Pai huang gua (smashed cucumbers)

In a report titled Smashed cucumber salad takes Manhattan, The New York Times praised the method of smashing cucumbers in making salads as a completely new way to eat a cucumber. As the latest trend in New York this summer, smashed cucumbers and "their craggy edges and rough surfaces absorb flavors and form relationships in seconds," as opposed to sliced cucumbers, which tend to "shrug" off t...

Jian bing (grilled savory crepe)

Jian bing, a form of grilled savory crepe with stuffing, is a popular dish in North China. The mung-bean-and-millet crepe is often made on a well-heated pan. Freshly scrambled egg, pickled vegetables, scallions, cilantro, black bean paste, chili sauce and a crispy fried crackers (the secret that adds a crunch to the crepe) are added on the crepe and rolled up. Often sold by street vendors, Jian ...

General Tao's Chicken

Though name of the dish comes from general Zuo Zongtang (1812-1885), who lived during the Qing dynasty in today's Hunan province, the general himself carries little relation to the dish. The dish General Tao's Chicken is neither served in Changsha, the capital of Hunan province, nor in Xiangyin, the birthplace of the general. The generals' descendants, who still live in Xiangyin, said they ha...

Egg rolls

The term egg roll often refers to a variation of fried spring rolls in China, only the wrap is thicker, the entire form bigger, and it doesn't have much to do with eggs. The typical spring rolls in China are made with rice dough, wrapped around fillings which often consists of julienned vegetables and sometimes meat, and then deep fried. The egg roll, however, is made with flour dough, which ...

Yunnan Steam Pot Chicken

Steam Pot Chicken first became popular in southern Yunnan Province during a visit to the region by Emperor Qianlong (1711-1799). Legend has it that the dish was created by Yang Li, a cook from Fudeju Restaurant in Jian’an Prefecture. The local magistrate launched a competition among chefs to create a delicacy to serve the visiting emperor. The selected dish would win 50 taels of silver. Yang’s...

Yunnan Guo Qiao Mi Xian (Bridge-crossing Noodle)

Guo Qiao Mi Xian (Bridge-crossing Noodle) is a very strange name for this food, but a very popular food in Yunnan area as a representative of Yunnan cuisine.It is formed with three parts: a bowl of chicken soup, a sliced non-staple food in addition to a dish of thin bean curd sheets and a dish of vegetables, then the rice noodles. With the seasoning of pepper powder, gourmet powder, fried ...

Six Nanjing foods you must not miss

The cuisine of Nanjing, capital of Jiangsu province, is more famous for its "small eats" than its main courses. These streetside snacks are about as famous as the city itself, which was the center of government for six ancient dynasties, the earliest dating back to the Three Kingdoms era from 220-280 AD. Popular dishes include pan-fried dumplings, shredded tofu in chicken soup, duck blood so...

Six Nanjing foods you must not miss

The cuisine of Nanjing, capital of Jiangsu province, is more famous for its "small eats" than its main courses. These streetside snacks are about as famous as the city itself, which was the center of government for six ancient dynasties, the earliest dating back to the Three Kingdoms era from 220-280 AD. Popular dishes include pan-fried dumplings, shredded tofu in chicken soup, duck blood soup...

Appreciator of tea, lover of life

茶 (chá) is a drink worthy of appreciation; tea drinking, therefore, is an art. In France, the pastime is known as tea ceremony 茶仪式 (chá yí shì ). In China it is known both as tea ceremony 茶道 (chá dào) and tea art, 茶艺 (chá yì). Despite these formal appellations, Chinese tea drinkers treat both tea art 茶艺 (chá yì) and tea ceremony 茶道 (chá dào) simply as modes of tea appreciation. Fo...

How popular is Peking duck?

How popular a delicacy is Peking duck? It is reported that it is popular enough to warrant an10,000 square-foot museum dedicated to it in China. It's located in the downtown Beijing branch of the restaurant chain Quanjude, which has been serving roast duck since 1864. Among the 500 items on display are acoupon from a 1901 duck sale and photographs of Mao Zedong chowing down. Peking duck ran...