A Bite of China Project

***This project is currently stopped***

A Bite of China Cookbook is based on a Chinese TV show that was documenting in seven episodes the most renowned but also cultural and original foods that signify the different parts of China with ingredients that special to their territory.  China is a big country, so different areas with different temperature and environment, the cooking style especially in their choice of the five basic flavours: sweet, sour, bitter, spicy and salty also change.

On my trip to Hong Kong in November 2012, I only caught on episode of this food documentary but I did manage to get a copy of the cookbook that they compiled based on it.  In 2013 and possibly until I can finish it, this is a cooking project I intend to do.  To me, being born in Canada, I seek to know more about my background and the cultures that come with it.  I may not be a great cook but a better baker, but this year, I intend to pick up my courage and not only seek out some of these ingredients and look into the cooking styles of Asian cuisine.  At the same time, I can share a bit of the culture and information that I learn along the way about Asian cuisine.

If anyone is interested in trying some of these, you can email me at kim.tranquildreams@gmail.com.  I’d love to have some guest posts show up here.  It would be nice to have others share this experience with me. I’ll send you the recipe and you can give it your style. Its a long list of recipes and I can always use some of your help.

Below is the list of recipes separated in 5 different sections according to the book. It will be based on my translation and I will fix it as I learn more about the actual name of the dish (if I find it).  I will link them to the post as I move along this project.

SECTION 1: GIFTS OF NATURE

• Grilled Matsutake
• Braised Bamboo Shoots
• Soybean and Sour Bamboo Shoots with Yellow Croaker
• Home Style Bamboo Shoot Soup
• Fried Bamboo Shoots with Ham
• Fried Rice with “Nuo Deng” Ham
• Fried Lotus Root Meat Sandwich
• Lotus Root with Pork Ribs
• Fish Head with Chips
• Mixed Fish Dish
• Seared Mackerel
• Kimchi with Carp
• Roasted Scallops
• Roasted Oysters
• Steamed Egg with Sea Urchin*
• Pineapple Pork Ribs
• Stewed Lion Head
• Minced Garlic Vermicelli with Steamed Scallops
• Golden Shrimp Balls
• West Lake Vinegar Fish
• Onion Braised Sea Cucumber

Section 2: The Fragrances of Five Grains

• Golden Bread
• Steamed Bread
• Fried Vermicelli
• Year Cake
• Fried Beef Noodles
• Shredded Pork Buns
• Lamb Soup with Bread
• Lan Zhou Beef Noodles
• Zhi Shan Style Noodles
• Rice Dumpling
• Fried Year Cake with Crab
• Fried Year Cake with Vegetables
• Qing Ming Dumplings
• Braised Bean with Noodles
• Dumplings
• Sweet and Sour Fried Vegetables
• Shrimp Wonton with Noodles
• Steamed Pork Dumplings

Section 3: The Magic of Fermentation

• Fried Rushan
• Milk Dumplings
• North Style Fried Noodles
• Milk Tea
• Boiled Shredded Fish
• Braised Tofu
• Rice Wine
• Northern Sour Vegetables
• Delicate Tofu Soup
• Vegetarian Duck
• Crab with Tofu
• Ma Por Tofu
• Seafood and Egg White with Crab Meat
• Steamed Chicken

Section 4: Taste of Nostalgia

• Spicy Cabbage
• Clay Pot Rice
• Taro Preserved Duck Pot
• Sausages
• Hmong Style Fish
• Turnip Fried with Preserved Meat
• Braised Stinky Fish
• Fried Stinky Tofu
• Honey Roasted Ham
• Marinated Duck
• Yellow Fin Tuna with Roasted Pork
• Dried Cabbage with Roasted Pork
• Meat with Marinate
• Braised Shrimp
• Braised Pomfret
• Fried Crab Strips
• Crab Basted in Wine
• Shrimp Basted in Wine

Section 5: Art of Seasoning

• Smoked Duck
• Fried Eel
• Wu Xi Style Ribs
• Stuffed Bitter Melon
• Roasted Duck with Taro
• Tangerine Peel Duck
• Baked Chicken with Salt
• Preserved Fish with Meat
• Vine Pepper Fish
• Chung King Style Spicy Hot Pot
• Fish Balls and Seaweed Pot
• Steamed Fish
• Poached Chicken
• Gui Zhou Sour Fish Soup
• Abalone with Broth
• Steamed Crab
• Crab Soup Filled Buns
• Salted Duck Eggs
• Fried Eggs with Tomato

HAPPY COOKING AND LET THE PROJECT BEGIN!