|
|
| A
fabulous view of the famous Yu Garden from a famous
restaurant, the Green Wave. Former U.S. President Bill
Clinton ate here on his visit in 1999. |
Chinese
Cuisine
Unlike calorie-conscious Americans, the Chinese LOVE to
eat. They pile food on their plates and stuff their faces.
They eat all and sundry and they are never ashamed to admit
it. How refreshing it is in today's low-cal, low fat, and
low carb world!
Like
all food, Chinese food is a reflection of land, economy
and history. In the case of the Chinese, I like to think
it is also a model of their resourcefulness. There is a
saying that goes, "The Chinese eat everything with
four legs except for tables, and everything with two wings
except for planes." And that statement only covers
the animals, not the veggies.
Not
all Chinese eat the same food. Regionally, rice is grown
in the south, and millet is grown in the north. Northern
Chinese food is heavier, saucier, while southern food is
lighter and spicier. Even Chinese food eaten in other countries,
like the US and South Korea is very different than the food
eaten in China. Chinese food overseas is tailored to local
tastes and represents the dominant region of the Chinese
who have settled there.
