Mark your calendar and make a reservation: Shanghai Rose in Studio City is celebrating the Year of the Sheep from February 19 to March 3 with specialty menu items in addition to dim sum and traditional dishes. Enjoy a dinnertime serenade on February 20 and 21 with a trio playing traditional Chinese instruments: the erhu (“Chinese violin” or fiddle), the zhongruan (“moon guitar” or lute) and the guzheng (a 21-string zither). 

Special dishes for the new year will include fish with wine sauce and tree mushrooms; steamed fish with cilantro, ginger, scallions; fried fish roll wrapped in rice paper and served in a cream sauce; and special dim sum dumplings. Also featured: a variety of shrimp and pork dumplings; deep-fried spring rolls; longevity noodles prepared with Singapore-style vermicelli served with pork, shrimp, eggs, vegetables and a touch of curry; and of course moon cakes: round pastries with a sweet, dense filling and imprinted with Chinese symbols (seen above).

In case you missed it in The Sauce, Shanghai Rose moved into the former Chi Dynasty space at the end of December and features dim sum carts on Saturday and Sunday. They are currently serving wine and beer. A full liquor license is expected soon. 12229 Ventura Blvd., Studio City, 818-762-2542