Meaningful Meals

For the Chinese, food (the cornerstone of their culture) is more than a means of physical nourishment. Each dish is imbued with the characteristics of yin and yang - cool and hot; sweet and sour; rich and light. Flavours and textures contrast, each dish a continuous striving for culinary harmony, a balancing act of opposites.

This quest for equilibrium is essential for food is supposed to sustain and nurture mind, spirit and body. Food is chosen with care for what it represents, whether it be health, prosperity, longevity, fertility, or fidelity, all noble qualities much admired within the Chinese community.

Duck, for example, is served at Chinese weddings because it represents faithfulness in marriage. Whole fish, with head and tail intact (and quite intimidating), is always served at Chinese New Year feasts because the word for fish - "yu" - signifies abundance.

Altough choosing the right foods for the right occasion may often seem complex, the underlying principle is always the same - a wish for happiness for oneself, one's family and one's friends. And what, after all, could be simpler than that?