Happy New Year!

Cultures all over the world celebrate the start of a new year, regardless of the calendar used.   Traditional foods are part of  these celebrations.  Black eye peas are prepared in Africa, the Caribbean and the American South.  Suckling pig is considered lucky in Spain, Austria, Portugal, and Hungary.  Twelve grapes at the stroke of midnight is a Cuban tradition.  Lentils represent money in the new year in Italy and Hungary.  Pickled herring  is a  must in Germany and Poland.  Pastries  of all types are popular in almost every corner of the globe.   Slash Food,  Food Timeline, Cooking with Kokopelli and  WIT discuss other New Year’s rituals.  We would love to hear about your own New Year’s food traditions!

The new year is usually seen as a time to  reflect on the lessons of the past year and then wipe the slate clean and start anew. So get your taste buds ready for new recipes and restaurants in 2010!