Chinese
Roast duck, dumplings, noodles, fried rice and stir-fries from several regions of China.
25 dishes, from $7 to $45,000 in play money
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Peking-Style Roast Duck
A whole lacquered duck carved at the table, with pancakes to wrap it in.
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Assorted Dim Sum Basket
A bamboo basket of mixed steamed dumplings.
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Soup Dumplings
Thin dumplings with hot broth sealed inside. Bite carefully.
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Pork Dumplings
Pork and cabbage dumplings with black vinegar.
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Shrimp Dumplings
Pink shrimp showing through a translucent wrapper.
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Vegetable Spring Rolls
Thin, crisp rolls filled with vegetables.
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Crispy Egg Rolls
Thick, bubbly-skinned rolls of pork and cabbage.
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Kung Pao Chicken
Diced chicken with peanuts, dried chilies and a tingle.
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Sweet and Sour Pork
Crisp pork in a glossy sweet and sour sauce.
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Mapo Tofu
Soft tofu in a red, numbing, spicy sauce.
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Dan Dan Noodles
Noodles with minced pork, chili oil and sesame.
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Beef Chow Fun
Wide rice noodles tossed with beef in a very hot wok.
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Yangzhou Fried Rice
Fried rice with shrimp, barbecued pork and egg.
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Egg Fried Rice
Rice, egg, scallion and a hot wok.
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Hot and Sour Soup
A thick soup that is sour and peppery in equal measure.
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Wonton Soup
Silky wontons in a clear broth.
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Barbecued Pork Plate
Red-edged roast pork with a sticky honey glaze.
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Crispy Roast Pork
Cubes of pork belly under a layer of crackling.
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Steamed Whole Fish
A whole fish steamed with ginger and scallion.
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Salt and Pepper Shrimp
Crisp shrimp tossed with salt, pepper and chili.
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Braised Pork Belly
Pork belly braised slowly until glossy and soft.
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Vegetable Lo Mein
Soft egg noodles tossed with vegetables.
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Chicken Lo Mein
Soft egg noodles tossed with chicken.
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Luxury
Mooncake Gift Box
A gift box of mooncakes for the mid-autumn table.
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Ultra
Gold-Leaf Dim Sum Banquet
Every dumpling on the trolley, each one topped with gold.
History and traditions
China has many cuisines rather than one. The north eats wheat, as noodles and dumplings; the south eats rice. Sichuan is known for chili and numbing pepper, Guangdong for roast meats and steamed tea-house dishes. Meals are shared from the centre of the table, and many dishes carry meanings at new year.
Food economy and industry
China is the world's largest producer of pork, vegetables, rice and wheat. Chinese restaurants abroad, often family-run, are one of the most widespread kinds of small business in the world. Soy sauce, tofu and tea are traditional industries that now operate at a vast scale.