A Bite of China - Ep 5 - Secrets of the Kitchen Explore in China - Food

Secrets of the Kitchen (厨房的秘密)

Today, it seems a mission impossible to count up the number of varieties of Chinese food, or to divide the dishes into groups geographically, without raising any objections. Besides food itself, there is something more important: The control of heat, seasonings and knives. Too many secrets are there to be discovered in Chinese kitchens.

Secret of the kitchen This hut is where the Tashis dry their hand-made potteries, and also, the salted meat which is called Pipa (a Chinese traditional string instrument) Pork by the Tibetans. They have been hung here for more than half a year. Fresh food is precious to the Tashis, so they process most of their food in such a way, to preserve them as long as possible. Tashi is a potter specialized in making black potteries. Some of the black potteries he made will be bought by the travelers, but it does not mean that they are handicraft. Instead, the black potteries here are the secret of the kitchens.

Lying between the water and the fire, it passes the heat to the food, helping to release natural flavors. The secret in the kitchens in Nixi lies exactly under this boiling broth. It was the "surprising" discovery thousands of years ago, and now, one of the most commonly used cooking methods in our daily life. In China, food is usually connected with gratefulness. It is the reward to the laborers. "Steaming" is one of the basic cooking skills in China. In history, the word "steam" has the same meaning with "sacrifice". The sacrificial offerings have to be presented to the god intact. The fluidity of steam enables the heat to be passed evenly, and makes it possible to cook a pig as a whole.

The Chinese first introduced the method of "steaming" into kitchen, and invented a variety of steamed dishes. People here in Jun'an Town, Shunde are celebrating the Double Ninth Festival. The young are marching, carrying a statue of Guangong, while the old wear cornel on their heads. It is even more exciting than the Spring Festival.

As an important trading centre in Asia, Hong Kong introduces delicacies from all over the world to Chinese, and at the same time, introduces Chinese cuisine to the world. The earth offers everything it has to humans, and humans share their common enthusiasm toward delicacies. Therefore, the secret in the kitchen is NOTHING! (Source - wikipedia)