Food: Delicacies and Traditional Food of China

Zong Zi Jai

Traditional:

Jai: A traditional Chinese cuisine, mostly comprised of root vegetables. An example of a traditional Jai dish inculdes: cabbage, tofu, tang hoon noodles, black mushrooms, and mock duck.
Jiaozi Dumpling: Crescent shaped dumplings with pleated edges, normally filled with meat or vegetables. The filling ingredients are enclosed in a thick flour and water dough and then boiled. Usually served with a ginger dipping sauce.

Zong Zi: Another traditional Chinese dumpling made with glutinous rice and dates, wrapped with bamboo or reed leaves.

Fa Gao: Traditional Chinese cake, made with rice flour, yeast and sugar, and is steamed instead of baked. "Fa Gao" literally means "Prosperity Cake", and are usually eaten during the Chinese New Year celebration.

Delicacies

Sea Cucumber: Sea Cucumbers can be found on the bottom of the Sea and must be cleaned first before eating. Sometimes the cleaning process can take all day.

Fried Grasshoppers: One of China's most interesting delicacies. They are often used for protein sources. Although Americans are often put off by the thought of eating a bug, the people of the Eastern world, including China and Korea, see the grasshopper as being delicious, healthy, and even healing in some aspects.

Snake Meat: The breed of snake varies form city to city but water snake and python are the more popular choices. At many restaurants, the customer is able to pick out their own live snake to be prepared.

Starfish fried in Shark Oil: Exactly what is sounds like. Usually popular in more expensive restaurants.