Mariano’s in Chicago’s South Loop will host its annual Lunar New Year event on February 7th, featuring lion dances, cultural traditions, and authentic cuisine
Celebrate the Year of the Horse with Mariano’s
Lion dances and authentic cuisine will take over Mariano’s South Loop for their annual Lunar New Year celebration. The event starts on Saturday, February 7th, at 1615 S Clark St, Chicago, IL 60616. Attendees can learn about different cultural traditions while enjoying amazing dishes.
Chef Bill Kim, owner of Urbanbelly, visited ABC7 Chicago to discuss this year’s celebration. He also demonstrated how to make Japchae, a popular Korean dish.
Japchae Recipe
| Ingredients | Amount |
|---|---|
| Sweet potato starch noodles (dangmyeon) | 8 oz |
| White mushrooms, cleaned and sliced | 8 oz |
| Small white onion, sliced | 1 (about 8 oz) |
| Large carrot, cut into matchsticks | 1 |
| Stir-fried sauce, divided | 1/2 cup |
| Olive oil | 3 tbsp |
| Garlic, minced | 1 tsp |
| Marinated beef or chicken | 8 oz |
| Baby spinach | 8 oz |
| Egg crepe, sliced thin | 1 cup |
| Scallions, chopped | 1/2 cup |
| Sesame oil | 1 tbsp |
Stir-Fried Sauce
| Ingredients | Amount |
|---|---|
| Gluten-free soy sauce | 1/2 cup |
| Water | 1/2 cup |
| Sugar | 4 tbsp |
| Sesame oil | 2 tbsp |
| Garlic, minced | 1 tbsp |
| Roasted sesame seeds | 1 tbsp |
| Ground black pepper | 1/2 tsp |
Preparation Steps
Whisk all stir-fried sauce ingredients together in a small bowl.
For the egg crepe garnish, whisk 2 eggs with a pinch of kosher salt. Heat 1 tsp olive oil in a nonstick pan over medium-high heat. Pour in the egg mixture, tilting the pan to coat evenly. Cook for 1 minute without browning. Flip, remove from heat, cool for 5 minutes, then slice into thin strips.
For marinated steak or chicken, combine 8 oz beef skirt steak or chicken breast with 1/2 cup stir-fried sauce. Marinate for at least 1 hour.
Soak the sweet potato noodles in cold water for 45 minutes until soft. Drain. Bring 8 cups of water to a boil. Cook noodles for 4 minutes until soft and translucent. Drain and transfer to a large bowl. Toss with 1/2 cup stir-fried sauce.
Heat a large sauté pan over medium-high heat. Add olive oil, then garlic, carrots, mushrooms, onions, and scallions. Cook for about 2 minutes until tender and translucent. Add marinated beef or chicken, remaining stir-fried sauce, and spinach. Cook for 2 more minutes. Add noodles and cook for 1 additional minute, mixing well. Transfer to a serving plate. Garnish with egg crepe strips, chopped scallions, and drizzle with sesame oil.
