Raw fish salad (yu sheng) is often served for good luck, and edible angel hair seaweed is also popular. Also typically served this time of the year are lobster, scallops and conch, which is sliced thinly, sauteed and presented with vegetables and tofu at Pearl.Lew and her brother also own another restaurant, Emerald in Kearney Mesa. She said their restaurants serve Cantonese cuisine because the people in that part of China live near enough to the coast to avail themselves of fresh ingredients and seafood.

"To live well is to eat well," said Lew "and Cantonese food is the best because the Cantonese love to eat. "In Cantonese, the word for lettuce (sang choi) sounds like other words meaning "to bring about wealth and riches," so it is common to serve a lettuce wrap filled with other lucky foods. read more