Sagittarius Bento

The sun is currently travelling through Sagittarius, the exuberant zodiac sign of international travel, cultural pursuits, philosophy, and high-spirited celebration.

Lucy Ash writes in her excellent cookbook A Taste of Astrology that the foods of this jovial sign are "sweet, fragrant, spicy and strong" and include cloves, asparagus, figs, mushrooms, sage, chestnuts, game, pears,  tropical fruits, and curries.

I'd like to suggest an additional edible metaphor for generous, warm, and adventurous Sagittarius: the dumpling. Culinary world travelers, dumplings have journeyed over vast territories, carrying flavors and delight across borders.

Along Silk Road trade paths, Central Asian mantu, Korean mandu and Turkish manti mingled and offered warming joy. A carefully prepared dumpling embodies craft, pleasure, and the sharing of international influences--all quite Sagittarian themes!

Chilled by newly sharpened December winds, we recently went in search of dumpling comfort at Sichuan Village in Chantilly, VA. Near Dulles International Airport, it is often filled with hungry groups of Chinese tourists just touched down in the D.C. area.

On this visit, there were delicate crystal shrimp dumplings with pretty crimped edges, puffy, tender green vegetable buns, ginger-chicken half-moons, and a selection of excellent pickles. Here are crisp zig-zag cut cucumber pickles drenched in red pepper oil:

Sichuan pickles, pungent and salty:

Crystal shrimp dumplings:

Ginger chicken dumplings:

Salt and pepper squid:

The Sagittarius bento features dumpling varieties from Sichuan Village, along with asparagus, watercress, beech mushrooms, sage, chestnuts, yellow peppers, fresh figs, and an exotic pink Indian coconut sweet with pistachios (photographed on a print of the Turkish Piri Reis map from 1513). Here's to international culinary exploration, exchange, and inspiration!