A book signing from best-selling cookery writer, Ken Hom, was just one of the events at London China Town’s New Year celebrations.  Hom was promoting his latest book Chinese Cookery (BBC 2009).  This is the 29th book of the Arizona-born writer, who first came to public attention when Madhur Jaffrey, on leaving her whose successful BBC cookery series, recommended him as her replacement. 

‘I have always just followed where fate leads’, he says, when asked about his career.  On a personal level, he was very happy to appear at London China Town for the festivities.  ‘I am able to say thank you for all the support his country has shown me.’  Nevertheless, he admits to wanting to live in China for a while, ‘to find out what it is really like’.

Although falling on Monday 26th January, London’s parade and events always occurs the first Sunday after (1st February, this year).  The lineup of performers from the Chinese provinces of Qinghai and Kunming included the (pictured) traditional dragon dance performed by the Chen Brothers.  Many thousands of lanterns were hung from Trafalgar Square to Soho and obviously a hot attraction since these ones in Leicester Square disappeared soon after this photo was taken.

Sun Neen Fai Lok -- Happy Lunar New Year of the Ox