break with tradition

Lunar New Year strikes tomorrow but being a sensible family, if the holiday doesn't land on a weekend, we celebrate the weekend immediately preceding the other new year.

In addition, my dad usually takes us to South Sea Seafood Village on Irving Street. However, Yeye had an urge to eat the deep-fried Bloomin' Onion from Outback, so that's where we went.

Yeye can't wait to dig in

Between the cheering fans watching the 49ers-Giants game at the bar and the Onion, it was a very different Lunar New Year. Granted, South Sea Seafood Village also has a TV but you rarely hear a burst of huzzahs at the place.

But when you think about it, I guess the greasiness of Onion is on par with some of the dishes at South Sea Seafood Village. It tastes so good - dipped in a slightly spicy batter and fried to perfect crispiness - but it is so bad for you... and now it's especially scary since Outback posts the calories of each dish on the menu. Nearly 2000 calories for the Bloomin' Onion! Oh man, and Dad ordered the Aussie Cheese Fries, too... that's another just-under-2000-calories plate.

Enter the Year of the Dragon... with an onion.