lime tree is celebrating Chinese New Year with a special No Plates Like Home menu. The menu features authentic dishes developed in collaboration with students from the Chinese Students and Scholars Association in Bath (CSSA) and The Association of British and Chinese University Students (ABACUS).

The special menu is available at:

  • Lunch: 12 noon to 2pm
  • Dinner: 5.30pm to 7.30pm

From Friday 13 to Friday 20 February at the global plate counter. It includes:

Shredded Carrots with Minced Pork (hú luó bo si chao ròu)

“I grew up watching my mother and grandmother make this in our kitchen, so it feels like a family recipe passed down. It is a simple meal that represents home and feels both comforting and healthy. It is a quick and practical dish for daily life, perfect for a warm family dinner.” - Jiaxuan

Big Plate Chicken (dà pán ji)

“A traditional home-style recipe from Xinjiang, commonly cooked by local families and widely shared in Chinese households. It reminds me of family-style meals and sharing food with others. The rich spices and generous portions make it feel warm, comforting, and welcoming. I would prepare or eat it during gatherings with friends or family, especially when we want a hearty, satisfying meal to share together.” - Yuyuan

Spicy Chicken with Cucumber (xiang là bàn ji)

“It's a common home-style dish from China. I learned it from my mom in her kitchen. It's not a strict recipe, but more of a flexible method passed down in families. My version just adds a little extra Sichuan peppercorn oil, which I love. I will cook this for lunch and for my friends when we party together.” - Yi

Ma Po Tofu (má pó dòu fu)

“A classic Sichuan dish based on traditional recipes passed down in Chinese home cooking and restaurants. It represents the bold and exciting flavours of Sichuan cuisine. For me, it is both familiar, comforting and also a perfect example of how simple ingredients can create deep flavours. I would eat it as a regular home-cooked meal, especially on busy weekdays, since it is quick to prepare.” - Yuyuan

Tomato and egg stir fry (fan qié cho ji dàn)

“This dish is the definition of a home-cooked meal for me. Due to its ease in cooking it and its delicious flavour profile, this dish was made frequently by my mum and, now that I'm at university, myself as a warm and comforting side to pair with a fresh bowl of rice,” Nicole, ABACUS Treasurer

Brown Sugar Nian Gao (hóng táng nián gao)

“This is my father’s recipe. I grew up eating this dish, and it carries the familiar taste of my hometown. I am from southern China, where making rice cakes at home is a common tradition during the Chinese New Year. We usually prepare and eat this dish around the Spring Festival, when freshly made nian gao (ricecake) is widely available and shared with family.” - Qingqi

"For me, sharing food at Lime Tree is about sharing a sense of home. As an international student, food is often the most direct and emotional way for me to reconnect with where I come from. Especially during Chinese New Year, having dishes that taste like home carries much more than flavour – it carries memory, comfort, and belonging," says Yi Wu, Chair of CSSA.

"Food is a language that we can all speak so we look forward to having so many of you experience our culture through it. We hope that you all enjoy this little taste of China!" Katie Chen, ABACUS Secretary