As there will be a significant number of posts regarding the wonderful and sometimes surprising and wacky cuisines found throughout Asia, I figure an introduction to food is a good place to start.
Let me first start by saying: You’ve all been lied to!
Let me explain. You have probably been to a PF Chang’s or some restaurant including the word “panda”, “dragon”, “lotus”, or “tiger” in the name. You may frequent these shops regularly and after having consumed copious amounts of Broccoli Beef, General Tso’s chicken, and some radioactive looking red sauce poured over a fried bread-like thing filled with cream cheese. All capped off with some blessing of success in your life endeavors exposed from the deep recesses of a fortune cookie and think yourself a connoisseur of fine Chinese dining. Well, sadly these are all untrue.
Yes, truly, and much to your likely chagrin, fortune cookies were developed in California in the early 1900’s. You won’t find them in Asia.
The development of Chinese cuisine around the world has a long history and may have had its roots in “real” Chinese cooking, but most of the foods you eat at your local favorite Asian bistro are a far cry from the delicacies you will find in actual Asian countries.
You are probably thinking, “But, the owner of my favorite restaurant is from China and doesn’t even speak English (or your country’s local language) so the food is definitely authentic.
I have a theory, and I am working on a long-term project to uncover the truth, that there is a secret school for any Asian person looking to open a restaurant in another country. They are required to attend this school to learn the same recipes as everyone else and must commit to perpetuate the falsehoods of authentic Asian cuisine.
Sure, you can find some actual authentic Asian restaurants all over the world, but you will generally need to go to the areas that are populated by people from the country whose cuisine you are seeking. Think, Monterey Park, Hacienda Heights, El Monte, Alhambra etc. These are all suburbs of Los Angeles with a significant Chinese / Taiwanese population. To get the true Asian food experience, you need to get your butts out to Asia.
Don’t get me wrong, I am also a fan of Western Style, Asian cuisine. I figure, why limit myself. If it’s good, it’s good. Period.
So, enjoy every and all Asian style cuisines, just be aware that what you’re likely eating outside of Asia has very likely been modified to suit local expectations. Come to Asia if you want to guarantee you’re getting the real deal, and you will not be disappointed.
Super spicy Papaya Salad with sticky rice balls in Thailand or Laos anyone?
Phở bò with raw beef and beef tendon in Vietnam?
Crispy Pata in the Philippines?
Coagulated duck blood with rice noodles in China?
Durian all over Asia?
YES, YES, YES, YES please. They are all delicious trust me!
Ok, maybe not the durian, but the rest yes!
由於會有大量有關各地的美妙，有時嚇人和古怪的美食分享，我認爲對食物的介紹是一個很好的起點。
讓我先説：你們都被騙了！
我來解釋一下。你可能去過PF Chang’s 或一些名稱中包含 “熊貓“，”龍“， ”蓮花“，”老虎“等詞語的餐廳。你可能會經常光顧這些商店，並食用了大量的西蘭花牛肉，左宗棠將軍鷄肉和一些看起來具有放射性的紅色醬汁倒在裝滿黃油奶酪的油炸麵包上。最後由幸運餅乾深處祝福你生活各種成功就認爲你是個精緻中餐鑒賞家。但，可悲的，這些都是不真實的。
是的，真的，而且可能讓你懊惱，幸運餅乾於1900年代初在加利福尼亞開發。
中國菜在世界範圍内發展歷史悠久，可能源於“真正”的中國烹飪相關，但是，你當地最喜歡的亞洲餐館吃的大多數食物都與你在實際亞洲國家找到的美味佳餚相去甚遠。
你可能在想，“但是我最喜歡的中國餐廳的老闆來自中國，甚至不會英語 （或你所在國家/地區當地語言）所以食物絕對是正宗的。
我有一個理論，我正在做一個長期專案來揭開真相，對於任何想在另一個國家開亞洲餐館的人，有一所秘密的學校。他們必須參加這所學校，學習與其他人一樣的食譜，并且必須致力於延續正宗亞洲美食的虛假性。
當然，你可以在全世界找到一些正宗亞洲餐廳，但是通常需要去那些由你正在尋找的國家或人民居住的地區。想想，蒙特利公園，莊園高地，埃爾蒙特，阿爾罕布拉這種地方。這些都是洛杉磯郊區，有大量中國和台灣人口。要獲得真正亞洲美食體驗，你需要將屁股帶到亞洲。
不要誤會我的意思，我也是西式亞洲美食的粉絲。我想，爲什麽要限制自己。如果它好吃，那就好吃。完了。
因此，享受所有亞洲風味美食，但要注意，你在亞洲以外的地方可能吃的東西很可能已經修改以適應當地的期望。如果要保證吃正宗的，就來亞洲。我能保證你不會失望。
想吃泰國或遼國超級辣木瓜沙拉配糯米團嗎？
想吃有生牛肉和牛腱的越南河粉嗎？
想吃菲律賓脆皮帕塔嗎？
想吃中國鴨血粉絲湯嗎？
想在亞洲任何地方吃榴蓮嗎？
是，是，是，是。相信我都很好吃！ 嗯，也許榴蓮不是，但其他都是！