Sunday, October 13, 2013

Interesting Facts About Chinese Food Olympia Diners Probably Don't Know

By Catalina Nielsen


All around the world, Chinese restaurants can be found which proves how popular this international fare is. Known for its irresistible taste, variety of colors, and esthetically-pleasing displays, this cuisine easily ranks as one of the most popular. If intrigued by Chinese food Olympia gastronomists will find these facts about it to be interesting.

What distinguishes this cuisine from others are its delightful aromas and flavors, and its array of attractive colors. In order to present each dish in the most appealing way, it is prepared with three to five different colors in an original design. This effect is achieved by using the right combination of ingredients along with garnishes and condiments.

The seasonings used in this style of cooking are particularly aromatic and are meant to stimulate the appetite as well as underplay the potentially unpleasant smells of meat or fish. Common spices and herbs for many dishes include sesame oil, aniseed, fresh ginger, soy sauce, garlic, scallion, and cinnamon. For extra flavor, some foods are cooked in wine. Sugar and vinegar made be added to some recipes when called for.

The goal of any Chinese chef is to create a balance of taste, texture, scent, and appearance in every culinary creation. The flavor of each dish can be classified as either salty, bitter, sweet, sour, or hot. These tastes can be produced by adding the right combination of such ingredients as vinegar, sugar, and soy sauce in varying proportions.

There are many regions in China, each with their own distinct cooking style which is largely determined by the customs, climate, and products available in each one. As a rule, northern Chinese cuisine is salty, southern is sweet, eastern is hot, and western is sour. In total there are eight regional cooking styles.

There are four main categories of Chinese restaurants. American style features items that are not as spicy like Chop Suey and Sweet and Sour chicken. The Shanghai style serves items such as Udon Noodles and Drunken chicken and uses a medium amount of spice, as does the Cantonese style which includes Dim Sum and Curry chicken. Szechuan cooking is very hot and spicy and includes dishes like Kung Pao chicken and Ma Po tofu.

The normal custom in all Asian cultures is to eat with chopsticks. This tradition was started in the time of Confucius who viewed the chopstick as a peaceful instrument as opposed to regular cutlery which he saw as weapons of violence. Although it may seem challenging to eat with chopsticks for those who have never done so before, it can be mastered with practice. The hardest food to pick up with chopsticks is rice, which is best managed by holding the bowl close to one's face and not grasping too much at once.

One other interesting point about Chinese food Olympia diners likely do not know, is that some types of food are considered to have special meanings in this culture. There are particular dishes that are only served to certain people or eaten at certain times of the year. Individual food items also have symbolic value. Fish represents prosperity, long noodles are associated with longevity, and duck and chicken are thought to bring good luck.




About the Author:



No comments:

Post a Comment