Vegetarianism & Food Allergies
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Vegetarians will find themselves in a frustrating situation in China. On one hand, many of the specialty vegetarian dishes available are among the finest examples of food as art I have ever witnessed. Chefs in Buddhist temples excel at creating entirely vegan dishes which imitate the taste, form, and texture of most any food you can imagine. Imitation fish has the taste and texture of the real thing - down to the details of sculpted fins and the slick, fatty texture of the skin. Meatballs, whole chickens floating in broth (complete with a red wattle), slices of liver,... all these and more can be had without animal products.
The problems begin when you leave the temples or the large cultural cities such as Hong Kong and Shanghai. If there's one thing Chinese love it's meat, in all it's forms and styles. Whether you are actually a practicing Buddhist or not, learn how to say "I am a Buddhist, I do not eat meat," in the local dialect. This will be a more effective way to keep meat off your plate than using the translated word for "vegetarian" which will often result in less animal product, not none. It should also be noted that much of Chinese food, especially in Hunan, will be cooked in animal broth or oils. Not being a vegetarian, I would of course suggest that you try to loosen your rules a bit if planning a trip to China. If you don't eat meat, you're missing out on some of the best Chinese dishes, and you may find yourself feeling an outsider in a culture that outs great importance on sharing food together on a regular basis. Whatever your ethical, religious, or health reasons for avoiding animal products, give special consideration before leaving for China to what degree you are willing to bend your normal habits and rules, and how you plan to deal with the situation when it inevitably arises. Requesting no meat often results in a smaller amount of meat, only using animal based cooking oils and broths, or meat off the bone - such as organs or seafood. God help you if you have serious food allergies to peanuts, shrimp, corn, peppers, or anything else for that matter. Cooking oils are often used for multiple dishes, and so even ordering one dish might find trace contaminants of whatever was cooked in the dish or oil previously. If your allergies are sever enough that you are sensitive to cooking smells, consider bringing a face mask or carrying a handkerchief. Street food is very popular and you never know when a nice stroll might blast you with someone steaming or frying the source of your allergy on the street. I'm curious about the prevalence of food allergies amongst Chinese.... 2007 © alarana.net |