Take the Luck of the Draw this Lunar New Year, Free seafood meal, courtesy of Love Seafood, at Pontypridd restaurant

Photography (© Matt Horwood): Janet Wei, owner of Janet’s Authentic Northern Chinese Restaurant, Pontypridd.

Were you born in the Year of the Tiger? If so, your luck is set to change for the better this week, because Love Seafood has teamed up with Janet’s Authentic Northern Chinese Restaurant in Pontypridd to offer a discounted or even free seafood meal to celebrate the Lunar New Year.

In Chinese culture, “birth years” are considered unlucky, but that’s certainly not the case at Janet’s restaurant as Love Seafood is offering anyone born in the Year of the Tiger 25%, 50% or 100% off their food bill from Thursday 10 February. If ordering a seafood dish, diners will be asked to choose a lucky red envelope containing a voucher, mirorring the red envelopes traditionally used to gift money to friends and family during Lunar New Year.

The Lunar New Year is a festival typically celebrated in China and other Asian countries that begins with the first new moon of the lunar calendar. Seafood is often enjoyed during celebrations as the word fish, which is pronounced ‘yu’ in Chinese, signifies abundance, and is a sign of prosperity.

The Year of the Tiger takes place every 12 years. Don’t know if you were born in the year of the tiger? If you were born in 1926, 1938, 1950, 1962, 1974, 1986, 1998 or 2010 then you can claim your lucky red envelope.

Janet’s Authentic Northern Chinese Restaurant is owned by Janet Wei who moved to Wales four years ago after working as cabin crew for Gulf Air. A Chinese Korean native, Janet wanted to bring her passion for Chinese cooking to Wales and has firmly put her street food style restaurant on the map as a must-visit.

Janet said: “Two of the most popular dishes on our menu are seafood based; our Southeast Asian mixed seafood fried noodles and our seafood hotpot. Seafood plays such an important role in Chinese cooking, especially during the Lunar New Year. We’re excited to invite our customers in to join our celebrations and perhaps try a new seafood dish.”

Greg Smith, Head of Marketing at Love Seafood said: “Seafood is popular across many cultural celebrations and key calendar events such as Lunar New Year. This celebration sees many families across the country come together to enjoy a special meal. Seafood works fantastically well with the fresh and vibrant flavours which are so often seen on menus at Asian restaurants so I’d encourage you to give the seafood option a try the next time you’re dining out.”

If you were born in the Year of the Tiger all you have to do is head along to the restaurant from Thursday 10 February. Red envelopes will be handed out at the till point and are available while stocks last.

For more Lunar New Year recipe inspiation visit www.loveseafood.co.uk