ITAL376 Noodles

As we discussed Americanized Italian food, there are some difference between American and Italian cultures.

A little bit of Chinese culinary history I thought sounded interesting (especially the part about dumplings being made to look like ears).

This is a post about Chinese food being introduced to India, and how the Indian Chinese food gains it's fame.

This article gives us an overview of some of the unique characteristics of Italian Cuisine. There are also some trip advise on this website which will be helpful to those who are considering visiting Italy in the near future.

This articles looks at the history of the americanized Chinese food that I'm sure many of us have eaten.

This 2008 Cornell University paper reported that healthy-weight guests at a Chinese buffet were three times more likely to eat with chopsticks than obese guests. Healthier people were also more likely to put their napkin on their lap, so let's get our chopsticks and napkins out!

This article discusses the various social functions of food in Chinese culture. From the perspective of Chinese society, food plays many roles beyond simple nutrition. Food is used to express and maintain interpersonal relationships. Different Chinese ethnic groups use their food as part of their identity. Expensive or luxury foods demonstrate socioeconomic status. Food is an important part of religious ceremonies and holidays. Food has symbolic value, representing good fortune and longevity in many celebrations. Food is used by parents and family members as tokens of love and care. There are many other complex societal roles played by food, which are explored in this article.

This article explores what author Krishnendu Ray called the "global hierarchy of taste" in his book The Ethnic Restaurateur. When introduced into American cuisine, some ethnic foods are considered high end while others are considered lesser, even if they are essentially the same core ingredients. The article claims that the "more capital or military power a nation wields and the richer its emigrants are, the more likely its cuisine will command high menu prices." So, as China continues to increase its presence in the global sphere, increasing both its capital and military power, we can expect to see Chinese food be considered more sophisticated.

This is a little bit non-traditional, as it's not a post, but due to the shift in topic to Chinese food this week, I felt it's appropriate. Gordon Ramsay is one of my models when it comes to cooking and this video is of him making Chicken Stir Fry on Rice Noodles. He mentions his trip to China and then proceeds to demonstrate the making of the dish. Maybe now we can make this ourselves!

Food is identity. Food means survival. Food means status. Food is pleasure. Food is community. Food is humanity. These are the aspects of food that make it part of culture. This article discusses these aspects.

Although Korea is a small country, each region has its own signature dish. I tried most of them, and I am telling you they are really good. If anyone has a chance to visit Korea, I recommend trying as many of these as possible.

In both Italian and Chinese food cultures, food sharing/offering is important. This article takes a more psychological approach in explaining the effects food sharing/receiving has on people.

Researchers put dozens of patients with major depressive disorders on a Mediterranean-style diet, and after 12 weeks, 1/3 of participants reported improved mood and symptoms. Pasta only plays a small role here, but it's fascinating to learn more of the myriad ways in which the Mediterranean Diet improves lives.

This is a WebMD article about Italian cuisine and health. The article starts by mentioning that, second to Mexican food, Italian is the most popular ethnic cuisine in the United States; however, it points out that there is a lot more to Italian foods than our Americanized favorites like pasta drowned in Alfredo sauce, pizza, cheesy garlic bread, and spaghetti and meatballs. These popular Italian dishes are typically not considered healthy, but Italian cuisine can be healthy. Italian cuisine also includes a variety of seafood and fresh vegetables. Many Italian pastas are actually much lighter than what we are used to in the U.S, with many herbs and spices for seasoning rather than just cheese and sauce. Italians are also used to much smaller portions than our American mega-sized plates. Furthermore, a major source of added sugar in American diets, sweetened beverages like soda, are not as popular in Italy. Other things that may not seem like a big deal, but can contribute to overall healthier eating habits are the Italians' emphasis on family-centric meals, taste and nutrition maximization, preparation, and presentation. All of these aspects of Italian cuisine has contributed to lower rates of obesity and other diseases in Italian people. I thought this was a really good resource because it clearly explained why different elements of the cuisine contributes to better nutrition and health in a group.

Recently I developed my interest in risotto. This page helps me understand it more deeply. It tells me that the risotto in restaurant is different from what people make at home.

When it comes to spicy Chinese food, the first thing that pops into our mind is always hotpot. Hotpot is originated from Sichuan and the people there love spicy and hot food in spite of the hot and stuffy weather. This article is an general introduction of Sichuan food. Enjoy!