When Dull Food Simply Will Not Do

You may be sitting at your desk at work or in your den at home. You are hungry. Really hungry. You do not want to cook and you do not want a silly delivered pizza. You want real food. You want something spicy and filling. Then the light bulb goes off. You really want a good Mexican restaurant! And one with good service. You do not want to wait a week for your order!

You want a Mexican Restaurant that has out-of-this word Margaritas that you and your friends can enjoy with chips and salsa while you make up your minds on what to order. It is great that you have chosen a place that serves Tex-Mex as well as traditional Mexican fare from the Yucatan and other well-known areas. You would be happy with a large order of nachos, tacos or fajitas, but maybe you will order something different this time that has an exotic and ethnic appeal.

As a guacamole lover you want anything that can be served with the spicy avocado mix. You like spicy but you are not big on jalapenos. This restaurant has so many dishes that have loads of spices but you have them hold little green dynamos that make your eyes water. This is the great Mexican restaurant that catered a special even at the office not long ago. They brought a menu with them so staffers could see their complete offering.

History of Chinese Food

1) The History of Chinese Cuisine

Though it possesses an engaging history that spans over 5000 years, Chinese culinary history only began to be documented during the 5th Century B.C. and evolved across several dynastic periods including the Han, Tang, Song, Yuan, Ming and Qing dynasties. Imperial oversight played an important role in the development of culinary trends. A cook's work was set to strict culinary rules determined by the emperor and senior officials. China's varied regional, climatic and cultural influences saw the development of vegetarian and non-vegetarian dishes with exclusions that followed the availability or religious significance of certain ingredients. Over the last 2000 years, Chinese cooking saw the development of strong culinary differences across the banks of the Yangtze River. European travellers brought with them dairy products, a class of products rarely found in historical culinary records. The blurring of cultural and geographic lines led to the development of regional cuisines and the 'Four Schools' and 'Eight Schools' of this cuisine as well as several dietary trends. Today, we know these as 'cleansing' or 'balanced' diets. Ancient Chinese cookbooks list nearly 200 distinct vegetables and over 100 types of meat that featured on imperial and common menus throughout the country. Through all these cultural, religious and imperial upheavals, the core philosophy of this cuisine has been moderation, balance and harmony.

2) Chinese Food in the Western World

Chinese food has always enjoyed immense popularity in the West. Today, there are nearly 50,000 Chinese restaurants in the United States, a tribute to the popularity of a culinary style that feeds over a billion people every day. Some of the most popular Chinese dishes that find their place on tables around the world include:

Chow Mein: This delicious marriage of hand-drawn noodles, meat and select vegetables such as Bok Choy and bamboo shoot. Chow Mein, served crispy or soft is popular comfort food in the West and may be served with a hot sauce or with a choice of milder, aromatic sauces.

Duck: Roast duck is easily the most popular gourmet delicacy served up in Chinese restaurants. The modern Peking duck is a challenging interpretation of an imperial recipe that serves up a beautifully glazed roast duck with aromatic herb sauces and tender meat. Some gastronomes have gone as far as to name it 'China's National Dish'

Xiaolongbao: These soup dumplings form excellent finger food and accompany other dishes. These steamed buns are served with soups and several gravies including a garlic vinegar sauce or a Schezwan dip. A culinary cousin, the sweet Lai Wong Bao is the perfect end to a Chinese meal.

A Great Dining Experience Makes A Perfect Gift

People of both sexes and all walks of life have difficulty in choosing an appropriate gift for a special occasion. The occasion could be something as traditional as a birthday or holiday or something more romantic like an anniversary - whether it is five years or five months. Nothing makes a recipient feel more appreciated and special than dinner at a fine dining restaurant. What is one of the many benefits of this kind of gift or attention is that it is perfectly acceptable for a woman to give this to a man as well as the other way around.

Selecting the ideal fine dining restaurant can take a little research if you haven't already been a patron of one of the area's finest as yet. You can make a list of your particular likes and dislikes and make sure the restaurant checks all your likes. First of all you want a place that will make your guest feel comfortable. This means that the CEO will feel just as at home as the person in the mailroom. The dress code must be diverse. You want a fine dining restaurant where one may see men in suits and men in casual slacks and shirts. It is possible to be casual and still have a fine dining experience.

You may or may not want to make a reservation so you want a place that accepts both reservations and walk-ins. You definitely want ambiance. You want the décor to be as special as the food. Your guest may or may not want wine with the meal, but you need to ensure that there is a good wine list just in case. The same goes for a full service bar.