1000 Delights - A Culinary Journey Through China

Even ordering here is a high art in and of itself. Hot and mild, bitter and sweet/sour, meat and fish, hot and cold: with food too, the ancient lesson of yin and yang applies, the harmonious combination of opposites. And because the Chinese love nothing better than eating in company, even a simple lunchtime dish is guaranteed to become an extravagant meal. On our travels, we visit noodle makers in the north Chinese region of Shanxi, and journey to the strange round villages of the Hakka minority, who live in the mountains of the Fujian province. We accompany fishermen in the South China Sea and learn how best to prepare the delicacies brought from the water there. On Lake Lugu in the far south of Sichuan, we visit a matriarchal people governed by women, who are kind enough to cook for us. To finish, we take a peek over the shoulder of Peking's best duck chef. Nowadays the famous duck is only prepared and served in the traditional manner in a handful of restaurants. Master chefs and farmer's wives: they all share a pride in their national cuisine, which counts among the most refined in the world. Welcome on a culinary journey through the Middle Kingdom with its near immeasurable multitude of fascinating cultures and dishes.

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