How to Host a Lunar New Year Dumpling Party at Home (Easy and Shop Local)

Lunar New Year is about gathering, cooking together, and starting the year with intention—and there’s no better way to celebrate in Rochester, MN than hosting a dumpling party at home.

This local guide shows you how to host an easy, traditional Lunar New Year dumpling party in Rochester, MN, while supporting Asian-owned grocery stores, shopping local for drink pairings, and creating real connection around the table.

Why Dumpling Parties Are Perfect for Lunar New Year in Rochester

Rochester has a growing, diverse food community—and dumpling parties naturally bring people together across cultures. Who doesn’t love a good dumpling?

Dumplings symbolize:

• Wealth and prosperity

• Family and togetherness

• A fresh start for the new year (especially the vegan ones)

In many households across Asia, dumplings are folded together – not for speed, but for conversation and connection. Hosting a dumpling party at home lets you recreate that tradition right here in southeastern Minnesota.

Step 1: Start with The Dumpling Club (Your Local Hosting Blueprint)

Before inviting guests, it helps to give yourself structure. Hosting your own dumpling party seems like an overwhelming task, and you might not know where to start. That’s why The Dumpling Club exists- think of it like a new board game you just bought, it’s got all the pieces and instructions built into it, all you have to do is follow the checklist and start playing! No experience needed.

The Dumpling Club is an online cooking experience designed to help you host with confidence, designed by me, Tiffany Alexandria of CHOOCHOO-ca-CHEW. It includes:

• A clear shopping list you can take to one of our local Asian grocery stores in Rochester
• Step-by-step dumpling courses you can follow together
• Folding techniques for beginners
• Cultural context, so your celebration has a guide and is authentic
• Lunar New Year music playlist for a cherry on top
• PLUS bonus lessons and recipes for even the experienced dumpling makers

Think of it as your built-in co-host—especially helpful if you’re hosting Lunar New Year for the first time.

Step 2: Invite Friends, Neighbors & Chosen Family in Rochester

One of the best parts of hosting in Rochester is the sense of community.

Invite:

• Friends curious about Lunar New Year traditions

• Neighbors who love to cook

• People who’ve never folded dumplings before

Let them know:

• This is hands-on and casual

• No cooking experience is needed

• Everyone helps, everyone eats

Hosting tip: 4-8 people is ideal for a relaxed dumpling party.

Step 3: Shop Local at the Asian Food Store in Rochester, MN

Great dumplings start with the right ingredients—and shopping local matters.

Use The Dumpling Club shopping list in the handout after you sign up to visit the Asian food store in Rochester, MN, where you’ll find:

• Taiwanese cabbage(softer, sweeter, amazing for dumplings!), garlic, ground pork and fresh ginger
• Soy sauce, sesame oil, white pepper, potato starch, all-purpose flour (and spices for making your own chili crisp!)
• Dumpling rolling pins
• Sauce dish and other cute dishes for the occasion
• Snacks! Can’t celebrate Lunar New Year without all the Asian snacks. Anything you love will do: we love Pocky, peanuts, seaweed, and nougat candy in our household

Why shopping local & BIPOC matters:

• Supports BIPOC-owned businesses in Rochester. Diversity is what makes our city special

• Preserves cultural food traditions

• Keeps your spending local in the community has way bigger impact to where we live than sending it elsewhere

✨ Pro tip: Ask questions while you shop— knowledge from the owners is part of the experience you can’t get at big box stores!

Step 4: Get Drink Pairings from Jack’s Bottle Shop in Rochester

Drink pairing with Asian food can be tricky, overwhelming, or unimaginative; that’s why you need a professional to help pick out the best drink! Jack’s Bottle Shop in Rochester, MN, offers some of the best beverage options and unique selections in town. Jack is also very knowledgeable in pairings; it’s always fun to ask for recommendations.

Great pairings for dumpling night:

• Crisp lager, pilsner, or dry bubbles for pan-fried dumplings

• Dry rieslings for boiled or steamed dumplings

• Non-alcoholic mocktail options so everyone can participate

Other N/A drink pairing ideas:

Boba tea from Uni Uni (my favorite is the Grapefruit Green Tea with tapioca boba) or Kung Fu Tea (Herbal Jelly Wow is my go-to)

Step 5: Host the Dumpling Party (Fold Along Together)

Set up your dumpling station:

• One large table or multiple folding areas
• A laptop or screen to play The Dumpling Club, so everyone can watch
• Equipment and ingredients listed in The Dumpling Club handout
• Small bowls of water for sealing dumplings
• Dumpling rolling pins
• Baking sheets

Then:

1. Press play on The Dumpling Club online cooking course

2. Learn to make dough, wrappers, and fillings

3. Fold dumplings together at your own pace

4. Embrace imperfect pleats (they taste just as good)

5. Have great conversations! It was always my favorite part about folding dumplings with friends and families- it’s all about catching up.

Step 6: Cook, Eat & Celebrate Together

Once folded, cook your dumplings by pan-frying, boiling, or steaming— choose your favorite method.

Serve with:

• Simple dipping sauces

• Drinks of your choice

• Side ideas from local restaurants- Banchan/Kimchi from Bebap (you can buy 16oz or 32oz of it!), Cucumber Salad from First Meeting Noodles, any starter from Mango Thai

Eating together completes the tradition. Lunar New Year is all about gathering, uniting, and spending time with the people you love!

Optional Touches to Elevate Your Party

Want to make it extra memorable?

• Share Lunar New Year traditions with your guests
• Play Lunar New Year music to enhance the celebration
• Wear red and gold
• Exchange red envelopes with money in it with each other for good luck
• Write calligraphy on red paper
• LOTS of candy and snacks
• Play with fireworks or sparklers (part of the Lunar New Year tradition to chase away bad luck)
• Send guests home with frozen dumplings

These small details are what make the celebration special and extra fun.

Lunar New Year in Rochester Is Better Together

Hosting a Lunar New Year dumpling party at home is about more than food. It’s about:

• Supporting local Rochester businesses

• Bringing people together across cultures

• Creating meaningful traditions right where we live

When you fold dumplings together, you strengthen community and connection with each other—one pleat at a time.

Host Your Own Dumpling Party in Rochester, MN

👉 Join The Dumpling Club and get everything you need to host an easy, absolutely delicious Lunar New Year dumpling party at home. You can also sign up to get a FREE dumpling cookbook with over 20 recipes.

USE CODE ROCHLOCAL FOR 10% OFF