Food Blog
‘S e biadh aon de na rudan bho 中国 Zhongguo air a’ bheil sinn uile èolach air ann an Alba. Tha am biadh, aig amannan, dìreach mar a bha mi an duil ach cuideachd fada air falbh bho na bha mi cleachte ri. Tha e glè inntinneach dhòmh dè na rudan a tha air ar ruiginn thall-thairis agus na rudan nach robh mi riamh air cluinntinn mu dheidhinn.
Food is one of the few Chinese things that is well known in the UK. It’s really interesting seeing the differences in the Scottish and Chinese cuisine but also the Chinese food we get at home.
Tha 天津 Tianjin anns am 北 Bei (Tuath) de 中国 agus le sin tha na 菜系 cai lian (biadh) den àite daonnan faisg air làimh! Anns am 北 de 中国tha am biadh gu math diofraichte bho diofar aiteanan san duithich. Mar eisimpleir, ‘s e 面条 miantiao (nùdailean) aon den ‘bun-bhiadh’ a th’aca anns am 北 agus bidh sinn gan ithe gu math tric. Tha fiu’s taigh-biadh again air a’ chuireas sinn ‘Taigh nan Nùdail’ – 山西面馆 Shanxi mian guan! Tha iomadh diofar seòrsa de 面 条 ann far a bheil sin. Tha aon de na seòrsan as cumanta, 拉面, lamian. Tha iad air an cruthachadh le cuideigin a bhios a’ tarraing taois le na làimhean aca, gus am bidh aon nùdail fada aca. Tha cuideachd aon seòrsa ann, 刀面daomian far am bith iad a’ cleachdadh 刀dao (sgian) agus a gèarradh piosan beaga far bloc mhòr de taois.
Tianjin is in the north of the country and as such has its own northern cuisine. One of the major Northern-defining features is noodles. They are one of the staple foods in the north and there are many different types – most of which we don’t get in the UK. Much of the Chinese food we get in UK is Cantonese, which can seem like a whole world away from what we eat daily at times.
Cha bhith sinn idir a’ faigh an dàrna seòrsa de nùdailean, 刀面， ann an Alba. ‘S e aon de na h-abharran airson seo o chionn ’s gu bheil a mhòr chuid den bhiadh Sìnis a’ ruigeas Breatainn bho 香港 Xianggang (Hong Kong). Cha bhidh sinn idir a’ faighinn Dim Sum anns an 北 agus chan eil mi ach air ‘Prawn Crackers’ fhaicinn aon thurras. B’fhèarr leam gun robh barrachd biadh bhon mhòr-roinn againn air ais ann an Alba air sgàth’s gu bheil e dìreach cho blàsta. Chan eil fios agam mar a’ thilleas mi a dh’Alba gun an coimeas ‘酸辣白菜 Suan la bai cai’ (seòrsa de càl) ithe gach latha!
Ann an diofar àiteanan den duthaich, tha cuid den biadh aca caran diofraichte. Anns an 南 nan deas, bidh iad ag ithe 米饭 mifan (rìs) le faisg air a h-uile rud! Anns an mhòr-roinn 四川 Sichuan tha iomadh diofar seòrsan de bhiadh spìosrach aca – fada ro spìosrach dhòmh fhìn! ‘S e aon de na seòrsan biadh as-ainmeile aca 火锅 huoguo ‘Hotpot’, far am bidh poit mòr de dh’ uisge gaoileadh làn de spìosan agus luibhean ann am meadhann a bhòrd. Gheibh sibh diofar feòil, glasraich, tofu is a lethid airson cuir dhan phòit gus am bidh e air a’ choicearachd anns an seòrsa de bhròt. Tha e fior bhlàsta agus ged a tha e às an mhòr-rionn 四川, tha e air cho mhòr-chòrdte gun fhaigh thu lorg air 四川火锅 anns gach oisean den duthaich!
One of the most famous food provinces in the South is Sichuan. They are known for their spicy foods but one of the most well-know dishes is Hotpot. Which essentially is a communal pot full of boiling water with spices and herbs added into which the diners put their meat, vegetables, tofu among other things in it to cook and absorb the flavour. Despite hailing from Sichuan province this dish is so popular that you can find Sichuan Hotpot all over the country!
Tha mise gu math toilichte gu bheil sinn a fuireachd far a bheil sinn oir tha biadh a tha sònraichte do 天津 againn. ‘S e 煎饼 jianbing aon dhuibh. Tha e diorbh mineachadh na th’ann ach ‘s e seòrsa de breiceag tana le sàbhs milis agus toais eile na bhrion. Tha e tòrr nas blàsta na bhiodh tu an duil!
This is one of the cities regional specialties. It’s a type of egg-based pancake – it’s a lot tastier than it looks!
Tha iomadh daoine air faighneachd orm, ‘Dè am biadh as nèonaiche a tha thu air ithe ann an 中国’? Bidh mi daonnan a’ smaoinntain an aon rud – chan eil gin den bhiadh aca nèonach dhaibhsean ‘s e dìreach am biadh làitheal aca a th’ann. Bhiodh e às an t-àbhaist dhaibhsean càise neo buntata ròiste ithe. Ach le sin air ràdh, tha mi air rud neo dhà inntinneach ithe on a ràinig mi 中国 (Sìona). Tha mi creidsinn gur e casan circ agus 田鸡 Tianji -‘s e cearc bhon acadh an eadar-theangachadh literal a th’aca airson ‘losgan’!- an diathais rudan as nèonach a tha mi air ithe. Chan eil casan circ a’ còrdadh ruim cus oir tha an sàbhs anns tha e daonnan ro milis dhòmh ach tha iad a’ cordadh rium na càireadan agam ged-tà.
I’m often asked, ‘what’s the weirdest food you’ve had in China?’ I always think the same thing – Chinese food is just food in China! It would be very strange to have Blue Cheese in China but in Europe no-one would bat an eyelid! That being said I have had some new, maybe unusual, foods. I’ve eaten both chicken feet and frog – they we’re both fine actually! I don’t particularly like the sauce that chicken feet often come in as it’s too sweet, but I have some friends who really like them!
Tha diofaran mòra ann eadar na stuthan a tha air an cleachdadh airson deanamh biadh. Tha e annasach biadh-bainne a’ lorg ann an biadh bho 中国. Cuideachd, tha diofar sèorsan de 水果shuiguo (measan) agus glasraich aca – cuid dhuibh air nach eil mi eòlach idir! Tha e tòrr nas cumanta biadh amh a’ lorg ann an Alba agus nuair a dh’fhaighneachas tu airson biadh gun fhèoil uairean gheibh thu iomadh ceist mu dheidhinn carson! Channain gur e tòst le ìm agus teòclaid na dà rudan a tha mi ag iondrainn as motha bhon taigh. Tha rudan ann ged-ta a bhios mi gu math brònach ri fhagail ann an 中国 . ‘S e 鱼香土豆 yuxiang tudou aon de na seoraichean de biadh as fhèarr leam. ‘S e bunntata a th’air a’ ghearradh sìos gu pìosan beaga, uinnean, piobar agus fàsan-ùr bambù a th’air a coicearachd gus a bheil direach crusab mìn aca a th’ann. Ach ‘s e an sàbhs a pàirt as cudromaiche: tha e dorcha, beagan spìosrach, creamhagaich, milis is steigeach agus ithinn gach làtha e fad mo bheatha!
The ingredients and food culture differ hugely between the UK and China. It’s rare to find dairy in cooking and I don’t even recognise some of the fruit and veg from the fruit markets. Being vegetarian is often met with stares of confusion. I think the things I miss most are hot buttered toast and chocolate (it’s quite expensive here). I’m already aware of all the great food I’m never going to be able to eat once I’ve left China. But while I’m here I’m going to eat all that I can.
Airson an dràsta tha mi dìreach dol a dh’ithe uile den bhiadh blàsta ‘s urrain dhòmh agus a’ bharrachd air feuchdainn uile am biadh ùr agus intinneach a tha mun cuirt orm!
再见
黎珍珠