Are you planning to eat Chinese food for the first time? Read on and discover some of the unique things that you should expect when you go to have a meal at a Chinese restaurant.

A Mix of Flavours

The Chinese put a lot of emphasis on the flavours in the food that they eat. Consequently, a significant amount of effort is devoted towards creating variety in the flavours of the food that is eaten for each meal. For example, breakfast may have different flavours from the flavours contained in what you have for dinner. This variation is also implemented in each meal. For example, a single dish may contain a spice that gives it a sweet taste while another condiment in the same dish will add a bitter taste to the food. This mixing of flavours makes it a delight to sample different meals because each will have a distinct taste from another meal. 

Everything is Cooked

Traditionally, the Chinese fertilised their farms using animal and human waste. This method of cultivation helped them to get high yields from the small plots on which individual farmers grew their produce. The impact of this style of cultivation is that nearly everything that is served is cooked so that any harmful microorganisms are killed. Raw food, such as freshly cut vegetables, is therefore rare when you eat out at a Chinese restaurant that follows the ageless traditions of the Chinese. 

No Deep Frying

Western cuisine features a lot of deep frying. Chinese cuisine is different. The Chinese prefer to boil, bake, stir fry or steam their food. This method of cooking normally preserves the natural flavours and taste of the food so that the person eating that food can enjoy each item. As already mentioned, flavour plays an important role in Chinese cuisine so the methods of preparation are geared towards enriching the dining experience.

Crushed Bones

The Chinese pride themselves in not wasting anything valuable. Consequently, they cut their meat so that the bones shatter and mix with the rest of the meat. Two key reasons explain this. First, meat nearest to the bone is considered to be of high quality. Secondly, the bone marrow thickens the sauce and increases its nutritive value. Shattering the bones within the meat helps to get all the value that can be got from all parts of the animal. You should therefore go prepared to eat carefully so that you can navigate your tongue around these bone fragments that aren't common in the food that you are used to.

Each Chinese dish has a unique history behind it. Try to talk to the chef about each dish in case you have the time to spare. This discussion will enrich your appreciation of the Chinese culture from which those dishes were fashioned.