Eight lucky eats, cheese fest and Mangalistas

Thursday marked the official kick-off for Chinese New Year, a two-week festival of food and family. The annual spring celebration ushers in the promise of good fortune with steaming bowls of noodles, whole fish, sweets, citrus and other “lucky” delicacies.

This year’s star of the zodiac? The goat, an animal notorious for its appetite. (Okay, some say it’s the sheep, but they eat a lot, too.) We say that’s good enough reason to break out of your sweet-and-sour pork rut and try something new at some of BiteClub’s favorite Chinese eateries.

1. New! Fried tempura and egg puffs at Quickly: Based in Taiwan, this wacky fast-food transplant is all about the tea -- be it green, black, flavored with roses, coffee, red beans or waxed gourds; or supplemented with tapioca boba and grass jelly. Just dive in, because it's all an adventure. In addition, there's a whole menu of fried yummies including fried mini octopus, fried tofu, fried tempura (bits of octopus inside a ball of corn-dog-like batter) and fried fish balls, which are pressed bits of fried fish, and not part of the fish’s, uh, reproductive anatomy. If you're a little skeetchy about trying new flavors, go with the egg puffs, which look like a giant square of bubble wrap and taste like a really egg-y waffle. Expect a line of hungry JC students ahead of you. 1880 Mendocino Ave., Santa Rosa.

2. Steamed bao, pork belly and barbecued pork at G+G Market: The local grocery market is an under-the-radar gem for all things Chinese - at a great price. We’re huge fans of their steamed bao and BBQ pork, available in the deli. You can also find just about any Asian ingredient, from lychee jelly to black bean paste and dried shrimp, in their extensive grocery section. You’ll walk away with plenty of food for far less than you’d pay at a restaurant. 1211 W. College Ave, Santa Rosa and 701 Sonoma Mountain Parkway, Petaluma.

3. Chicken feet, tofu skin at Hang Ah: Dim sum fans agree that this is the best dim sum in the North Bay. The menu is massive, and chances are you won’t recognize about half of the small plates.

But at just $2-$4 each, it’s worth some experimentation.

Chicken feet are exactly that. They’re a huge delicacy, and folks raised on them swear by them.

Personally, I’m not a fan, but I did try one. Tofu skin? Sounds gross, tastes incredible. 2130 Armory Rd, Santa Rosa.

4. Cantonese Roast Duck and Ma Po Tofu at MY Noodles: Martin Yan’s noodle shop at the Graton Casino is a hugely overlooked restaurant with really solid (and authentic) Chinese favorites. I really like the hoisin-glazed roast duck and bite of ma pao tofu, a vegetarian specialty with brown beet sauce and spicy peppercorn oil. 288 Golf Course West Dr., Rohnert Park.

5. Hot and Sour Soup at Kirin: I’m a recent convert to hot and sour, over my usual wonton. Filled with wood ear mushrooms, bamboo shoots, feathery bits of egg, and a hearty kick of spice, it’s my new alternative to chicken soup for anything that ails you. 2700 Yulupa Ave., Santa Rosa.

6. Bakery goodies from East Wind Bakery: Everyone who’s been to this charming little Asian bakery has raved about the baked bao in flavors like kimchee-sausage and curried beef, along with Chinese sponge cakes, and taro buns. I’m also ga-ga for their milk bread. 3851 Sebastopol Road, Santa Rosa.

7. Goji Kitchen: This Pan-Asian restaurant has become a JC-area staple because of its extensive menu of Chinese, Thai and Vietnamese dishes, and also because of the dedication to fresh, often organic products and extensive vegetarian selections.

Though its not exactly authentic, you’ve gotta try the walnut pineapple prawn (the best in the area, hands-down), along with clay pot rice (with the crispy rice on the bottom) and house-made pot stickers with ginger garlic sauce. 1965 Mendocino Ave., Santa Rosa.

8. Lily Kai: My favorite CHP officer is a huge fan of this out-of-the-way Petaluma restaurant and their dim sum. And that’s not something you argue with. Top bets include Siu Mai (pork and shrimp dumplings), mo shu (vegetables and thinly-sliced meat with thin pancakes and hoisin sauce) and broccoli beef. 3100 Lakeville Hwy., Petaluma.

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Artisan Cheese Fair: C heese lovers unite! This intimate cheese festival at Ramekins from 1-4p.m. today is one of the best opportunities to get face-to-face with some of the best artisan cheesemakers throughout the Bay Area. Cheesemaker Sheana Davis of the Epicurean Connection hosts the annual event, which includes a mac and cheese cookoff, cheese-tastings and beer, wine and cider tastings. Plus guest chefs, live local music and of course, cheese wheel races.

]The event is $50 per person, 21+only. And trust us, you won’t walk away hungry or thirsty. Tickets available at theepicureanconnection.com.

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Get All Mangalista: If you haven’t heard about the mangalista pig, you should. This prized, rare breed is fatty and flavorful, and definitely not “the other white meat.”

A number of chefs are now offering them on the menu, but by far the best Mangalista-centric feast we’ve seen lately is this Tuesday, Feb. 24 at the Epicurean Social Club/Matrix Winery dinner in Santa Rosa.

Feast on charcuterie, pork rinds with pork lard, pork sliders with saffron rouille, pork jowl bacon, pork belly sous vide, pork tenderloin with vanilla bean sauce and wild mushroom risotto, leaf-lard cacao-nib cookies sandwiches and a bacon-chocolate-brittle goodie bag.

$95 per person includes wine, tickets by reservation only at epicureanescape/epicurean-social-club.html.

Still hungry? Check out BiteClubEats.com for even more delicious news.