A thread for foodie links
lostinasia
August 08, 2008, 02:29 AM posted in General DiscussionA story from NPR about cooking 宮保雞丁: Savoring The Spice In Kung Pao Chicken : NPR Later on it gets a bit dull with typical teacher/ student banter and false modesty all around, but early on there's an interesting discussion of ma / 麻 (I think that's the right character) and how it means a numbing sensation in the mouth. I didn't realize that; I'd always assumed it was linked to 麻油, sesame oil. I'd always wondered why 麻 featured so prominently in the name 麻辣火鍋 (mala hot pot); now I understand!
lostinasia
August 08, 2008, 02:40 AMAnother link: Slate has an article about the origin of Chinese food names: Where do the unusual names for Chinese menu items come from?
lostinasia
August 08, 2008, 02:37 AMA book that's been mentioned a few times around the site is The Fortune Cookie Chronicles, by Jennifer Lee. I haven't read the book yet - I'm waiting for the paperback - but there's an attached blog. It chronicles her exploration of Chinese food around the world.
I linked to this somewhere else, but you can see Jennifer Lee featured on Colbert Report - a few minutes in she uses Mandarin, which Colbert of course speaks fluently. See if you can understand!