Mama Crunk's Pies celebrates Vietnamese New Year at Common General

Among the traditional Vietnamese dishes served for the Tet holiday is banh chung, consisting of sticky rice stuffed with pork and mung bean.
Among the traditional Vietnamese dishes served for the Tet holiday is banh chung, consisting of sticky rice stuffed with pork and mung bean.

Mama Crunk's Pies is hosting a celebration in honor of the Vietnamese New Year, or Tet, Saturday, Feb. 2 from noon to 6 p.m.

The start of the lunar new year is the most important holiday in Vietnamese culture, and Mama Crunk's owner Christine Nguyen is of Vietnamese heritage. She felt a special celebration would be a great addition to the lineup of events and workshops she's held since her homemade-pie business moved into Common General's St. Elmo storefront in September 2018.

"I thought it would be really awesome to introduce something that's culturally significant to me but not a lot of people know about in Chattanooga," she said. "It's always beneficial to learn about other cultures and other foods, and to really get to know your neighbors and where they come from."

photo The Tet event at Common General will incorporate elements of the traditional Vietnamese celebration such as dragon dancing, but on a smaller scale.

Like the typical Vietnamese celebration, the event at Common General is focused on food. Attendees can purchase traditional dishes such as spring rolls, Vietnamese pastries, and banh chung, sticky, glutinous rice stuffed with mung bean and pork.

Other elements of the traditional Tet celebration, which typically involves a big parade featuring people in dragon costumes, will be incorporated into the celebration on a smaller scale. There will be face-painting and other activities for kids, who will also receive "lucky money" (though it won't be real money), which is traditionally handed out to children in little red envelopes to bring good luck in the new year and ward off evil spirits.

Nguyen started Mama Crunk's out of her kitchen in March 2016 and sold her pies at the Chattanooga Market. Along with Plus Coffee owner Matt Park, she now co-owns Common General, which currently houses their two businesses. This year, they plan to start carrying general store goods, and launch a full-service restaurant - for which Nguyen will serve as the chef - within the next month or two, serving what she described as "Asian comfort fusion" cuisine.

Common General is at 3800 St. Elmo Ave., Suite 111, and can be reached at 805-0736.

Email Emily Crisman at ecrisman@timesfreepress.com.

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