealth and prosperity for the new year.
This article is edited by the CHX team. Original text and images courtesy of Cosentino Malaysia.
