Comments on: Culture, food, clothes and TV.

By: Tonggu Momma

Tonggu Momma — Wed, 04 Nov 2009 16:54:12 +0000

We’ve always taken our shoes off. Then again, I spent quite a bit of my childhood in Japan and Hawaii.

I just participated in a study through a grad student of the University of Maryland that focuses on Caucasian parents who adopted trans-racially. Fascinating questions – got me thinking more and more about how to incorporate Chinese and Chinese-American culture into our family. I really need help learning to cook Chinese food. How did you learn? Was it just trial and error? Great cookbooks? Your in-laws? A class?

By: Jessica

Jessica — Tue, 03 Nov 2009 17:15:49 +0000

Interestingly, taking off shoes is a recent development in Chinese culture (like within the past 50 or so years) and was actually influenced by the Japanese.

By: Mayhem

Mayhem — Tue, 03 Nov 2009 16:19:05 +0000

Can you recommend any particular cookbooks for someone without much experience making Chinese food? Would a Fuscia Dunlop book be okay or do I need something simpler?

By: Wendy O

Wendy O — Tue, 03 Nov 2009 13:27:47 +0000

So funny that you mentioned taking your shoes off in the house, I know most Chinese do; however, we have been doing that for years–it is SO unsanitary to leave them on! It was in the late 1980’s I saw a show revealing all of the chemicals, grime, bacteria, and feces people carry in their home and to their carpets on their shoes, changed me to a sock wearer forever! The only place we wear shoes is a hotel due to all of the shoe wearers bringing in the outside goo!

By: Selimacat

Selimacat — Tue, 03 Nov 2009 12:19:44 +0000

i’d love to hear more about the recipes you’ve mastered. So much of Chinese cooking seems daunting to me–because of unfamiliar ingredients, the amount of time/detail, or my fear that will will come out tasting like Betty-Crocker-does-Chinese.

I’d love to hear what your go-to recipes are, as well as some show stoppers. Thanks!