Chinese Food - an Amazing Experience in Chongqing!

To the Chinese food is so important. The Chinese food culture is something to see.

It is an occasion to socialise and enjoy the company of others. It is an important event for family, friends and work.

In two years, I reckon I went to a million Chinese restaurants and attended a million banquets. That is what it seemed like anyway - probably a couple of hundred is closer to the truth.

However, there was not a week when I did not go to a Chinese restaurant, and often I would go 4 or 5 times a week.

Eating and banquets are an important part of Chinese culture.

There are many variations of the Sichuan cuisine depending on the region and ethnic group of people.

Type of Food

I am most familiar with the Sichuan cuisine (or Szechuan cuisine) which is from around Chongqing.

Sichuan cuisine consists of about anything that can be eaten. Commonly there is rice, dumplings, chicken, fish, vegetables (delicious mushrooms especially) and pork.

But there are other things as well - frog, rabbit, snake (I couldn't eat that!), scorpion (I tried that - bit crunchy!), goat, duck intestines and probably other things that I did not know about!

Chinese dog food restaurant Unfortunately, dog meat is also served.

However, this is usually at special restaurants and you will know because there will be a picture of a dog on the wall.

I am a dog lover so I could never bring myself to eat dog meat.

Many Chinese that I know also abhorred the practice.

This is probably because ironically they love to have dogs as pets!

Sichuan cuisine is very hot, that is spicy. Sichuan peppers (very hot - don't put one in your mouth!) and chillis are added to give flavour.

They say this is because in times gone by, food during famine was scarce.

They put anything that could be eaten into their dishes and added Sichuan peppers and chillis to give it flavour.

Give it a go. It tastes good. If you do not like spicy food, ask for non-spicy.

Usually they will prepare it for you.

Hot Pot

Hot Pot is a particular way of cooking food that is very much part of the Chinese food culture in Sichuan. You will find it in many Chinese restaurants in Chongqing.

Chinese Cuisine - Chongqing Hotpot

There is a big gas fire heated pot in the middle of the table.

The pot contains cooking oil, Sichuan peppers and chillis.

All the food is brought to the table and you throw it in the pot. You take it out as it is cooked and eat.

Hot pot is very common in Chongqing.

World's Largest Hotpot

In Chongqing they have an annual event where they have the world's biggest hot pot. A lot of people go there to eat.

A whole street near the Yangtze River is blocked off and a giant hotpot is constructed.

As well as the food, there is copius amounts of alcohol.

With hot spicey food, alcohol and a large number of people, the dinner becomes very merry very quickly!

Chinese Food Presentation

The various dishes are placed in the centre of the table and everybody picks what they want using chopsticks.

Chinese Banquet

Food is presented in small pieces so you pick it up using chopsticks. Everyone picks and chooses want they want to eat.

Very rarely is food served on individual plates like in the West.

Live fish is often brought to the table in a bag. You can choose it or reject it if it is too small.

Drink - alcohol or otherwise is served by waiters. They usually fill up your glass as soon as it is empty!

Chopsticks

You will find it hard going in China if you cannot use chopsticks unless you want to eat in 5 star Western hotels all the time - which sort of defeats the purpose of going to China.

Occasionally in a restaurant they will bring you a knife and fork if they see you are struggling. But many Chinese restaurants do not have knives and forks.

If you know how to use chopsticks - great! If you don't - don't despair. I never knew how to use chopsticks until I went to China - but I learnt! Do a Google search "How to use chopsticks".

DON'T WORRY if you drop bits of food on the table. The Chinese don't mind at all. In fact, there are often food scraps left on the table - it is quite normal.

Also, did you know using chopsticks is good for your health? The Chinese think so anyway! Using chopsticks exercises the muscles in your hand. This stimulates blood flow through your body - which is good for you!