Week 11: Chinese Cuisine
Welcome to Week 11 of Savour the Summer!
This week we will exploring the best Chinese restaurants here in the Tri-Cities. From dumplings to dim sum and Szechwan chicken to sweet and sour pork, we are lucky to have a vibrant Chinese community right here at home.
And that’s not all! We will be finishing this week at the inaugural BC Dumpling Festival held at Town Centre Park on August 13 from 11am - 8pm. Join us as we combat anti-asian hate and celebrate the diversity of our beautiful region!
Dishes with Deep Roots
Now, I know that you have definitely enjoyed Chinese food before. So instead of listing out common ingredients or going over popular dishes (because I already know you have one!), I will explore the different types of Chinese cuisine.
China is a large country that covers a vast geographical area. Therefore it comes as no surprise that Chinese cuisine encompasses many different and diverse cultural influences.
The eight culinary cuisines (known as the Eight Culinary Traditions) found in China are Anhui, Cantonese, Fujian, Hunan, Jiangsu, Shandong, Szechuan and Zhejiang.
Anhui - The landlocked region of the Huangshan Mountains relies less on seafood and more on a variety of local vegetables (like mushrooms and bamboo) and wild herbs. Common cooking techniques include braising, stewing and steaming.
Cantonese - Most known for their dim sum dishes, Cantonese food originated in the Guangdong province of China. This regional cuisine is all about bite-sized dishes, minimal sauces and the Cantonese dining style called yum cha.
Fujian - This mountainous region located on China’s coast is abundant in fresh seafood and woodland flora. The mixture of pacific fish, shellfish and turtles along with hearty mushrooms, bamboo and local herbs makes Fujian cuisine understandably delicious.
Hunan - Known for its agriculture exports, the Hunan province uses an abundance of fresh local ingredients to give its dishes the spicy favour, fresh aroma and bold colours it is popular for. In addition, Hunan dishes often include an emphasis on sour flavours such as pickles and Douchi.
Jiangsu - Comprised of at least 5 different styles of cooking, Jiangsu cuisine is rich in diversity and flavour. The Yangtze River cuts this province in half and delivers seafood from the coastal regions of Jiangsu well into its interior. This food is characterized as soft, but not to the point of falling apart.
Shandong - Shandong cuisine is known for having fresh, salty, crisp and tender features, and was apparently highly favoured by the imperial families in the Ming and Qing dynasties. The two prominent styles in Shandong cuisine are light seafood dishes (Jiaodong) and soup (Jinan).
Sichuan (Szechuan) - As you can probably guess, Sichuan cuisine originated in the Sichuan province and its most well known dish is none other than Sichuan chicken! Sichuan cuisine is known for its bold flavours and spiciness, which comes from Sichuan Peppercorn, Facing Heaven Peppers, Chili Peppers and garlic.
Zhejiang - Like Jiangsu cuisine, Zhejiang food has at least 4 different regional styles that make it unique and tasty. Unlike the other seven traditions, Zhejiang cuisine is known for soft flavours and mild aromas. It is often described as light and fresh, and is never greasy.
Our Favourites
See our favourite local Chinese restaurants below - including our go-to spots for Bubble Tea!
Remember, we are always on the lookout for other delicious eateries in the Tri-Cities. If your favourite place isn’t listed below, add it in the comments!
Port Moody
Coquitlam
Port Coquitlam
And don’t forget to join us at this year’s BC Dumpling Festival 2022 at Town Centre Park in Coquitlam.
The festival, put on by The Asian Arts and Culture Society, runs from 11am-8pm on August 13, 2022!
“The Asian Arts and Culture Society is excited to present the inaugural BC Dumpling Festival in the Tri-Cities. This festival is a celebration of the diverse community we live in and brings together families, friends, neighbours, community organizations and businesses from different cultures to share food, entertainment and laughter. This festival will be the first of its kind in our beautiful community. It is a multicultural, family-friendly event that will showcase dumplings from different cultures!”
- Dumpling Festival 2022 Website