Is there any significance to the order in which dishes are served during a Chinese meal?
The Chinese have a whole ๐ philosophy ๐ around the importance of the sequence of dishes on the dining table. Here’s the 411:
๐ฝ๏ธ The order of the dishes is like a ๐ฎ game ๐ฎ of balance. The whole point is to have a harmony of flavours, with a mix of sweet, sour, bitter, salty, and savoury dishes ๐คค.
๐ท The visual vibe is also key, so dishes are arranged to have a ๐ colour coordination ๐ณ.
๐ Got to keep the palate excited, so dishes are served going from mild to spicy ๐ถ๏ธ, to fresh again.
๐ Different cooking styles are shown off in the sequence, like frying, steaming, and braising ๐ฒ.
๐ Each region has its signature dishes, and when they’re all put together on one big table, the sequence can give a glimpse of the local flavours.
๐ฅฉ The most important main course usually takes centre stage, surrounded by the supporting dishes ๐.
๐ฅจ The meal starts with some ๐ฅ appetisers ๐ฅ and ends with something sweet ๐ฆ or a light, refreshing dish. ๐ต
It’s all about balance and harmonyโa big part of the Chinese ๐งโโ๏ธ๐งโโ๏ธ philosophyโbut also about celebrating the art of food. These days, restaurants are more chill, and the sequence is more flexible, based on the crew’s preferences.
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