Expats and Chinese Food

[shri]

>> Why are you here?

To wind up people perhaps? One more expat who is desperately seeking attention by trolling message boards... *sigh*

[Max]

Every now and then a little bug passes through the vigilant gaze of our esteemed administrator....

My two cents on Chinese food. Not at the top of my list for sure, those spots are occupied by Thai, Mexican, Southeast Asian varietes (like Malaysian, Indonesian, Vietnamese, etc..), Japanese, Korean, Italian, Arabic variants (Lebanese, Egyptian, Moroccan, etc...), and of course my perennial favorite, Indian.

Like most here, regional Chinese food does the trick for me (namely Sichuan, Hunan, Shanghainese, or even Xinjiang cuisine if I'm in the mood for something exotic...etc..)

[fly]

Without any scientific basis, I always figured it had to do with local economies, surely the (majority of) Chinese restaurants in Canada or elsewhere can't get away with charging the same prices as in HK - they've got to compete with the local restaurant offerings. And the cost of produce may be cheaper overall there as well perhaps?

Oh, and it is true that many of the hotel-grade chefs did emigrate during the late 80's, so the odds are high they're still practicing their craft in more humble locales in Toronto and the like, surely.

No need to answer that. To be here does not necessarily have to do with liking local food.

BTW, back on the subject of food, wonder why often enough the Chinese in the various Chinatowns of Greater Toronto and Vancouver turns out to be better than HK's, (and cheaper at times). Even Cantonese and Dim Sum. Maybe because the ducks and geese are fed better and the veggies healthier? Did the best local chefs emigrate in the 90s? Yet to find a decent hot & sour soup there though - everyone seems to have learned the recipe from the same book. (None of the above applies to the N. American style Chinese (takeaway anyone?) or the Ho Lee Chows and Manchu Woks and other similar appalling stuff).

[petrm]

Hong Kong is not a place to find delicious Chinese food. I actually prefer northern Chinese, not Cantonese cousine.

If you are not afraid of going to Shenzhen, there you will find restaurants with all the Chinese cousines, including northern for only 1/10 the cost. Even imported Norweigian salmon is cheaper there than in HK.

[jenniferc]

British chinese takeaway is foul. Bright neon sweet and sour is not appetizing at all. I love Cantonese food and it beats chinese food in the mainland anyday. In fact, when I was in Beijing, I spent most of the time eating at Western restaurants because I was so horrified at the chinese food there.. I don't think you'll ever find chinese food as good as it is in Hong Kong and I know the majority of my chinese friends agree.

But, I guess if you grow up with Westernised Chinese food, your tastes and idea of what Chinese food is supposed to be like will be warped.

[jenniferc]

British chinese takeaway is foul. Bright neon sweet and sour is not appetizing at all. I love Cantonese food and it beats chinese food in the mainland anyday. In fact, when I was in Beijing, I spent most of the time eating at Western restaurants because I was so horrified at the chinese food there.. I don't think you'll ever find chinese food as good as it is in Hong Kong and I know the majority of my chinese friends agree.

But, I guess if you grow up with Westernised Chinese food, your tastes and idea of what Chinese food is supposed to be like will be warped.

[jlongboard]

You know, i dont really respond much to these boards, but since I just left Hong Kong about 6 days ago from a job search....I actually miss the food a lot, honestly I love Cantonese food, I have no idea what the name of this place is that my girlfriend takes me to but we love this place. It's in Fo Tan down the road from the KCR?? Big neon lights and guys yelling at you to come eat there. The food is good, a lot of it and cheap!! Including the giant chinese bottles of beer. It's actually become our favorite hangout.