过年How?: Firework-Backed Childbirth, Eating Wine, and Baijiu Tricks With Mosto's Anna Lin Yip
We quiz some long-term Beijingers on how they intend to spend this year's Chinese New Year and hopefully uncover some horror stories along the way. 过年 How, y'all?
You'll usually find Anna Lin Yip somewhere in one of the three Nali Patio Mosto Restaurant Group venues, where she has been running a tight ship as marketing director for the past five years. Her deft touch has helped Moka Bros, Mosto, and La Social build a strong following, as well as successfully pushing into the Shanghai market with their first non-Beijing venue back in 2017.
When Yip's is not making sure everyone's wine is topped up, she's bemoaning being old (she's not), and being the life of the party. Here she lets us in on her average Spring Festival festivities.
What's your name and where are you from?
I'm Anna Lin Yip from Denmark.
What does your average CNY entail? Where are you headed this year?
This year we’re enjoying the peace and quiet of Beijing, but normally we would head to a beach or resort somewhere in SE Asia. I recommend Knai Bang Chatt in Cambodia as one of the loveliest places I’ve been.
Tell us about a particular CNY nightmare that you've encountered.
My craziest CNY evening was spent at the hospital giving birth to my son. I was in labor for something close to 50 hours, starting on the second to last day of the Year of the Monkey, but Mali seemed adamant to be a Rooster. With fireworks lighting the sky (and a skeleton hospital staff), he was born on Jan 28, 2017.
Which dishes do you particularly look forward to gorging on every year?
Is wine a dish? Actually, in Fuzhou where my grandparents live, they serve these fantastic angel-thin rice noodles served in fermented rice wine and chicken broth with a side of a soft boiled whole egg (for good luck). That’s the best.
What are three tips for avoiding the excesses of eating and drinking that CNY is defined by?
My New Year's Resolution is to eat more veggies and less meat. If your plate is 80-plus percent veggies, I feel like you should be ok eating excessively.
If you’re with the in-laws, the kind who will judge you by the amount of baijiu you can drink, get your hands on one of these double compartment Assassin’s Teapots, and insist on being the one who pours. Baijiu for FIL, water for you. So sneaky!
Also, eat slowly. CNY is about eating all day. If you finish your plate within 20 minutes, you have two hours 40 minutes of politely stuffing your face till you burst.
How do deflect awkward family questions?
Most parents are superstitious. A simple: “I can’t talk about it, it will bring bad luck if I do,” should suffice.
When are you getting married?
Got married at age 28, kid at age 30.
What are you going to spend your hongbao haul on?
Sadly, I no longer get hongbaos, I give. Damn kid.
Do you think this year's New Year Gala will include: racism, sexism, ageism, or all of the above?
I’ve never seen it. Is it fun?
What do you predict the Year of the Pig holds for you?
I can’t talk about it, it will bring bad luck if I do.
Click here to see how a bunch of other Beijingers spent this year's CNY.
Photo courtesy of Anna Lin Yip
