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The focus of this lesson was to teach about Chinese cuisine
Basics of Chinese Cuisine
- Many people are surprised on their arrival in China to find that what they thought was Chinese food is nowhere to be found.
- Another challenge is that the names of Chinese dishes, even in Chinese, can be very cryptic, making ordering a challenge, even if you find a menu with English translations. Chinese dish names are generally completely irrelevant to the ingredients.
- Rice is generally a staple of the south, with noodles featuring in as well.
- Northern China features dishes made with wheat flour, such as noodles, dumplings, steamed buns, and thin pancakes.
- Where meat is often the focal point of many western meals, it is the starch-rice or noodle-that is the starting point and palette for Chinese meals.
Regional Cuisines
- There are 8 main regional cuisines in China; the flavors vary from hot and spicy, to sweet and oily, even pungent and sour.
- The main cooking methods employed are stir-frying, deep-frying, steaming and stewing.
- Chinese kitchens rarely have an oven, though there are various specialties that are roasted.
Famous Seasonal Dishes
- The Hairy Crab of Shanghai comes into season in October/November. A local delicacy that is exported around the country and beyond. One of the most savored parts of the hairy crab are the sperm in the males, and the eggs in the females.
- Hot pot is a warming food that is popular in the winter. A large pot of broth is set to boil, and the diners cook their own meats, vegetables and seafood by boiling them in the soup.
- In mid-to-late September, the mid-autumn festival is celebrated. Mooncakes are ubiquitous at this time of year, and are gifted and re-gifted amongst friends, relatives and from employers to employees.
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- Mooncakes are round, like the moon, and have a pastry-like crust with a flavored filling; from lotus paste to sweet red bean; even salty egg yolks.
Table Etiquette
- Chinese food is generally prepared in bite-sized pieces that can easily be picked up with chopsticks. A knife at the table is considered barbaric.
- It is a demonstration of utmost hospitality and respect for the host to dish food onto his guest’s plate. Often, this will be done repeatedly, despite futile pleads on the eater’s part to being full.
- It is fine to leave some food in one’s plate, as if one cleans the plate, it is a signal to the host to put more food onto it!
- In China, dishes are served communally, and there are no serving spoons. The diners all use their own chopsticks to dip into the dishes.
- Never stab your chopsticks into your rice bowl and leave them there. This is the worst of all Chinese dining faux pas, as it is related to a funeral tradition.
Food as Medicine
- From bird’s nest soup to deer antlers, Chinese food therapy dates back as early as 2000 BC.
Well thats all we have for today! What is the most unique Chinese food you have ever eaten? Please leave us a comment and let us know!
