Please register to participate in our discussions with 2 million other members - it's free and quick! Some forums can only be seen by registered members. After you create your account, you'll be able to customize options and access all our 15,000 new posts/day with fewer ads.
I've been on a similar quest since I moved to Raleigh about six years ago and I cannot say that I've ever found what I considered "good." I'm not a Chinese food purist and I only judge the food based on freshness and quality of ingredients. I typically enjoy "Americanized" dishes, but I'm open to different things, too. Based on some recommendations, I have found Taste of China and King's Wok to be decent.
I don't think the average American would actually eat most authentic Chinese food in China.
They say "Black Dog tastes best". Having seen some of the food offered in China and Taiwan (chicken's feet, fish served still alive, 1000 year old eggs, snakes with heads just removed, etc), I think I will pass on some of the authentic stuff.
They say "Black Dog tastes best". Having seen some of the food offered in China and Taiwan (chicken's feet, fish served still alive, 1000 year old eggs, snakes with heads just removed, etc), I think I will pass on some of the authentic stuff.
I don't get why people get grossed out by what food is called, or what it was before it was cooked.
Chicken Feet, Cow Tongue, Sushi, Snakes, or whatever.... Who cares, if it's good, it's good. My philosophy is that if people are eating it and treating it like a delicacy, I will:
1. Feel honored that they offered it to me.
2. Not worry about it, as long as the person offering is enthusastically enjoying it.
3. Try it just for the experience.
4. Not order it again if I don't like it (unless offered in somebody's house, or home country, where I'd eat it just to be polite).
I've also heard the place in Carborro is supposed to be really good, have not tried it yet.
I don't get why people get grossed out by what food is called, or what it was before it was cooked.
Some of the food in China is still moving when they serve it (and some you can pick from what's in the cages). And their sense of taste and smell is just different than ours. I found that when I walked into local /non-tourist restaurants in China the smell was overpowering and rather offensive. Some people can enjoy those delicacies - I'm not one of them.
Some of the food in China is still moving when they serve it (and some you can pick from what's in the cages). And their sense of taste and smell is just different than ours. I found that when I walked into local /non-tourist restaurants in China the smell was overpowering and rather offensive. Some people can enjoy those delicacies - I'm not one of them.
I get that. I've tried fermented bean paste, and "rotten" tofu, and have no desire to have it again.
But why is a chicken foot any more gross than a chicken breast? Or a cow tongue any worse than the tenderloin? As far as I'm concerned, parts is parts. (and the tongue is one of the best of them)
I get that. I've tried fermented bean paste, and "rotten" tofu, and have no desire to have it again.
But why is a chicken foot any more gross than a chicken breast? Or a cow tongue any worse than the tenderloin? As far as I'm concerned, parts is parts. (and the tongue is one of the best of them)
I like to eat beef tongue burritos at a Mexican restaurant in Durham. They were out of it last Sunday.
They say "Black Dog tastes best". Having seen some of the food offered in China and Taiwan (chicken's feet, fish served still alive, 1000 year old eggs, snakes with heads just removed, etc), I think I will pass on some of the authentic stuff.
Sadly it's true that Chinese do eat dog meat, but on the other hand, it's also true that the vast majority of Chinese never eat any dog meat.
What are authentic Chinese foods? China is a vast country in term of geology and even more so in term of population, and above all, Chinese do invest relatively a huge amount of energy in how to eat and eating.
Naturally, there are numerous cuisine styles and people's tastes do change, so do how foods are being prepared. People born and growing up in the triangle of Shanghai-Nanjing-Hangzhou likely have vast different preference of what deem to be best dishes from those in southwestern China, in which spicy Szechuan cuisine rules. Authentic? I'm not so sure what it really means.
In your examples, chicken's feet, 1000 year old eggs are daily foods.
Snakes? can't remember I've ever eaten any, and how anybody eats snakes with heads just removed? At least it should be cooked somehow. That sounds more likely a sort of urban legend some Chinese want you to believe.
Fish served still alive? Not really.
The best Chinese foods in my memory, were those made with the freshest, "commonest" ingredients, cooked with the simplest way. Oh, freshest doesn't mean "Whole Foods Market" or farmer's market fresh, those are at least several hours or more likely several days fresh. On the other hand, freshest doesn't mean fish eaten alive fresh or snake head just chopped fresh.
I don't get why people get grossed out by what food is called, or what it was before it was cooked.
Chicken Feet, Cow Tongue, Sushi, Snakes, or whatever.... Who cares, if it's good, it's good. My philosophy is that if people are eating it and treating it like a delicacy, I will:
1. Feel honored that they offered it to me.
2. Not worry about it, as long as the person offering is enthusastically enjoying it.
3. Try it just for the experience.
4. Not order it again if I don't like it (unless offered in somebody's house, or home country, where I'd eat it just to be polite).
I've also heard the place in Carborro is supposed to be really good, have not tried it yet.
well said
Please register to post and access all features of our very popular forum. It is free and quick. Over $68,000 in prizes has already been given out to active posters on our forum. Additional giveaways are planned.
Detailed information about all U.S. cities, counties, and zip codes on our site: City-data.com.
Please register to participate in our discussions with 2 million other members - it's free and quick! Some forums can only be seen by registered members. After you create your account, you'll be able to customize options and access all our 15,000 new posts/day with fewer ads.
