Ready for “exploding-splashes-of-vibrant-flavor-on-every-tastebud” delicious Chinese Food?

One great thing about dating anyone from China is eating the best Chinese food ever! What I love most about China (next to my Chinese girlfriend) is the incredible, delicious, and endless variety of food.

“Beauty can be feasted on.”

-Ancient Chinese Proverb

Even if you are not a Chinese take-out lover, you might be in for a pleasant surprise. Fortune cookies, sweet & sour Chicken balls and spring rolls with plum sauce are okay once in a while.

But you'll be glad to know they are NOTHING like the authentic Chinese cuisine you will experience in China.

And nothing like the home-made Chinese food that a Chinese girlfriend (or boyfriend!) can prepare for you.

There's a party in your mouth and everyone's invited!

Most people on our planet eat just to stay alive. But in China, people stay alive just so they can eat!

Everything from business meetings to weddings happen at the banquet table.

Even the dining experience is totally different. It's much slower, each dish is to be relished and appreciated.

And shared. Usually Chinese food is eaten family style. Each person serves themselves from the same dishes - like at Thanksgiving dinner.

Sometimes, especially at a Chinese family dinner, someone else will take the very best morsel of food and place it in your bowl.

The sharing of food is a caring, considerate and affectionate gesture...enjoy it!

The Five Elements of Chinese Cuisine

What makes Chinese food authentic, is a careful balance between five elements (only one of which is taste!).

Each individual dish balances these elements. The entire Chinese meal as a whole also blends these five elements.

The five qualities are:

1. Color: Does it look appetizing? Do the color combinations delight the eye? How do the colors of each dish play off of the other dishes?
2. Fragrance: What does the dish smell like? Subtle? Strong? Rice wine, vinegar and strong seasonings can be used to enhance or alter the aroma of a Chinese dish for more harmony.
3. Flavor: There is an art and science to matching flavors in Chinese cuisine. Sometimes contrasting flavors can enhance each other, while other times similar flavors work together well in harmony.
4. Texture: From soft tofu to the perfect crispness of Beijing duck, Chinese dishes can have a variety of different textures - even within the same dish!
5. Shape: When it comes to Chinese cuisine, it matters how you slice and dice it. When every component of a dish has a similar size and shape, it looks nice and it's easier since each ingredient can be cooked for about the same amount of time.

Getting started...

If you're trying authentic Chinese food for the first time, here are some suggestions. These dishes are easy on the tastebuds. Most foodies who are new to China love:

• Beijing Duck
• Cantonese Food
• Chinese Dumplings
• Hot Pot (some are mild, some can be super spicy!)

And if you're up for trying something more adventurous, Chinese Dim Sum might be the answer.

When you order authentic “cart-style” Dimsum, you get to see exactly what you're going to get - no surprises! And the portions are very small, so it's great for getting a taste of something new without committing to a full sized portion.

If you really want to spice up your life, try Sichuan (sometimes known as Szechuan) style food. It's the next level up. Sichuan hot pot is a great way to try a whole bunch of different things. For the record: My girlfriend makes the best Sichuan hot pot on the planet.

Want to know the secret ingredient which gives Sichuan food that special, mouth-numbing flavor? More...»

Hunan food is the at the top when it comes to spiciness...

Dining Hunan-style is like finding a needle in a haystack. Why? Each delicious morsel is hidden somewhere in a gargantuan pile of hot peppers. If you love hot & spicy - you simply must taste authentic Hunan food.

“Eating and sex are human nature.”

-Ancient Chinese Proverb

No discussion of Chinese cuisine would be complete without mentioning Chinese liquor.

Remember how to use chopsticks? When you use chopsticks wrong, people notice. The good thing is that when you use them right, people also notice. And they seem impressed.

And best of all? Once I figured out how to use chopsticks, most of the food ends up in my mouth instead of on my shirt! More about how to use chopsticks »