TRAVERSE CITY — Holidays are all about new experiences and old traditions. The Good Bowl in Traverse City is merging the two for Chinese Lunar New Year, also known as Tết in Vietnamese culture.
“There’s not a ton of ethnic diversity here, so our goal is to really bring our food and also our culture to the city,” said co-owner Soon Hagerty. “I think Vietnamese culture is becoming very, very diverse, becoming more global... Vietnamese people are hard working. They’re very humble, but they’re great learners.”
Traditionally, Asian families get together for a few weeks to eat together and celebrate the new year. Hagerty hopes to bring those traditions to Traverse City.
“We’re doing a whole five-course meal [based] on foods that create great luck...so that is your lucky dumplings, your longevity noodles, and then some housemade black sesame ice cream.”
With each pleat folded into the dumpling dough, it’s believe to add more luck. You can see how to make your own dumplings in the video below.
“Everybody has their own dumpling recipe. Everybody has their different fillings that [are] really about prosperity.”
The Good Bowl is featuring a Dumpling Domination over the next three weeks, with different chefs competing to create the best dumpling. Customers will get the honor of picking their favorite.
Starting Monday, Jan. 27, if customers get their food in a 2025 Lucky Bowl, their bowl is free.
Tuesday, Jan. 28 is the five-course Passport Tết Dinner. Seats can be purchased here.
Wednesday, Jan. 29 is the official kickoff to the Tết/Lunar New Year, celebrated with the Good Luck Meal and a red envelope with a potential prize.
Learn how to make traditional dumplings
