Step into the New Year with a feast that transcends mere flavors, it’s a symbolic gateway to a prosperous year ahead. New Year’s Day is all about a fresh start, a canvas awaiting the brushstrokes of new habits and traditions. Before getting started on those new year’s resolutions this day is a final celebration before diving into new goals.
Crafted with intention, the New Year’s Day menu holds the promise of abundance and fortune for all who partake. From the black-eyed peas to the collard greens, these traditional foods carry the rich heritage of African and African American traditions. With each bite is a testament to the aspirations for a bountiful year ahead.
Prepare for this transformative journey with the Black Restaurant Week’s 10 Abundant Dishes to have at Your New Year’s Dinner as an essential guide to ensure an extra dose of abundance in the year to come. As you read over this guide, you will discover Black-owned restaurants that masterfully weave these abundant foods into their menu.
As you savor these abundant foods embrace the mindset you wish to embody throughout the year, a spirit of anticipation for the best, setting the tone for a year brimming with prosperity and fulfillment. Walk into the New Year not just with goals but with the expectation of goodness and the abundance life has to offer this 2024!
Black Eyed Peas
Black-Eyed Peas symbolize abundance and financial gains.
Native to Africa, Black-Eyed Peas are the number one food you should eat for New Year’s Day! If you ask any person of African descent what is the luckiest food, the answer will most likely be, Black-Eyed Peas. No matter how much you may not like Black-Eyed Peas, you need to at least eat a spoonful so that you will have some luck. There are so many recipes throughout the world that the Black-Eyed Pea is used in.
Here are some restaurants that have Black Eyed Pea dishes on the menu for you to try in 2024
Ray’s Southern Food in Forest Park, Georgia has Black Eyed Peas as a side.
Fannie’s African and Tropical Cuisine in Kansas City, Missouri has Black Eyed Peas on their vegetarian offerings.
Cafe Songhai in Peachtree Corners, Georgia has Red Red, a black eyed peas and tomato stew.
Leafy Greens
Leafy Greens symbolize paper money.
It’s all about the MONEY! If you are looking to build that bank account in 2024, make sure you are eating those leafy greens. Not only are they very nutrient dense but they are green like dollar bills.
Here are some restaurants that have some great dishes that incorporate Leafy Greens on the menu for you to try in 2024
Cool Runnings in Houston, Tx serves Steamed Cabbage and Callaloo on the menu.
Soul Bowl in Minnesota is serving Jill Scott Collard Greens in their Build Your Own Soul Bowl.
Pure Soul in Durham, North Carolina has a Big Kale Caeser on their menu.
Pork symbolizes progress and wealth.
If we are pushing to have a progressive new year, you need to have pork on the menu. Pigs “root forward” with their nose which is a symbol of progress. I’m sure you would want to progress on those new year’s goals. Throw some ribs on the pit or make some delicious jerk pork.
Here are some restaurants that have Pork menu items to try in 2024
Kingpin BBQ Food Truck in Phoenix, Arizona has pulled pork and rib tips.
Ricky D’s Rib Shack in New Haven, Connecticut has a full rack of ribs available.
Boil and Roux in Baton Rouge, Louisiana has Boudin Balls and Pork Chops on the menu.
Fish
Fish symbolizes good fortune and community.
Do you know of a fish that swim backwards? There may be a few but the ones that you are eating are swimming forward and they usually swim in schools. That’s the energy we are putting out into the universe for this year, progressing forward with people that have your back. There are so many dishes that are great and delicious that use fish. We all love a good fish fry but you can also do blackened fish or use smoked salmon in an h’or d’oeuvres. Better yet check out these Black-owned restaurants with amazing fish dishes!
Here are some restaurants that have Fish dishes to try in 2024
Harlem Seafood Soul has Fish & Grits or try the Catfish Nuggets & Chips.
Get a Whole Fried Snapper from Forsyth Seafood Cafe in Winston-Salem North Carolina
Try the Fried Thai Salmon Bites at Sea Salt Seafood in Atlanta, Georgia
Lentils symbolizes coins and financial abundance.
Lentils are like coins and this is the year to stack those coins. Lentils are perfect for the vegan foodies out there because they are packed with tons of plant-based protein. Lentils are used in many African and Caribbean dishes. Perfect time to pull out the berber seasoning and make an ethiopian lentil dish. So this is the perfect time to direct you to some amazing restaurants that have great lentil dishes for you to try this year.
Here are some restaurants that have lentil dishes to taste in 2024
Try the Miser Wot at Delish Ethiopian Cuisine in Seattle, Washington.
Sambusa is on the menu at Konjo Ethiopian Food in Edgewater, Colorado
Rice
Rice sybolizes prosperity and fertility.
Rice is another prosperity food. Rice is also a good symbol for those that are looking to be a bit more fertile this year. Even if you are not looking to have a baby, maybe you want to be fertile in business. Either way, there are so many ways to incorporate rice into your New Years dinner. Jollof Rice, Coconut Rice, Rice and Peas or even Pelau!
For a delicious rice dish check out these Black-owned restaurant in 2024
Get a side of Jollof with your Salmon Suya plate at Spice Kitchen in Brentwood, Maryland.
Get Crawfish or Shrimp Éttoufée over rice at Creole Kitchen and Daquiris in Houston, Texas.
Yeh Mon in Little Rock Arkansas has Rice & Peas to have as a side to any of their amazing dishes.
Round Dessert
Round desserts symbolizes a full circle of luck.
Ring shaped desserts like bundt cakes or cookies are so delicious but they also symbolize a full circle of luck for the new year. As you take each sweet bite of these round desserts just know this year you are surrounded by a full circle of luck in every step you take. Here are some amazing dessert shops that have the perfect Round dessert that will give you the luck you need in 2024!
Get your round desserts at these delicious spots in 2024
Butteriffic Bakery and Cafe in Memphis, Tennessee has a large jar of their signature Butter Cookies in any of their delicious flavors.
Get a perfectly round Bundt cake from BossyBundts in Redondo Beach, California.
Pick a pie of your choice at Mixed Fillings in Jacksonville, Florida.
Corn
Corn symbolizes gold, wealth and status.
When you pull out that golden cornbread out of the oven, just know the flavors are yummy just like all of the wealth you will acquire in the new year. Corn represents gold and gold is a symbol of wealth and status. Besides cornbread, you make cream corn or Elotes for your New Years Day party.
Here are some restaurants that have Corn Dishes on the menu for you to try in 2024
Cornbread from Honey Soul Food in Mississauga, Ontario
Awe Shucks Gourmet Fire Roasted Street Corn in Birmingham, Alabama
It’s Poppin’ Gourmet Kettle Korn in Charlotte, North Carolina
Gumbo
Gumbo symbolizes family, luxury and joy.
Gumbo is a staple in many homes for new years day because it represents luxury, family and joy. Some homes have a gumbo party on New Year’s Eve to prepare for the huge pot of gumbo they will make on New Year’s Day. For some they make it a day ahead so that they can have a richer gumbo on New Year’s Day. Don’t skimp on ingredients, make a gumbo with everything like seafood, chicken, sausage, crawfish and whatever else you’d like to add. Here are some restaurants with some of the best gumbo to try in 2024.
Here are some restaurants that have Gumbo on the menu for you to try in 2024
Creole with a Splash of Soul in St. Louis Missouri has a Gumbo with all the fixins’ on their menu.
Have a bowl of Chicken & Sausage, Smoked Turkey or Vegan Gumbo at Gumbo Social in San Francisco, California
The Premium Seafood Gumbo or the Gumbo Supreme sounds delicious at Louisiana Creole Gumbo in Detroit, Michigan.
Champagne
Champagne symbolizes luxury, wealth and nobility.
Starting the year off with luxury is a sure thing to encourage exquisite taste for the rest of the year. Have it straight or make a delicious mimosa. Try out B.Stuyvesant Rose Champagne, a black champagne company that is Black Woman-Owned. Perfect way to start the new year, supporting a Black-Owned food business.
Author: Black Restaurant Week
Content Team
