While the typical “Mrs. Homemaker” is busy setting up yet another traditional feast of dumplings and meat dishes for the coming Lunar New Year, the modern-day “Ms. Homemaker” can view this holiday as an opportunity to display the talent for delighting her guests with the unexpected. As this coming year is the auspicious Year of the Rat, the fellow who is first in line and first in everything, nothing would speak to style and grace better than throwing your very own rat-themed Lunar New Year party!
Too Little, Too Much
Fun hinges upon the number of guests you invite. Too many literally gives little room for cheer. Too little paints the unhappy picture of an unpopular host. Select your closest and most cherished friends, those few who naturally exude merriment and some roguery, keeping the number to a dozen or so.
The Cover-Up
As any good party is an occasion for feasting, the table becomes the singular focus of the evening and therefore must be beautifully set. Stick with the traditional holiday colors of red, representing good luck, and gold, symbolizing wealth and happiness, but strictly as decorative flourishes. Use a simple but elegant white tablecloth to accent the finishing touches as the works of art they are; I suggest china gilded in a sparking gold. If you would like to use standard white china, then offset the white-on-white with a festive red cloth place setting. Should the food turn out badly, the beautifully set table will leave a lasting impression upon your guests and prove, yet again, that style triumphs over substance.
Table Confetti
For a sense of spontaneity, rat-shaped confetti strewn over a tabletop soothes the madcap soul. Place a rat-shaped stencil on a red streamer and carefully outline the form with a pencil, repeating until you reach the end. Carefully cut out the form with a single-edged razor blade on a cutting mat. A tedious task to be sure! Here, use a little of your modern-day ingenuity and try to organize a “fun” game with you children. Take care they don’t shred their poor little porker fingers! Recycle the streamers by draping them along the wall and then, with complete abandon, sprinkle the cutouts atop the white tablecloth.
Origami Flourishes
Foreshadow what’s to be consumed by decorating your plates with origami rats. Find a simple origami rat-pattern that is easy to follow. Upon the ironing board, starch and iron a brown or gray, square linen tablecloth. Every new fold or crease should be followed with a starch spritz and firm once-over with the iron. Doing so will keep the integrity of the shape. Hot glue gun sparkling red crystals for eyes. This will give the rats a sense of personality and whimsy. Place the origami rat facing the seated guest for a heart-to-heart when she is on her third glass of Ricard.
Edible Centerpiece
A respectable centerpiece needs to be significantly larger-than-life in order to inspire awe and fear. A crowd pleaser, to be sure, will be the 2-foot tall replica of the very rodent that has inspired such an original fete!
This exercise in baking artistry depends upon the level of skill you have, but the modern-day Ms. Homemaker will rise to the challenge. Purchase four boxes of red velvet cake mix and follow the directions accordingly. When the eight cakes have cooled, level and then stack them up. I like to imagine that I am recreating the magnificent Tower of Pisa. To keep the layers secure, mix up some red food dye and icing and spread it between each layer. Carve the bottom two-thirds of the cake tower into the shape of a bell and the top one-third into a sphere for the head.
Whip up a second icing mixture using gray food dye. Be sure to put down a thin crumb layer all over before the final smooth layer. With black icing, pipe an outline for the legs and front paws. You may choose to give texture to your creation by inserting black licorice whips that have been cut an inch in length to simulate its coarse hairs. Braid three black licorice strands for a tail. A rubber mouse snout and ears should be purchased before hand and then placed on the head. Use large, red jelly beans for eyes.
For added effect, you may want to have brown jelly beans strewn across the table. Most importantly, to offset distaste, be sure to secure a civilizing bow tie around the rat’s neck. This masterpiece will elicit oohs and aahs when presented. Bask in the moment of your glory. Strike a pose. Guests will be especially pleased when carving of the sweet, edible beast.
Don’t Forget the Kids!
Drunk on rat-shaped cake and high-quality liquor, the guests should relax and gather in the living room to watch the children play a game of “Let’s Forage for Food!” The rules are simply this: The children put on costumes — for levity, have them pretend to be a favorite fictional rat, such as Stuart Little, Templeton, Mrs. Frisby, Ratatouille’s Rémy, etc. — and let them roam on all fours looking for leftovers. Be sure to hide their dinner in inconspicuous places. This ensures the game will entertain.
Let this celebration inspire a lighthearted foot forward into the coming Lunar New Year. Remember that style and grace is everything and substance only a poor man’s tool. Happy Year of the Rat!
