Inspiration for Firecracker Chicken

Chef Andy remembers celebrating Chinese New Year as a child – “the sights, the sounds, and of course, all the great food. When creating a recipe, I call upon my culinary knowledge to bring out the excitement of such memories.”

Chef Andy and the other chefs at Panda Express wish you good fortune with a taste of their special Firecracker Chicken - experience the colors and explosive festivities of Chinese New Year!

Tray of Togetherness

A Tray of Togetherness is a traditional gift given to friends
and families during Chinese New Year to wish them good
health and a sweet & prosperous year. It is typically circular
or octagonal shaped and has eight compartments filled with
an assortment of sweets and sugared fruits and vegetables.
Why eight might you ask? The number eight is a lucky
number in Chinese culture since it sounds phonetically like
prosperity and fortune.

Chef Andy has the following tips for creating your own
authentic Tray of Togetherness:

Start with a circular or octagonal shaped tray that has eight
compartments (or create compartments by using eight small
sheets of heavy paper). Then fill each compartment with
treats – a different treat for each compartment. Below are
some suggestions on what treats to use: