Tuesday, June 14, 2016
Monday, June 13, 2016
Cantonese Cuisine
China! A civilization that has shook the entire world since the start of its existence. Thriving for 4000 years, the Chinese has influenced the world in many ways, including: ancient philosophies, inventions, culture, and of course the amazing cuisine passed down and perfected from generation to generation. China has various types of cuisines but there is one in particular that is the most popular within China and outside of China. If Chinese cuisines were the Kardashians then this particular cuisine would be the Kim. Hello everyone, my name is Kevin, welcome to Mei Wei Cafe's Rendezvous where we will be talking about the Kim Kardashian of Chinese cuisine,
Cantonese Food! (广东菜）
Introduction:
Wow, where do we even begin? Cantonese food is good, Cantonese food is inescapable! If you are a beginner at Chinese food, then Cantonese cuisine is probably what you think of when Chinese food comes to mind. Because the influence that Cantonese cuisine has left is more than just an empire. I am not even Cantonese and I have to say I eat Cantonese dishes more so than any other Chinese dishes! The Psuedo-Chinese/ Westernized Chinese food that us here in America know, is mostly derived from Cantonese dishes.
Cantonese cuisine is one of the biggest in China and here at Mei Wei Cafe, we will explore this empire of a cuisine. It is most definitely delicious, notorious, full of stories, and influential. Neih Hou! (Hello) there is so much to learn about this, so lets not waste any time and get started! Disclaimer! Cantonese cuisine is perhaps the largest cuisine with the largest amount of dishes and variations in the Chinese world. I know it will not be possible to cover everything there is to know about Cantonese food so please keep that in mind!
History and Geography:
To start with anything, we must start with the history. Cantonese food, also called 广东菜 (Guang Dong Cai) or 粤菜 (Yue Cai) is originated from the Guangdong province of China located in far southeast China. Guangdong and its capital, Guangzhou, are all very ancient and important places relevant to Chinese history and so much can be talked about! But we are here too talk about food, so back to the topic! The world of Cantonese food also encompasses Hong Kong, Macau, Shenzen, and other large neighboring cities.
To clear things up, Canton= Guangdong. Some early English speaking genius translated a whole bunch of Chinese cities into English. So Canton refers to Guangdong. Guangdong has always been very prosperous and praised for its cuisine. It is located at a very warm, tropical land with fertile soil and frequent rainfalls. This makes this place a haven for agriculture and cuisine. There is really an abundance of of ingredients! Located near the sea and the mountains, seafood, livestock, and poultry have been used in dishes. Fresh vegetables like leafy greens (for instance bok choy) luscious fruit trees, and rice paddies provide even more ingredients. One interesting thing about Guangzhou is that it is a port city. In fact it was one of the only port cities open to foreigners and the Western World. Most of Guangdong is also located on the Pearl River Delta which allowed for Chinese exploration. The delta and the trade port made Guangdong influenced with a Southeast Asian flavor and ingredients like mango, coconut, and sweet potato. So with years of exchange of ingredients, ideas, taste, and styles, Cantonese cuisine evolved into one of the most unique in China!
Taste:
The unique taste of Chinese cuisine really does depend on the geography. Due to the huge amount of food available and variety of ingredients, the Cantonese cuisine is reluctant to cover these flavors. So the special aspect of Cantonese food is preserving the freshness of its ingredients. Compared to other Chinese cuisines, Cantonese is more light and subtle. Chefs do not use too much spices and sauces because why do you need it when you can enjoy the fresh and natural flavors of what you have? Besides using scallions, vinegar, ginger, garlic, and light soy sauce, other spices are used conservatively and spiciness is almost absent. So for Cantonese chefs, it is not the seasoning that matters it is the effort used to magnify the natural flavor and the time used to prepare the dish. A lot of thought and passion is used to craft Cantonese dishes. Which is why live seafood and fish are displayed at Cantonese restaurants so both the customer and chef knows that the meal will be fresh. Some dishes will take hours and hours to prepare! Cantonese food, like most South Chinese cuisines, is more sweet than other Chinese cuisines in the West or North.
Dishes:
Flavorful, light, beautiful, fresh, and elegant. This is usually what defines dishes of Cantonese food. Lets explore some of the most iconic dishes of Cantonese cuisine!
Soup:
South China has some really great soups, but Cantonese soups take it to the next level! Soups usually take hours and hours to make and it uses very rare and delicate ingredients. And of course the broth is usually very light and not bombed with spices and flavors. Instead you can taste every ingredient in its full potential with every spoonful.
BBQ:
Ok, I have spent a lot of my life in Nashville TN. That said, I know my BBQ! (Nashville has killer ribs!) Sorry fellow southerners but I think Cantonese BBQ is better! Granted the two are very different in style and cooking method. Have you ever walked around Chinatown and see roasted duck, chicken, and even whole roasted pigs hanging on the window? Yeah you have found yourself a Cantonese BBQ joint. Cantonese BBQ has a distinct sweet taste and not smoky like American BBQ. It is glazed and cooked with a more soy sauce base and usually served with rice! Char siu is a very famous cut of BBQ Pork that can be eaten as it is or used as an ingredient. Peking Duck isn't the only duck around, Cantonese roasted duck (One of my favorite dishes) is more tender and juicy. So next time, don't be intimidated by that duck dangling along the window, because it is made with the hard work and passion of a chef who has been preparing it for hours.
Seafood:
Cantonese Food! (广东菜）
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| The Holy Grail of Canto cuisine, Dim Sum! |
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| Cantonese Roast Duck, an alternative of Peking Duck |
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| Black sesame and milk pudding! |
Wow, where do we even begin? Cantonese food is good, Cantonese food is inescapable! If you are a beginner at Chinese food, then Cantonese cuisine is probably what you think of when Chinese food comes to mind. Because the influence that Cantonese cuisine has left is more than just an empire. I am not even Cantonese and I have to say I eat Cantonese dishes more so than any other Chinese dishes! The Psuedo-Chinese/ Westernized Chinese food that us here in America know, is mostly derived from Cantonese dishes.
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| Doesn't this Sweet and Sour Pork look like something you would get at PF Chang's? Oh man wait till you guys try an authentic version from South China |
History and Geography:
To start with anything, we must start with the history. Cantonese food, also called 广东菜 (Guang Dong Cai) or 粤菜 (Yue Cai) is originated from the Guangdong province of China located in far southeast China. Guangdong and its capital, Guangzhou, are all very ancient and important places relevant to Chinese history and so much can be talked about! But we are here too talk about food, so back to the topic! The world of Cantonese food also encompasses Hong Kong, Macau, Shenzen, and other large neighboring cities.
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| Guangdong Province |
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| Ancient Guangzhou, the capital of Guangdong Province |
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| Dan Tat (Egg Tarts) is the most popular pastry in Canto cuisine. Egg tarts are actually Portuguese! Due to Portuguese trade and influence through colonization, the Dan Tat became a Canto version of this Western dessert. |
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| Canto Cuisine is well known for its seafood |
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| Its hard to not have such a large cuisine culture which such lush lands |
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| Being of the few and major port cities, Guangdong was exposed to other nations including Britain, Portugal, and Holland. |
The unique taste of Chinese cuisine really does depend on the geography. Due to the huge amount of food available and variety of ingredients, the Cantonese cuisine is reluctant to cover these flavors. So the special aspect of Cantonese food is preserving the freshness of its ingredients. Compared to other Chinese cuisines, Cantonese is more light and subtle. Chefs do not use too much spices and sauces because why do you need it when you can enjoy the fresh and natural flavors of what you have? Besides using scallions, vinegar, ginger, garlic, and light soy sauce, other spices are used conservatively and spiciness is almost absent. So for Cantonese chefs, it is not the seasoning that matters it is the effort used to magnify the natural flavor and the time used to prepare the dish. A lot of thought and passion is used to craft Cantonese dishes. Which is why live seafood and fish are displayed at Cantonese restaurants so both the customer and chef knows that the meal will be fresh. Some dishes will take hours and hours to prepare! Cantonese food, like most South Chinese cuisines, is more sweet than other Chinese cuisines in the West or North.
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| Dishes especially seafood and vegetables, taste subtle but it is guaranteed to taste fresh and refined! |
Flavorful, light, beautiful, fresh, and elegant. This is usually what defines dishes of Cantonese food. Lets explore some of the most iconic dishes of Cantonese cuisine!
Soup:
South China has some really great soups, but Cantonese soups take it to the next level! Soups usually take hours and hours to make and it uses very rare and delicate ingredients. And of course the broth is usually very light and not bombed with spices and flavors. Instead you can taste every ingredient in its full potential with every spoonful.
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| Cantonese soups take advantage of every ingredient in the region, like this lotus root |
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| Soups like the Bird's Nest Soup takes a lot skill to craft and rare ingredients like a Swallow's Nest... It is strange but this delicacy can be very expensive! |
Ok, I have spent a lot of my life in Nashville TN. That said, I know my BBQ! (Nashville has killer ribs!) Sorry fellow southerners but I think Cantonese BBQ is better! Granted the two are very different in style and cooking method. Have you ever walked around Chinatown and see roasted duck, chicken, and even whole roasted pigs hanging on the window? Yeah you have found yourself a Cantonese BBQ joint. Cantonese BBQ has a distinct sweet taste and not smoky like American BBQ. It is glazed and cooked with a more soy sauce base and usually served with rice! Char siu is a very famous cut of BBQ Pork that can be eaten as it is or used as an ingredient. Peking Duck isn't the only duck around, Cantonese roasted duck (One of my favorite dishes) is more tender and juicy. So next time, don't be intimidated by that duck dangling along the window, because it is made with the hard work and passion of a chef who has been preparing it for hours.
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| This is exactly how Roasted Duck should be like |
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| A typical Canto BBQ |
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| The sweet and tasty Char Siu! |
Cantonese people pride themselves with some of China's best seafood. Being located on one of the busiest coast, seafood from China and imported form other nations have been a form of brilliant cuisine since early times. Every kind of seafood you can think of, Guangdong has got you covered. As stated earlier, freshness is key to good Cantonese food. So frozen and preserved seafood are never used as a main dish. If you order fish or any other seafood at a Cantonese place, then know that these critters were alive and swimming 30 minutes ago!
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| Cantonese lobster is one of the most well-known lobster styles in Asia. Lobster is very sacred, as it literally translates to "Dragon Shrimp" |
Sweets:
One of the most distinct flavors of Cantonese cuisine is the sweetness. Southern Chinese cities are historically more prosperous and has plentiful of food. With this prosperity they have the luxury and of course the climate to grow sugar and overtime Southern Chinese cities especially Guangzhou developed a sweet tooth. With this history and influences from Europe, Southeast Asia, and Japan, Cantonese Cuisine has some of the most distinct sweet dishes in China.
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| Dou Fu Fa, a soft tofu with sugar/honey syrup. It is the softest thing you will ever have with a refreshing sweet taste |
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| Tapioca pudding or sago. This is a very light and refreshing cold dessert usually served after a meal. A perfect way to finish of a meal and cleanse the palate. |
Specialties:
Ok, to be honest, Cantonese cuisine has so many amazing dishes that cannot be listed entirely here. Some specialties are Chow Fun, various stir fry dishes, and simple green vegetable dishes.
Dim Sum:
Ok, we all know what you came for, so here we go, Dim Sum! The pride and joy of Cantonese cuisine. Dim Sum 点心 means dessert in Chinese and it could literally translate to "touch the heart". It is also called Yamcha, which means tea ceremony. This tea party is nothing like the ones in Britain, as it comes in the form of a grand banquet. For Chinese people growing up in America, especially if we have lived in a large Chinese community, Dim Sum is a great memory for us. It was a time when our family got together and had a great time eating the various little dishes of food. Some were sweet, some were savory, some were familiar, and some were bizarre. Dim Sum is not just a meal, it is so much fun and involves interaction to get the best of the meal. The meal starts with some tea usually jasmine, black, or chrysanthemum, and then old ladies with carts would come around the table shouting what they have. We would then order and then dine! This style of eating is so unique because the dishes are small appetizer size portions allows us to try many dishes! Dim Sum is the best way to taste all of Guangdong. So many dishes like Chicken feet, dumplings, egg tarts, chow fun, steamed buns, radish cake, and really there are so many dishes served!! You can really spend a lot of time at one restaurant to try everything. Wow this is a huge topic that we barely covered. I am sure in the future I will make a sole post dedicated to Dim Sum, but for now, enjoy these mouth watering pictures!
Reputation:
So now we get to the controversial topic... There are a lot of jokes the Chinese people would make about people from Guangdong. "People from Guangdong will eat anything that swims, except for submarines. They will eat anything that flies except for airplanes, and they will eat anything with four legs except for a table!" While this is of course a joke, and a stereotype, Cantonese cuisine has such a wide selection of ingredients that they have a bad reputation of using very controversial ingredients. Bird's nest, shark fin, snakes, and crocodiles are only just the beginning. The Cantonese people are very passionate of cuisine, and due to this passion and superstitions (chicken leg make you run faster!) Cantonese cuisine is said to contain very strange and sometimes illegal dishes like various insects and monkey brain! So I want to make one thing clear, do not stereotype! This is not the case for a lot of people from Guangdong and people enjoying Cantonese cuisine. A lot of people from Guangdong and surrounding areas still think that this is shocking and is only done by a small minority. And do not be scared when trying Cantonese food, because rest assured, that is real beef. Here is another joke, "There was an alien that has reached China and was approached by 3 people, one from Beijing, one from Shanghai, and one from Guangzhou. The Beijinger wants to study the alien for the sake of science and research. The Shanghainese wants to do business with the alien for riches. And the lad from Guangzhou wants to eat the alien..."
Influence:
Like Kim Kardashian, Cantonese cuisine has left its impact in this world. It is China's most influential cuisine. Cantonese is one of China's oldest language and cultures. Throughout Chinese history Cantonese has always been very influential, and when it comes to cuisine, it is top notch. People in China travel to Guangzhou, Hong Kong, Macau, and Shenzen just to dine on one of China's most defined and refined cuisines. Cantonese cuisine is so influential that when people outside of China think of Chinese food, they will probably think about Cantonese food. Remember how Guangzhou was a port city? This also meant immigration. Cantonese people were one of the first Chinese people to migrate to the rest of the world. During the railroad era and the Gold Rush, Cantonese workers were sent to work in America. And thankfully they brought their cuisine with them. So the first Chinese food encountered by foreigners were Cantonese. And even today, the Americanized dishes in Panda Express are based off of original Cantonese dishes.
Closing Thoughts:
Wow! I cannot believe we just traveled throughout China and through history and learned about the beautiful and flavorful Cantonese cuisine. Once again there will be so much more to indulge in, and perhaps we will Rendezvous in Guangdong again. So if I missed anything please let me know! Also please leave any comment, concern, or question about anything we have covered now or later. Do you have any Canto dishes and restaurants you like? Let us know! And most importantly, please let me know where you would like to visit next. Your contribution and opinion really does matter. The world is full of beautiful flavor, mei wei, and we never know what deliciousness we will stumble upon. So take a chance and try new things and educate yourself on food that you are not familiar with. See you guys next time in Rendezvous.
Contact me at:
meiweicafe@gmail.com
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| Chow fun is a Cantonese flat flour noodle stir fry |
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| Bok Choy and other leafy greens are often simply stir fried without messing with original appearance and taste |
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| Stir fries like this are very common and popular with locals. Dishes like this have a sweet and sour taste. |
Ok, we all know what you came for, so here we go, Dim Sum! The pride and joy of Cantonese cuisine. Dim Sum 点心 means dessert in Chinese and it could literally translate to "touch the heart". It is also called Yamcha, which means tea ceremony. This tea party is nothing like the ones in Britain, as it comes in the form of a grand banquet. For Chinese people growing up in America, especially if we have lived in a large Chinese community, Dim Sum is a great memory for us. It was a time when our family got together and had a great time eating the various little dishes of food. Some were sweet, some were savory, some were familiar, and some were bizarre. Dim Sum is not just a meal, it is so much fun and involves interaction to get the best of the meal. The meal starts with some tea usually jasmine, black, or chrysanthemum, and then old ladies with carts would come around the table shouting what they have. We would then order and then dine! This style of eating is so unique because the dishes are small appetizer size portions allows us to try many dishes! Dim Sum is the best way to taste all of Guangdong. So many dishes like Chicken feet, dumplings, egg tarts, chow fun, steamed buns, radish cake, and really there are so many dishes served!! You can really spend a lot of time at one restaurant to try everything. Wow this is a huge topic that we barely covered. I am sure in the future I will make a sole post dedicated to Dim Sum, but for now, enjoy these mouth watering pictures!
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| Man! Dim Sum really does touch your heart, the possibilities of dishes, flavors, and joy are endless! |
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| Chrysanthemum tea is my personal favorite with Dim Sum. It is very light and the most refreshing of tea. |
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| Rice Rolls are some of my favorite dishes! You never know what to expect with any dishes of Dim Sum! My advise, try everything! |
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| Greens like this Chinese broccoli is very popular after a nice oily or meaty portion of some other dish. |
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| You can also order from the kitchen! You are not only limited to Dim Sum carts. Stir fried clams are very popular dishes served in most Dim Sum restaurants. |
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| One of the most shocking dishes for beginners are chicken feet! Yes it is delicious and very popular with locals. |
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| Niu za gua, beef entrails with radish. Whether you like it or not, this is a staple of Dim Sum. |
So now we get to the controversial topic... There are a lot of jokes the Chinese people would make about people from Guangdong. "People from Guangdong will eat anything that swims, except for submarines. They will eat anything that flies except for airplanes, and they will eat anything with four legs except for a table!" While this is of course a joke, and a stereotype, Cantonese cuisine has such a wide selection of ingredients that they have a bad reputation of using very controversial ingredients. Bird's nest, shark fin, snakes, and crocodiles are only just the beginning. The Cantonese people are very passionate of cuisine, and due to this passion and superstitions (chicken leg make you run faster!) Cantonese cuisine is said to contain very strange and sometimes illegal dishes like various insects and monkey brain! So I want to make one thing clear, do not stereotype! This is not the case for a lot of people from Guangdong and people enjoying Cantonese cuisine. A lot of people from Guangdong and surrounding areas still think that this is shocking and is only done by a small minority. And do not be scared when trying Cantonese food, because rest assured, that is real beef. Here is another joke, "There was an alien that has reached China and was approached by 3 people, one from Beijing, one from Shanghai, and one from Guangzhou. The Beijinger wants to study the alien for the sake of science and research. The Shanghainese wants to do business with the alien for riches. And the lad from Guangzhou wants to eat the alien..."
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| I mean... try everything but don't force yourself! A lot of locals do not even eat these bizarre things. |
Influence:
Like Kim Kardashian, Cantonese cuisine has left its impact in this world. It is China's most influential cuisine. Cantonese is one of China's oldest language and cultures. Throughout Chinese history Cantonese has always been very influential, and when it comes to cuisine, it is top notch. People in China travel to Guangzhou, Hong Kong, Macau, and Shenzen just to dine on one of China's most defined and refined cuisines. Cantonese cuisine is so influential that when people outside of China think of Chinese food, they will probably think about Cantonese food. Remember how Guangzhou was a port city? This also meant immigration. Cantonese people were one of the first Chinese people to migrate to the rest of the world. During the railroad era and the Gold Rush, Cantonese workers were sent to work in America. And thankfully they brought their cuisine with them. So the first Chinese food encountered by foreigners were Cantonese. And even today, the Americanized dishes in Panda Express are based off of original Cantonese dishes.
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| Fan of Lo Mein? Meet its originator, Cantonese Chow Mein. It is much more subtle in flavor, uses fresh ingredients, and much more easy on the fat and seasonings! |
Wow! I cannot believe we just traveled throughout China and through history and learned about the beautiful and flavorful Cantonese cuisine. Once again there will be so much more to indulge in, and perhaps we will Rendezvous in Guangdong again. So if I missed anything please let me know! Also please leave any comment, concern, or question about anything we have covered now or later. Do you have any Canto dishes and restaurants you like? Let us know! And most importantly, please let me know where you would like to visit next. Your contribution and opinion really does matter. The world is full of beautiful flavor, mei wei, and we never know what deliciousness we will stumble upon. So take a chance and try new things and educate yourself on food that you are not familiar with. See you guys next time in Rendezvous.
Contact me at:
meiweicafe@gmail.com
Thursday, June 9, 2016
About me and this Blog
About this Blog
Bonjour! 你好！Howdy! Welcome to Mei Wei Cafe!
Hello, my name is Kevin and welcome to our local cafe located at your hometown. We are all here for one reason, to dine in on some delicious treats! But before we get started, maybe you guys wonder what is Mei Wei? In the Chinese language, 美味 Mei Wei means Delicious! More so it specifically means beautiful flavor. And as you have probably guessed it, this blog is all about food, cultural cuisine, and all these beautiful flavors all around the world! So lets dig in! Bon Appetit! And however you decide to pronounce it, May Way, My Way, whatever! It is OUR way of discovering the secrets to the incredible food around us!
Food and cuisine mean different things to different people. To some people, food provides the simple and sufficient nutrients and calories to work through the long day, for others its a time of peace and relaxation as you savor that over-stacked sandwich, and for others its a time to gather with friends and family and share smiles, stories, and flavors. Whatever food and cuisine means to you and your culture, we can agree that cuisine is an art passed down from generation to generation. And more so it has gone through a fusion between your tradition and your neighbors. The journey of food is amazing. We have been making things to eat since the beginning of life and slowly over time and years of mixing flavors, we get something like this.
The Beautiful Flavors and our History
Long ago, somewhere deep in the forests of the Americas, (present day Peru) there was a local food that the Mayans called "Xocotl." It is said that this food is so good, sacred, and important to the Mayan culture that it is referred to as the "Food of the Gods." In fact it was so good that when the early Spaniards arrived on American soil, they valued this delicacy like Mayan gold! After the colonization of most of the Americas, Spain introduced this food to Europe. It is soon given a more European name, "Theobroma" also Latin for "Food of the Gods." Over time, this bitter liquid treat was evolved into a dessert as sugar was added to it, and it was so popular it got another name that is used even today, chocolate. As we know today, chocolate is readily available everywhere and is a flavor the whole world knows. Did you know that this story exists? You would be surprised how many stories and traditions every food carries. Yes, cuisine is a way we can all connect. Because we all have certain dishes we hold with high value and with numerous stories on why it is so important to our culture. So in a way, we all have our own "Food of the Gods."
The Beautiful Flavors and our World
Food is not only just something we eat, and cuisine is not merely just a recipe to prepare a meal. NO! Food and cuisine is a form of identity, marking our individuality and culture in this world. We live in a globalized world where people are spreading to every corner of the globe and bringing with them unique culture, religion, ideas, and everything else. The world is now a giant melting pot! And as a literal melting pot, the cuisine brought by each person and group food is a metaphor and actual way to explain how beautiful the world can be with everyone sharing and accepting different cultures and ideas. Whether it is each cuisine bringing a unique flavor or representation to the world stage, or a fusion of cuisine between two different cultures like this Peruvian Chifa, food plays an important role in the definition of a melting pot society.
But we are barely scratching the surface! This world has so many hidden gems and wonders of tastes that we have yet to discover! Whether it is right by your doorstep or on the other side of the ocean, beautiful flavors are everywhere waiting to be explored. Be adventurous and even courageous to get ready to conquer the world! (In flavor of course...) Let us open our mind to the world and society around us to accept each other for who we are, because we all belong in this beautiful world. This might seem hard and overwhelming, but a good start is by tasting the cuisine of others. Wait until you try a French steak, L'entrecote, with its famous deliciously powerful green sauce. Or the wonderful assortment of Injera, a classic Ethiopian meal. How about even burgers and fries? It is also a very symbolic dish with many traditions and stories, and its available everywhere! Regardless, the world is our literal oyster waiting for us to dig in. So! Once again, welcome to Mei Wei Cafe where you will be trying new dishes and cuisines from all of our hometown cafes.
What this blog has to offer
My goal here with Mei Wei Cafe is to show everyone different cuisines from around the world, to inspire everyone to try new foods and accept new or old flavors. There are many things that we can learn from different cuisines. And many misconceptions about foods and culture that we can break down! I will have different segments each with its own role. Rendezvous will provide us an insight on different cuisines across the world and across cultures. Here we will learn about certain cuisines and their stories, traditions, tastes, and more. Dish of the Day is where I will talk about a certain dish and the origins of this dish. Recipes will be our interactive kitchen where we will learn how to make certain dishes together! Also, another big portion of this blog is your help! Yes! You! Please give me your feedback on content so I can improve this blog. Give me ideas, suggestions, and recommendations on what I should do and certain dishes and cuisines I need to cover. There are a lot of different food in this world so the more contribution the easier I can cater this blog to everyone's taste. Please feel free to contact me at: meiweicafe@gmail.com
Now I bet you guys are all hungry!! (For knowledge) Let's dig in! Bon Appetit!
Bonjour! 你好！Howdy! Welcome to Mei Wei Cafe!
Hello, my name is Kevin and welcome to our local cafe located at your hometown. We are all here for one reason, to dine in on some delicious treats! But before we get started, maybe you guys wonder what is Mei Wei? In the Chinese language, 美味 Mei Wei means Delicious! More so it specifically means beautiful flavor. And as you have probably guessed it, this blog is all about food, cultural cuisine, and all these beautiful flavors all around the world! So lets dig in! Bon Appetit! And however you decide to pronounce it, May Way, My Way, whatever! It is OUR way of discovering the secrets to the incredible food around us!
So why is this important?
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| We get this beautiful assortment of treats that are famous around the globe prepped by master chefs everywhere. (When in a patisserie in France try a Paris Brest. You will NEVER regret it!) |
Long ago, somewhere deep in the forests of the Americas, (present day Peru) there was a local food that the Mayans called "Xocotl." It is said that this food is so good, sacred, and important to the Mayan culture that it is referred to as the "Food of the Gods." In fact it was so good that when the early Spaniards arrived on American soil, they valued this delicacy like Mayan gold! After the colonization of most of the Americas, Spain introduced this food to Europe. It is soon given a more European name, "Theobroma" also Latin for "Food of the Gods." Over time, this bitter liquid treat was evolved into a dessert as sugar was added to it, and it was so popular it got another name that is used even today, chocolate. As we know today, chocolate is readily available everywhere and is a flavor the whole world knows. Did you know that this story exists? You would be surprised how many stories and traditions every food carries. Yes, cuisine is a way we can all connect. Because we all have certain dishes we hold with high value and with numerous stories on why it is so important to our culture. So in a way, we all have our own "Food of the Gods."
 |
| Stories like Boat Noodles are so fascinating. In some parts of Thailand, people spend the whole day on boats working. They do not have time for dining so they developed their own style of cooking and dish on the boat. So the savory and hearty Boat Noodles was created. Now a very popular dish attracting people around the world to try it |
Food is not only just something we eat, and cuisine is not merely just a recipe to prepare a meal. NO! Food and cuisine is a form of identity, marking our individuality and culture in this world. We live in a globalized world where people are spreading to every corner of the globe and bringing with them unique culture, religion, ideas, and everything else. The world is now a giant melting pot! And as a literal melting pot, the cuisine brought by each person and group food is a metaphor and actual way to explain how beautiful the world can be with everyone sharing and accepting different cultures and ideas. Whether it is each cuisine bringing a unique flavor or representation to the world stage, or a fusion of cuisine between two different cultures like this Peruvian Chifa, food plays an important role in the definition of a melting pot society.
 |
| Chifa is a Peruvian dish and their take on Chinese fried rice. Due to Chinese immigrants to Peru, Peru has adopted this famous delicious dish that shows the beautiful cooperation between the Chinese and Peruvian ideas and cuisines. |
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| Ethiopian Injera is a very tasty dish where families and friends sit at the same table to eat many different dishes on one dish! And Injera is readily available everywhere in the Western world! |
My goal here with Mei Wei Cafe is to show everyone different cuisines from around the world, to inspire everyone to try new foods and accept new or old flavors. There are many things that we can learn from different cuisines. And many misconceptions about foods and culture that we can break down! I will have different segments each with its own role. Rendezvous will provide us an insight on different cuisines across the world and across cultures. Here we will learn about certain cuisines and their stories, traditions, tastes, and more. Dish of the Day is where I will talk about a certain dish and the origins of this dish. Recipes will be our interactive kitchen where we will learn how to make certain dishes together! Also, another big portion of this blog is your help! Yes! You! Please give me your feedback on content so I can improve this blog. Give me ideas, suggestions, and recommendations on what I should do and certain dishes and cuisines I need to cover. There are a lot of different food in this world so the more contribution the easier I can cater this blog to everyone's taste. Please feel free to contact me at: meiweicafe@gmail.com
Now I bet you guys are all hungry!! (For knowledge) Let's dig in! Bon Appetit!
Wednesday, June 8, 2016
Introduction to Chinese Cuisine
THESE ARE NOT REAL CHINESE FOOD
China is a huge and rich nation with thousands of years of history that shapes an immersive and distinct culture that influences the whole world. With this legacy and cultural influence it is no surprise that 4000 years of history has made China bring some of the most delicious dishes to the dining table. HOWEVER don't be fooled by Americanized (Westernized) Chinese fast food at your local Panda Express, as these foods are most certainly delicious but understand that most of these foods are catered to a more broad western audience. To the Chinese, food is a work of art as ancient as the Great Wall. And trust me, authentic Chinese food is something you never want to miss. But it is not that simple, China's vast landscape and history has left China's cuisine very diverse, delicious in their own local way. That's right even in China each type of cuisine is unique as you have food including:
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| This national dish that is not only crispy and delicious but also a symbol of national pride. |
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| This popular dish that hold cultural importance and with an exclusive flavor only to that specific region. |
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| And this beautiful arrangement of several dishes each with a tasty story that is meant to be enjoyed with company. Really! There are too many types of cooking methods, styles, recipes, and flavors that cannot be contained in just one category. To share the beauty of Chinese food I will start our journey to go through various regions and styles of Chinese cuisine to taste and explore each province and cities' specialty. See you guys next time at out next Rendezvous as we splurge across Mei Wei (Delicious) China in search of mankind's best treasure, Food!!! |
Xiao Long Bao 小笼包
Dish of the Day: Xiao Long Bao!
If we were to imagine the most iconic kind of food in the Chinese cuisine, a lot of us would default to dumplings. That might be easy to some people but the Chinese has mastered the art of folding dumplings. The 4,000 years of history of China has led China to produce one of the widest spectrum of dumplings. So even among dumplings in the Chinese cuisine, there are so many types to choose from!
There are so many kinds of dumplings to choose from each from a specific region and prepared in a distinct style. While each dumpling is delicious in its own unique way, there is one in kind of dumpling that stands above and beyond from its competitors. This succulent dumpling has a unique texture and is literally mouth watering delicious! Welcome to Dish of the Day where I will be focusing on a specific dish; this week we will be talking about my all-time favorite Chinese dish: Xiao Long Bao! 小笼包！
If we were to imagine the most iconic kind of food in the Chinese cuisine, a lot of us would default to dumplings. That might be easy to some people but the Chinese has mastered the art of folding dumplings. The 4,000 years of history of China has led China to produce one of the widest spectrum of dumplings. So even among dumplings in the Chinese cuisine, there are so many types to choose from!
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| Fried Jiaozi (top left) Wonton (top right) Steamed Baozi (bottom left) Steamed Jiaozi (bottom right) |
XLB
Xiao Long Bao is a very popular dumpling dish originating from northern Southeast China, specifically near the Shanghai area. Xiao Long Bao has so many names and nicknames throughout China and the world! Xiao Long Bao 小笼包 literally means "Little Dragon Buns" or sometimes even "Little Basket Buns" as these dumplings are usually steamed and served in a bamboo basket, and "xiao long bao" could be translated as either or. In the west these dumplings are commonly referred to as Soup Dumplings, or Shanghai Soup Dumplings. The specialty of this dish is as its name suggests, filled with soup! I personally like to nickname these, "The Dragon Princess of Chinese dumplings." Okay, I am not that weird, just hear me out. Xiao Long Bao is one of the most popular dishes in Southern China and its specialty is how fragile and powerful it tastes. It is very small yet one of the most important players in the kingdom of Chinese dumplings.
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| Crab and Pork XLB, one of the most popular fillings. |
History:
The exact origin of Xiao Long Bao is not clear, as people are known to have made this dish for quite some time. However, it can be stated that it was created in the late 19th Century to the early 20th Century in the suburb of Nanxiang, located in Shanghai. Nanxiang is now a famous tourist destination since it is considered the birthplace of the Xiao Long Bao, especially Guyi Garden, where it is said that this is the exact location where the first Xiao Long Bao was sold. So if you guys ever get hooked on XLB, make sure to make a pilgrimage to the birthplace! Nanxiang is very easy to visit from Shanghai.
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| Nanxiang suburb, where XLB is said to have originated. |
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| Nanxiang Mantou Dian, one of the oldest vendors still serving XLB! |
Geographically speaking, Xiao Long Bao makes perfect sense. Compared to dumplings and buns of northern China which is very hearty and meaty, the Shanghainese Xiao Long Bao is more conservative in dough and meat yet having a flavor just as strong. South China has a more warm and fertile climate, more suited for rice paddies than fields of wheat. Shanghai is in the weird situation where it is in the center, too south to be called northern and too northern to be called southern. Northern China has foods that are hearty and contain dough, while South China has more elegant flavors like soup. Some genius in Nanxiang decided to mix both, and so the Xiao Long Bao infuses both the use of northern dough and southern soup. The best of both worlds!
The unique features about Xiao Long Bao are the delicate and almost transparent skin and the succulent soup inside.
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| Notice how thin the skin is! As if it is almost transparent |
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| Inside the delicate skin has a soup that is full of flavor! |
Eating XLB:
The most fun and tricky part of eating Xiao Long Bao is making sure you don't break the skin and lose all the soup! However you want to do it, whether it is popping the whole thing in your mouth and letting the juice burst, or nibbling the delicate skin and drinking the soup first, nothing is wrong! Eating this dumpling you must always use a spoon to catch the soup. GENTLY pick up the dumpling from the bamboo basket and put it on the spoon, and the next is up to you! Eating this would not be complete without a special sauce, a mixture of Chinese vinegar, soy sauce, and ginger. People love to mix this sauce with the soup! It makes the soup less oily and gives it a rich sour-savory taste.
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| This sauce has "Shanghai" written all over it! |
Taste:
Chinese buns and dumplings will fill you up fast, but Xiao Long Bao are only meant as snacks or "xiao chi"(literally means little eats). These bite sized dumplings usually come in an order of 6 or 8 and shared at one table. But don't underestimate these little guys because they pack a punch much bigger than their actual size. For someone who has never had Xiao Long Bao, it will give them a delicious and juicy surprise! When you bite down, you will first taste the thin crepe-like skin followed by the soup which is savory, smooth, and greasy. Lastly the filling, which is either pork, shrimp, or crab and pork, can be tasted with every ingredient putting in its best effort to make you come back for me. The ginger, white pepper, scallion, and even the wine inside are all bursting with flavor. Now you will understand why the Chinese pride their dumplings so much!
Influence:
Xiao Long Bao was indeed invented in Shanghai during the Guangxu Period, but it did not get international recognition without the help of Taiwan and the giant Taiwanese chain, Din Tai Fung. During the late 1900's popular Taiwanese restaurant Din Tau Fung started to serve Xiao Long Bao allowing customers to witness the chefs making each bun. This was great as it showed the proper and delicate way to knead the dough and fold the skin, and eventually Xiao Long Bao became a widespread phenomenon at Taiwan. Din Tai Fung as we know today is one of the most successful Asian chains still retaining its authentic taste, and it has since expanded to America where it instantly became a hit. Now you can find Xiao Long Bao at almost every authentic Chinese restaurant in the US and the Western World. Now Xiao Long Bao is one of the most popular Chinese in the world with many Chinese people introducing this dish as what real Chinese food is like. Some restaurants have so many creative variations of Xiao Long Bao including different flavor of skin and even dessert options with chocolate filling! Some restaurants that are particularly notable in America is of course Din Tai Fung in the West Coast and Joe's Shanghai in the East Coast. I know Kung Fu Dumpling in NYC has chocolate Xiao Long Bao! The best Xiao Long Bao place is arguable Jia Jia Tang Bao in Shanghai, and Nanxiang Mantou Dian in Nanxiang is only of the oldest restaurants to serve Xiao Long Bao.
Final Verdict:
I am Chinese and I love my culture and take a lot of pride of our cuisine. But if I had to choose a favorite dish, it would be one of the toughest choices of my life (I'm not kidding) but I would have to say its the Xiao Long Bao. There really isn't anything in the world that comes close to this dish! My final verdict is of course to try one ASAP! Then be like me addicted and planning a trip to Shanghai as I type this blog. So my fellow foodies, go and try one and let me know how you think! Also let me know what suggestions you guys have for the next Dish of the Day and let me know if I missed any details. Its been real, but I am so hungry I have to go, and you guys should come to! I will see you guys next time in Nanxiang!
Contact me at: meiweicafe@gmail.com
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| OH YES!!! |
Influence:
Xiao Long Bao was indeed invented in Shanghai during the Guangxu Period, but it did not get international recognition without the help of Taiwan and the giant Taiwanese chain, Din Tai Fung. During the late 1900's popular Taiwanese restaurant Din Tau Fung started to serve Xiao Long Bao allowing customers to witness the chefs making each bun. This was great as it showed the proper and delicate way to knead the dough and fold the skin, and eventually Xiao Long Bao became a widespread phenomenon at Taiwan. Din Tai Fung as we know today is one of the most successful Asian chains still retaining its authentic taste, and it has since expanded to America where it instantly became a hit. Now you can find Xiao Long Bao at almost every authentic Chinese restaurant in the US and the Western World. Now Xiao Long Bao is one of the most popular Chinese in the world with many Chinese people introducing this dish as what real Chinese food is like. Some restaurants have so many creative variations of Xiao Long Bao including different flavor of skin and even dessert options with chocolate filling! Some restaurants that are particularly notable in America is of course Din Tai Fung in the West Coast and Joe's Shanghai in the East Coast. I know Kung Fu Dumpling in NYC has chocolate Xiao Long Bao! The best Xiao Long Bao place is arguable Jia Jia Tang Bao in Shanghai, and Nanxiang Mantou Dian in Nanxiang is only of the oldest restaurants to serve Xiao Long Bao.
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| Rainbow XLB with different flavor of skin! |
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| What a fusion... Chocolate XLB? |
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| Jia Jia Tang Bao in Shanghai, people say it has the best XLB in the World! |
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| In the West Coast DTF is the most famous Asian chain, of course with XLB. |
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| The East Coast's Joe's Shanghai is DTF's top competitor! |
I am Chinese and I love my culture and take a lot of pride of our cuisine. But if I had to choose a favorite dish, it would be one of the toughest choices of my life (I'm not kidding) but I would have to say its the Xiao Long Bao. There really isn't anything in the world that comes close to this dish! My final verdict is of course to try one ASAP! Then be like me addicted and planning a trip to Shanghai as I type this blog. So my fellow foodies, go and try one and let me know how you think! Also let me know what suggestions you guys have for the next Dish of the Day and let me know if I missed any details. Its been real, but I am so hungry I have to go, and you guys should come to! I will see you guys next time in Nanxiang!
Contact me at: meiweicafe@gmail.com
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