SUE WONG’S CHINESE NEW YEAR PARTY
Many years ago, in the heyday of my show, Karen’s Restaurant Revue, I used to celebrate Chinese New year all the time at Genghis Cohen, my favorite Chinese restaurant in L.A. The owner then, the uber-generous Allan Rinde, made it one of the events of the season.
It’s been a long while since he sold that place, so I haven’t gotten to enjoy this event since. But that all changed this year, (with my luck, too, I hope!,) with a fabulous Chinese New Year’s celebration at the historic home of designer Sue Wong. Her Los Feliz villa is named The Cedars, and there couldn’t have been a more perfect place for this fete.
This house has so much history, including Dennis Hopper living there while he made Easy Rider, with part of it even filmed on the premises! (Do you believe that I’ve still never seen that movie?!)
Vanessa Marsot and Karen Salkin. But the purpose of this picture isn’t to show the girls; it’s to show the opulent decor of just one little room in this massive villa.
In all my years of party-going, I’ve rarely run into a more generous hostess than Sue Wong. This lavish soiree she threw must have rivaled those of Kublai Khan in Xanadu! (I’m assuming they were great, since I, obviously, was not there!) I’m sure that many of the guests didn’t deserve such opulence, but Vanessa and I were thrilled to be included.
I was so impressed that just about everybody was dressed appropriately for the occasion. Most ladies wore at least cocktail attire, with many even in gowns. Vanessa and I even went crazy with our Asian jewelry; I was rocking one long earring of Chinese food designs, with the other one being a horse, to honor this new Year of the Horse. I also had a small Buddha pendant around my neck, and three bracelets with Chinese writing, that I forgot to get translated, like Vanessa did with her Chinese marking-adorned earrings (that started life as her father’s cuff links.) Lucky her, it turned-out that they said… “Lucky!”
But, enough about fashion. (I guess Sue rubbed off on me a bit.) Let’s get to the food already! This was one of the most sumptuous feasts I’ve ever seen at a private party. (We left there at around eleven PM, and the cheery servers were still replenishing the lavish buffet!) There was every Chinese dish imaginable, and then some. The girls were constantly going around with huge platters of passed hors d’oeuvres, not the little tiny ones that you usually find at other parties. (I’m talking about the tidbits, not the young ladies.) There were chicken wings, egg rolls, pork rolls, bao, and many more. That went on all night!
There was a bar in one room, and one outside in the garden. The dinner buffet was set-up in yet another room, and consisted of fried rice, noodles, meat balls with pineapple inside, pot stickers, dumplings, Chinese chicken salad, another vegetarian salad, and a few dishes that I never even got to try!
Just the beginning of the dessert buffet! Photo by Karen Salkin.
Then in yet another room, which was adjacent to the main party room, there was a dessert buffet. Along with the obligatory fortune cookies, (which also came in the half-chocolate-dipped variety,) there were a few chocolate cakes, some fruit pies and tarts, cupcakes, and many kinds of giant cookies. The whole set-up was a dessert-aholic’s dream! I wish I had stayed over to have the leftovers the next day. (And with all the rooms in that mansion, no one would have even known if I had!)
The Outer Circle Crew performing the Ribbon Dance. Where in the world are Karen and Vanessa in this picture? (Hint: they’re watching the action intently.) Photo courtesy of Sue Wong.
About two hours into the festivities, we were all called into the main room to see several performances, which is such a treat at an event like this. Even though many in the crowd were too rude to have been treated to entertainment, in my opinion, (poor Sue had to beg them repeatedly to “respect the artists,” which I totally give her kudos for,) those of us who were more than happy to pay attention were rewarded. First up was The Outer Circle Crew, a troupe who wowed us with traditional Chinese drumming and moves, including my favorite, the Ribbon Dance. They were followed by an assortment of musicians. Our favorite was Melissa Diehl, a young lady who did some fun, upbeat pop song covers. Both of us really enjoyed her easygoing renditions and confident yet not obnoxious style. She was a really nice singer.
But the highlight to me was neither the food nor the entertainment nor the gorgeous property and décor. It was having dinner in a small breakfast room off the kitchen with Sue’s mom! She looks just like her daughter, and was sweet as could be. She, Vanessa, and I spent some time admiring each other’s jewelry, with the elder’s jade collection taking top prize. Just that little tete a tete a tete started the Year of the Horse off right. Let’s hope it continues in that vein. Knock on wood, because I’m superstitious in all cultures!
