Is there any significance to the order in which dishes are served during a Chinese meal?

The Chinese have a whole 🌟 philosophy 🌟 around the importance of the sequence of dishes on the dining table. Here’s the 411:

🍽️ The order of the dishes is like a 🎮 game 🎮 of balance. The whole point is to have a harmony of flavours, with a mix of sweet, sour, bitter, salty, and savoury dishes 🤤.

🍷 The visual vibe is also key, so dishes are arranged to have a 👍 colour coordination 🍳.

🍗 Got to keep the palate excited, so dishes are served going from mild to spicy 🌶️, to fresh again.

🍍 Different cooking styles are shown off in the sequence, like frying, steaming, and braising 🍲.

🌏 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.

🥩 The most important main course usually takes centre stage, surrounded by the supporting dishes 🍗.

🥨 The meal starts with some 🥟 appetisers 🥟 and ends with something sweet 🍦 or a light, refreshing dish. 🍵

It’s all about balance and harmony—a big part of the Chinese 🧘‍♀️🧘‍♂️ philosophy—but 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.