A History Of Food Culture In China

Since the 1980s, China has developed a broader and deeper connection with the world. One of the most intriguing aspects of Chinese culture is its rich cuisine and fascinating cooking.China is a nation with a long history of food culture, and food has become an essential part of Chinese culture.This book tells in sprightly and straightforward language about the structure of traditional Chinese food, food customs for festivals and celebrations in China, Chinese dining etiquette, traditional food and cooking methods, healthy and medicinal diets, as well as historical exchanges of foods between China and other nations. It can present to the readers a complete and truthful picture of the summarized history and culture of Chinese food.Published by SCPG Publishing Corporation and distributed by World Scientific for all markets except China

Origins of Chinese Food Culture is the latest addition to Asiapac's collection of books on Chinese culture. This volume brings you through the origins, history, customs, and fascinating tales behind the intricate and perplexing labyrinth of customs and taboos, and the art and science of Chinese food culture. Did you know that: * Tables and chairs did not enter common usage until the Southern Song period? * Female chefs were once the rage in ancient China? * Zhuge Liang defeated his enemy with mantou? * Youtiao was also known as 'deep-fried ghost'? * Chopsticks were once reputed to detect poison? Read about all these and many other enthralling facts in this info-packed book. With this well-illustrated and easy-to-read volume, understanding Chinese culture has never been easier.

The cuisine of China is widely considered to be one of the best because it meets the requirements of geographic variety, inclusion of all types of foods, and a long-established and well-developed culinary tradition. The Chinese culture can be labeled a food culture for the interest and honor given to food and its rituals. Food Culture in China is loaded with information on the cuisine's prominent role in Chinese culture. Students and other readers will learn about Chinese food history through the dynasties and Silk Road migrations up until today, ingredients, cooking implements and techniques, regional differences, table etiquette, cultural emphasis on food, specialty dishes for celebrations, and the role of diet and traditional Chinese medicine, among other topics. Each chapter contains a number of recipes for a meal based on the specific topic. Americans typically are familiar with a narrow range of Americanized Chinese restaurants. This one-stop resource helps readers to see this ever-popular ethnic cuisine in a broader context. It is the most in-depth reference of its kind on the market. A timeline, glossary, tables, and illustrations complement the narrative.

This volume is a study of Chinese food from a cultural and historical perspective. Its focus is on traditional China before establishment of the People's Republic. It identifies and provides comprehensive information on a broad range of Chinese food plants and animals for general readers, as well as for specialists whose interests have led them to questions relating to the food of China. Readers will find discussions regarding origins, how things came to be, time and place of food-plant and animal domestication, the spread of plants and animals from and to China, and other historical questions regarding the foods used by the Chinese people. The book is written with Canton and the southeast as points of departure, but embraces all of China and is directed towards people unfamiliar with China.

Providing a comparative and comprehensive study of culinary cultures and consumption throughout the world from ancient times to present day, this book examines the globalization of food and explores the political, social and environmental implications of our changing relationship with food. Including numerous case studies from diverse societies and periods, Food in World History examines and focuses on: how food was used to forge national identities in Latin America the influence of Italian and Chinese Diaspora on the US and Latin America food culture how food was fractured along class lines in the French bourgeois restaurant culture and working class cafes the results of state intervention in food production how the impact of genetic modification and food crises has affected the relationship between consumer and product. This concise and readable survey not only presents a simple history of food and its consumption, but also provides a unique examination of world history itself.

American diners began to flock to Chinese restaurants more than a century ago, making Chinese food the first mass-consumed cuisine in the United States. By 1980, it had become the country's most popular ethnic cuisine. Chop Suey, USA offers the first comprehensive interpretation of the rise of Chinese food, revealing the forces that made it ubiquitous in the American gastronomic landscape and turned the country into an empire of consumption. Engineered by a politically disenfranchised, numerically small, and economically exploited group, Chinese food's tour de America is an epic story of global cultural encounter. It reflects not only changes in taste but also a growing appetite for a more leisurely lifestyle. Americans fell in love with Chinese food not because of its gastronomic excellence but because of its affordability and convenience, which is why they preferred the quick and simple dishes of China while shunning its haute cuisine. Epitomized by chop suey, American Chinese food was a forerunner of McDonald's, democratizing the once-exclusive dining-out experience for such groups as marginalized Anglos, African Americans, and Jews. The rise of Chinese food is also a classic American story of immigrant entrepreneurship and perseverance. Barred from many occupations, Chinese Americans successfully turned Chinese food from a despised cuisine into a dominant force in the restaurant market, creating a critical lifeline for their community. Chinese American restaurant workers developed the concept of the open kitchen and popularized the practice of home delivery. They streamlined certain Chinese dishes, such as chop suey and egg foo young, turning them into nationally recognized brand names.

Studies food traditions in each major period of Chinese history, noting the impact of methods of preparing, serving, preserving, and eating foods on Chinese culture

Exploring the rich and varied culinary traditions of China, this book enables a better understanding of Chinese history and culture through food. Part of Bloomsbury's Global Kitchen series, this book takes readers on a food tour of China, covering everything from daily staples to holiday specialties. In addition to discovering China's long culinary history, you'll learn about recent trends, foreign influences, and contemporary food and dietary concerns, such as obesity and environmental sustainability. Chapters are organized thematically, making it easy to focus in on particular courses or types of dishes. For those hungry for a more hands-on approach, each chapter includes a collection of accessible recipes that allow readers to bring the subject to life in their own kitchens. The main text is supplemented by sidebars that offer interesting bite-sized facts, a chronology of important dates in China's culinary history, and a glossary of key food- and dining-related terms. Sun Yat-sen, the founding father of modern China, asserted that China's food culture was the most advanced and sophisticated in the world, despite the country lagging the West in science, industry, and civic engagement. Today, many people outside China immediately envision iconic dishes like fried rice, egg rolls, or sweet and sour pork when they think of Chinese food. But China has a much richer and more diverse set of culinary traditions. China's food culture is one of the oldest in the world, evolving over thousands of years. It has been shaped by a myriad of forces, from historical struggles with food insecurity to the modern push toward speed and convenience. Across this large nation, unique cuisines emerged that reflect the varied geography, climate, and customs of different regions.