Chongqing— As the sun sets on the final day before the Chinese New Year, the air in Chongqing is thick with woodsmoke and the joyful anticipation of the city’s biggest night. It is Feb. 16, 2026—New Year’s Eve. While the traditional reunion dinner has long meant hours of labor in a crowded kitchen, a new trend is sweeping through the city’s mountainside apartments: premium, full-service in-home catering.
This year, the star of the table is not only a home-cooked fish or a plate of handmade dumplings. It is the “Whole Roasted Lamb,” delivered directly to the doorstep—a trend that brings the rustic charm of a desert campfire into the urban living room.
The experience is a masterclass in modern logistics. For just over 1,000 RMB (about 140 USD), families can order a 12-kilogram roasted lamb that arrives not simply as a meal, but as a complete culinary event. As an iChongqing reporter observed this evening, the lamb arrives sizzling inside a large insulated iron box. Within the specialized container, the meat rests on a professional-grade grill, kept perfectly crisp by a layer of smoldering, aromatic charcoal tucked neatly underneath.
Home delivery of a whole roasted lamb for Ms. Wang's family (Photo: Feng Xiaolou)
The service is impressively comprehensive. Alongside the golden, crispy lamb comes a steaming pot of rich mutton soup, accompanied by the “holy trinity” of Chongqing winter greens—radish, peas, and the much-coveted pea tips. Every necessary condiment and dipping powder is included, effectively bringing a specialty restaurant’s full operation into the heart of the home.
Ms. Wang, a local resident who chose the service to host her extended family, was delighted by the blend of luxury and convenience.
“In the context of the Chinese New Year, this price is honestly very reasonable,” Ms. Wang told iChongqing as her family gathered around the fragrant grill. “Everything is prepared and ready to eat the moment it reaches the door. The best part is that the vendor returns later to collect the equipment and clean up, saving us the trouble of a major mess. This kind of in-home catering is perfectly suited for large family reunions during the Chinese New Year.”
By outsourcing the heavy lifting while keeping the celebration within the intimate walls of the home, families are reclaiming their time to focus on what matters most: conversation and connection. As the clock ticks toward midnight, it is clear that in 2026, the tradition of the reunion dinner is not fading—it is evolving, one perfectly roasted lamb at a time.