Chinese Cooking Oriental Recipes...
At a Chinese dinner the host sits opposite the guest of honour because, from the oriental point of view, the highest seat should logically be opposite the lowest. The left-hand side of the host is regarded as being higher than the right-hand side.
It is permissible by Chinese custom to remove the short outer jacket, wearing only a long robe for dining. Soup and fish are served only at the end of the dinner instead of at the beginning as is the custom of the West.
Warm wine is provided, in contrast to the Western custom of icy cold drinks.
The interior surroundings, in the way of furniture and decorations, are usually very plain in most of the old-style restaurants.
At a Chinese meal such articles as milk, bread, butter, or cheese are never served. Sometimes dishes considered by us to be rare and delicious may be thought unpalatable for consumption by foreigners.
Many of my foreign friends have expressed the desire to see, in a handy form, an explanation of Chinese customs and practices supplementing the information on the preparation and enjoyment of Chinese food, and have thus given me encouragement and confidence to attempt the task in this little book.
I also desire to assist my friends to prepare a few dishes in their own homes so that they may be able to demonstrate how delicious Chinese food really is.
Various flavouring agents are employed, the most common being onions and garlic .
Reference to the ancient writings seems to show that they are made to serve a double purpose, for, apart from imparting a distinct flavour to the food, some of them are believed to have medicinal qualities as well.
For instance, the onion, which forms a constant ingredient in the preparation of fish, is supposed to be able to counteract any possible fish-poisoning, while ginger is reputed to have stimulating properties.
Garlic and bean relish form an excellent flavouring for fish or pork.
Red pepper and star aniseed go well with beef and duck.
From Secrets of Chinese Cooking With Selected Recipes
by Dolly Chow (Mrs. C. T. Wang)? and Available exclusively from DMC Enterprises, Inc.
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