Comments for Trends

Comment on adam mayes in hell.wmv by Kent L

Kent L — Sat, 12 May 2012 12:58:34 +0000

Chinese food sucks in USA as compared to most Asian countries. What is Chow Mein? What is egg foo young? What is egg rolls? They use a bunch of recycled vegetables used to feed to pigs but they got it plenty here. Comprende?

Comment on adam mayes in hell.wmv by Cynthia N

Cynthia N — Sat, 12 May 2012 12:33:38 +0000

There are 3 major differences between Chinese food in America and authentic Chinese food in China: Ingredients, Spices, and method of preparation.

Ingredients – Some ingredients are just not readily available in America. Often times they are not as fresh, sometimes it is cheaper to use local American ingredients, but sometimes you simply can’t get them in the US. So restaurants replace Chinese broccoli with regular broccoli, use regular pork instead of Chinese smoked ham, use regular cooking wine instead of Chinese sorghum wine.

Spices – Authentc Chinese food is filled with rich flavor and aroma. But the spices can be a bit too foreign for the common customers in America so restaurants dumb things down. They use a lot less shallots, ginger, garlic, Chinese parsley, etc. They replace Chinese peppers, star sinise, that add a lot of aroma with regular black pepper. They also use a lot less spicy peppers which would otherwise add alot of depth to the dishes.

Preparation Method – Often times the method to prepare the dishes are simplified to cut cost. Chinese ramen noodles are hand pulled to give it more texture, in the US they are all machines made and dried, making them soggy and bland. Peking duck is roasted and smoked in China, in the US they are often mass produced in electric ovens. Soups in China often takes a day or more to stew, in America they are heated and served in less than an hour.

There are some restaurants that are quite authentic in the US, but they are very rare. PF Chang’s is actually NOT Chinese food, but most American’s can’t tell the difference.

Chinese food has such a large variety of styles that I recommend you take some time to try it all. Sichuan cuisine is spicy and aromatic. Shanghai cuisine is lighter, sweeter with an abundance of seafood dishes. Canton cuisine focuses on bringing out the flavor of the ingredients, not to mention dim sum is from Canton area as well. And Beijing cuisine is more flour based with many noodles and roasted dishes.

Comment on adam mayes in hell.wmv by Sal

Sal — Sat, 12 May 2012 12:18:31 +0000

I dont really enjoy Chinese food in the U.S. They are not authentic and cooked to suit the taste buds of the Americans. Every dish seems to have sugar added. Taste real awkful. Anyway, I am really fond of the Chinese food in Superior Buffet in Hanford, CA Could go there every week. Cheap and good.

Comment on adam mayes in hell.wmv by billmex

billmex — Sat, 12 May 2012 11:36:00 +0000

Chinese food in the states has been dumbed down to please the simplistic palates of the majority of Americans.

Comment on adam mayes in hell.wmv by ♥ cherie

♥ cherie — Sat, 12 May 2012 10:37:54 +0000

there are no specific differences i can list, because i would have to go on forever. bottom line: Chinese food in North America is NOT Chinese food at all.

Comment on adam mayes in hell.wmv by intelligentkurd48

intelligentkurd48 — Sat, 12 May 2012 10:21:36 +0000

I’m not sure about restaurant environment being that much different, but it’s probably more generic here in the states. as for the food, american chinese restaurants use a lot more oils and chemicals in their food than their original counterparts. Chinese food is supposed to be light and used for weight loss, but if you’ve ever been to panda express or p.f. chang’s, you know that’s not the case.

Comment on adam mayes in hell.wmv by co2007

co2007 — Sat, 12 May 2012 10:06:08 +0000

Indeed it is VERY different. Chinese food in america is enhanced with MSG and grease. they try to make it look and taste better by putting all this junk that’s not healthy for you in it. The taste is also different. The american chinese food is, it’s compromised with how americans like their food.. not the original way of the chinese. Food in china is wayyy better… but that also depends where you do in china. for example, hong kong has amazing food. It’s not as greasy, the presentation is nice, and there is little to none msg. plus authentic chinese food have all different types of sauces.. not just brown sauce, white sauce.. etc. There’s this like chinese black bean sauce- xoxo sauce-oyster sauce-soup style sauce- there’s a bunch that i can name…but most of them are in chinese.. so i don’t exactly know how to type it.. lol… but if you ever get a chance to go to china, you should visit hong kong, shanghai, and beijing. Their food is very different and much healthier than the chinese food here in america. hope this helps!

Comment on adam mayes in hell.wmv by merrybodner

merrybodner — Sat, 12 May 2012 10:00:53 +0000

The same way Mexican food is different that Taco Bell. Chinese food in the US has been westernized: lots of sauce, lots of fried, sort of bland. In China, depending upon the regional specialties, the tastes are cleaner and much more differentiated. Also, food is shared family style. You can, if you look really hard, find some real Chinese restaurants in the US. Look for a place with a Chinese menu on the wall and a menu full of things you’ve not read before. Also, a clientele that is mostly Asian.

Comment on Industry Reaction @ Gabbar Singh by setiamon

setiamon — Sat, 12 May 2012 09:51:59 +0000

I’d Rather live in a transdimensional sandwhich then an cosmic indian burrito

Comment on adam mayes in hell.wmv by joe s

joe s — Sat, 12 May 2012 09:36:45 +0000

From my experience the big difference is that in the US Chinese for is heavier.

It’s more heavily sauced
It’s more heavily salted
It’s mostly deep fried

Chinese food in China is more subtle. The ingredients are fresher (they don’t open a can of water chestnuts or baby corn and dump it in a Wok).

Most ethnic cuisines are Americanized for American’s.
Go to Italy and try to find Chicken Parmesan outside of the tourist traps — it doesn’t exist.