Feasts, Families and Good Fortune: The Flavours of Lunar New Year with Luke Nguyen

By Marie-Antoinette Issa 

For Chef Luke Nguyen, Lunar New Year is never just a date on the calendar - it’s a doorway back to childhood, to scents and sounds, and to the familiar flavours that shaped his earliest recollections. "It’s memory, emotion and family all coming together at once. No matter where I am or how busy life becomes, Lunar New Year always takes me back to my roots and reminds me where I come from.”

It’s easy to imagine young Luke in the early morning light, the kitchen alive with the scent of slow-cooked pork and caramelised fish. But, as he reflects, it wasn’t any lone dish that left the deepest impression - it was the gathering itself. "More than any single dish, it was the moment when the whole family finally sat down together after visiting temples, sharing food, laughing and enjoying those auspicious dishes. That sense of togetherness stays with me and influences how I cook today.”

Central to these celebrations was banh chung, a sticky rice cake wrapped in leaves, stuffed with mung bean and pork. "We made it together as a family - washing the leaves, soaking the rice, tying the parcels. It taught me patience, respect for ingredients and the importance of cooking with intention. Those lessons still guide me, whether I’m cooking at home or professionally.”

 

Even now, Luke keeps the essence of these traditions alive, even if the rituals have evolved slightly. "For me, the most important tradition is togetherness and gratitude. Prosperity and longevity matter, but connection is what really defines the celebration for me.”

This year, Luke brings those values - and his culinary mastery - to Fat Noodle at The Star Sydney with a two-night-only Lunar New Year banquet on Wednesday 25 and Friday 27 February. The ticketed event promises a high-energy, communal celebration of flavour, family and fortune-rich symbolism. "They can expect generous flavours, celebratory energy and a menu rooted in tradition. It’s designed to feel welcoming, lively and communal rather than formal.”

Food has always been Luke’s way of telling stories. And, sharing these traditions with diners is profoundly intimate. "Lunar New Year is deeply personal, so being able to share that experience with guests - especially those who may be new to these traditions - feels like a privilege. Food is a natural way to welcome people in and tell those stories.”

Designing the menu was a careful balancing act between tradition and signature style. "The meaning always comes first. You can refine techniques or presentation, but the symbolism must remain intact. With dishes like longevity noodles, it’s about restraint - keeping the flavours honest and letting the tradition speak for itself.”

Luke brings these themes to life on the plate through shared dishes, balance and symbolism. "The food is designed to be enjoyed communally, encouraging conversation, movement around the table and a relaxed sense of celebration.” Guests begin with a sparkling kalamansi lemonade with salted plum mocktail, followed by a procession of festive dishes: Prosperity Fatt Choy Yu Sheng with Atlantic salmon sashimi, sesame, peanuts and caramelised tamarind dressing; Fortune Treasures Soup, a luxurious double-boiled broth with abalone, sea cucumber and fish maw; Treasure Thit Kho pork belly with conpoy and glutinous rice flan; Auspicious steamed coral trout with morel mushroom and saffron coconut sauce; Longevity spanner crab e-fu noodles, gently braised with egg white; and Happiness Vietnamese coffee flan with coconut meringue to finish.

The six-course menu is designed around the festival’s most meaningful themes: prosperity, longevity, and togetherness. Ingredients like abalone, fish maw, coral trout and spanner crab aren’t everyday foods. "Growing up, when something like abalone appeared on the table, it marked a special occasion. Using these ingredients is my way of honouring that sense of celebration.”

For Luke, longevity noodles hold personal significance. "They symbolise long life and continuity, and they remind you not to overwork a dish.” But more than symbolism, it’s the communal nature of the meal that defines Lunar New Year. "Food has a unique ability to connect people. That sense of openness and warmth is what the Lunar New Year is all about.”

Even the unseen details - the pacing of the meal, how dishes are shared and the progression of flavours - have been carefully orchestrated. "A lot of thought goes into pacing and balance, how dishes are shared, how the meal unfolds and how the flavours progress. These details help create a smooth, harmonious experience.” For home cooks hoping to recreate a festive vibe, Luke’s advice is simple yet profound. "Cook something that takes time and care… Focus on shared dishes. Sit together, eat together and enjoy the moment. That’s what makes it special.” And if he had to sum up Lunar New Year in one dish it would be banh chung. "It’s simple - sticky rice, mung bean and pork. It represents patience, family and tradition,” he says.

This Lunar New Year, Luke will be celebrating as he always does: "By cooking, sharing food and spending time with family.” But for diners at Fat Noodle, that spirit of home transforms into a rare, high-energy culinary spectacle. For two nights only, guests can experience the smells, sights, sounds and (of course!) flavours of a traditional Vietnamese celebration elevated to festival-level indulgence - a banquet designed not just to fill plates, but to connect hearts.

Event Details:
What: Lunar New Year Feast with Luke Nguyen
Where: Fat Noodle, The Star Sydney
When: Wednesday 25 February & Friday 27 February 2026
Time: 6.00pm – 9.00pm
Experience: Six-course Lunar New Year banquet with welcome mocktail
Price: $168 per person
Bookings: Tickets via Eventbrite