A pig for the Year of the Rooster?

If you’re tired of seeing roosters this Chinese New Year season, look for the pig at Sing Cheong Yuan Bakery.

The swine-shaped moon cake has a lotus filling and can be found next to traditional moon cakes in the tiny shop at 1027 Maunakea St.

Why a pig and not a rooster?

“I don’t know why,” said Lee Wu, who works at the shop only during the New Year celebration. “(They) made it just for fun.” She added that eating pork is good luck, which is why people buy roast pork for special occasions.

At $4.25 only a few pig-shaped cakes are left, so call 531-6688 first to check the supply. Or take a chance. If all the piggies are gone, Sing Cheong always has many other delectable items to choose from.

Michelle Ramos, Star-Advertiser

Yes, it’s Chinese New Year, but don’t forget Tet

With all the hurrah in Chinatown this week, it’s easy to overlook the fact that Saturday’s Lunar New Year will be celebrated throughout Asia, not just in China.

But Chinatown does offer a sampling of some of those other New Year’s food traditions — particularly those of the Vietnamese Tet celebration.

For example: Banh chung is a square bundle of sticky rice, mung bean and pork, wrapped in banana leaf and tied up in a checkerboard pattern. It’s similar to Chinese joong (also called zongzi), although the Chinese version is traditionally triangular.

Find it on North King Street just Ewa of Maunakea Street: Hong’s Grocery, at 170 N. King St.; and Vinh Thinh Market, 190 N. King St.

Or, the annual Tet Festival takes place from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday in Kapiolani Park. Call 728-2403.

Betty Shimabukuro, Star-Advertiser

Good Food Awards cite candy makers

Two Oahu-made candies were named winners of the 2017 Good Food Awards, announced Saturday in San Francisco.

The Milk and Ginger bar from Lonohana Hawaiian Estate Chocolate was recognized in the chocolate category, and Hawaiian Nougat Co.’s Lilikoi Nougat under confections.

The 193 winning food and drink products were chosen from among 2,095 entries by a panel of 250 judges based on taste, environmental consciousness and connection to communities and cultural traditions.

Lonohana produces a line of handcrafted chocolate bars using cacao grown on the North Shore and processed in a factory in Honolulu (call 223-9997). Hawaiian Nougat’s French-style candies, made with local ingredients, are sold at Foodland stores and Whole Foods Markets (call 926-4885).

The national awards are presented by a collaboration of food retailers. For a list of all the winners, go to goodfoodawards.org/ 2017-winners.

Star-Advertiser staff