https://www.scmp.com/rss/328076/feed The fascinating histories of all your favourite foods. en https://assets.i-scmp.com/static/img/icons/scmp-meta-1200x630.png https://www.scmp.com Lisa Lim Lisa Lim Oranges abound worldwide. Citrus, however, originated – 8 million years ago – in the southeast Himalayan foothills, a region including eastern Assam, India, northern Myanmar and western Yunnan province, in China, and subsequently dispersed into other parts of Southeast Asia, with local species diversification. The first species to spread west was citron (Citrus medica), through Persia and the Southern Levant from the fourth and fifth centuries BC, then to the western Mediterranean in the second... https://www.scmp.com/magazines/post-magazine/short-reads/article/3209219/oranges-origins-how-it-travelled-east-west-and-its-name-evolved?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/magazines/post-magazine/short-reads/article/3209219/oranges-origins-how-it-travelled-east-west-and-its-name-evolved?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 07 Feb 2023 08:45:10 +0000 Asma Khan has a vivid memory of the first time she encountered chicken tikka masala (CTM), the b*****d child of Indian cooking and British taste. It was in 1992, and she had just arrived in the great English university town of Cambridge, where her husband was studying law. A professor invited the young couple to dinner at an Indian restaurant, where he ordered the dish, a staple of curry houses across Britain. “I was confused,” says Khan of the chunks of mildly spiced chicken, roasted, then... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/food-drink/article/3207751/chicken-tikka-masala-why-britains-best-indian-chefs-respect-hybrid-dish-even-if-they-wont-put-it?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/food-drink/article/3207751/chicken-tikka-masala-why-britains-best-indian-chefs-respect-hybrid-dish-even-if-they-wont-put-it?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 24 Jan 2023 08:15:10 +0000 A chef from Glasgow, who claims to have invented the curry dish chicken tikka masala, has died at the age of 77, a family member said on Wednesday. Ahmed Aslam Ali, who invented the dish by improvising a sauce made from a tin of tomato soup at his restaurant Shish Mahal in the 1970s, died on Monday morning, his nephew Andleeb Ahmed said. “He would eat lunch in his restaurant every day,” Ahmed said. “The restaurant was his life. The chefs would make curry for him. I am not sure if he often ate... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/food-drink/article/3204203/restaurant-was-his-life-chicken-tikka-masala-inventor-dies-aged-77?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/food-drink/article/3204203/restaurant-was-his-life-chicken-tikka-masala-inventor-dies-aged-77?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 22 Dec 2022 03:47:56 +0000 Lisa Lim Lisa Lim Lettuce – “queen of the salad plants”, as the 1975 classic Edible Leaves of the Tropics declared – encompasses several cultivars, the most common being loose-leaf, head and romaine (also known as cos), each with many varieties. The origins of all varieties can be traced to a weedy form first used in ancient Egypt, the pressed seeds of which were a source of cooking oil. The plant was then selectively cultivated to grow broader, longer leaves that were more appealing for consumption – images of... https://www.scmp.com/magazines/post-magazine/short-reads/article/3197617/after-lettuce-famously-outlasted-liz-truss-origin-word-and-how-queen-salad-plants-was-once-little?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/magazines/post-magazine/short-reads/article/3197617/after-lettuce-famously-outlasted-liz-truss-origin-word-and-how-queen-salad-plants-was-once-little?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 31 Oct 2022 08:45:07 +0000 The painful memory of my first run-in with this teapot still burns. When I was about 10 years old, my parents taught me the courtesy of pouring tea for everyone else at the table before mine. On that fateful Saturday, during yum cha, they asked me to pick up the teapot and pour tea for my grandma. The experience was comical yet traumatic. I remember that the teapot, filled to the brim with boiling water, was too heavy for me to pick up by the handle with one hand. The unbalanced weight of the... https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/leisure/article/3158595/teapot-hell-why-chinese-restaurant-staple-needs-rethink?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/leisure/article/3158595/teapot-hell-why-chinese-restaurant-staple-needs-rethink?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 07 Dec 2021 00:00:29 +0000 Legend has it that a farmer spotted his pig digging at the root of a tree. After eating what looked like mushrooms, the pig was found passed out. Upon investigation, the farmer discovered the aromatic tubers … or now as we know them, truffles. “The story is true,” says Luca Stanzani, vice-president of Appennino USA, world brand ambassador of Italy’s Appennino truffle. Truffles have long been known to various civilisations. There are recorded recipes that have ancient Egyptians eating the tubers... https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/leisure/article/3158331/why-are-truffles-so-expensive-and-are-black-or-white-best?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/leisure/article/3158331/why-are-truffles-so-expensive-and-are-black-or-white-best?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 06 Dec 2021 00:00:22 +0000 The historical events that led to the founding of Hong Kong are also at the root of the city’s tailoring culture. It all goes back to the 19th century, the period explored in James Clavell’s epic doorstop of a novel, Tai-Pan, published in 1966. When China-based British and American entrepreneurs began to accumulate fortunes in the opium trade, tailors from the UK saw the potential for profit catering to these newly affluent individuals.  14 new restaurants and menus in Hong Kong to check out in... https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/leisure/article/3136963/david-bowie-bruno-mars-old-hong-kongs-tailors-made-suits?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/leisure/article/3136963/david-bowie-bruno-mars-old-hong-kongs-tailors-made-suits?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 14 Jun 2021 00:00:00 +0000 One of Hong Kong’s most iconic landmarks, the Peak Tram, is set to undergo its sixth upgrade since opening in 1888, and will be temporarily closed to the public from this month. 14 new restaurants and menus in Hong Kong to check out in June Why the reputation? One of the world’s oldest funicular railways, the Peak Tram is just as much a tourist destination as the spot it was built to service, Hong Kong’s Victoria Peak. Its must-ride reputation has built up over time thanks to the way the cars... https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/leisure/article/3136921/peak-tram-old-hong-kong-icon-taking-millions-tourists-year?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/leisure/article/3136921/peak-tram-old-hong-kong-icon-taking-millions-tourists-year?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 11 Jun 2021 07:34:12 +0000 Nathan Road remains one of Hong Kong’s most famous streets thanks to the fact that it is lined with hotels, shops and heritage sites. Stretching 3.6km north from the Kowloon harbourfront in Tsim Sha Tsui to Sham Shui Po, it also happens to be the oldest road in Kowloon. Would you pay US$174,000 a month to live on The Peak? Someone just did History The first part of the road was completed in 1861, soon after the land was ceded to the British colony by the Qing dynasty in 1860. The road began... https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/leisure/article/3136432/what-was-nathan-road-old-hong-kong-bruce-lees-former?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/leisure/article/3136432/what-was-nathan-road-old-hong-kong-bruce-lees-former?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 08 Jun 2021 07:00:21 +0000 It’s a tough time for cinemas. While there are theatres closing down – local cinema chain UA lowered its curtains for the last time earlier this year – there are also new cinemas being launched in movie-loving Hong Kong. There’s the sci-fi themed ACX Cinemas in North Point’s Harbour North shopping mall and the independent four-house Golden Scene in Kennedy Town. It’s also been confirmed that another Emperor Cinema will be coming to Times Square. Meanwhile characterful movie theatres of the past... https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/leisure/article/3135995/beatles-cantonese-opera-alien-miss-universe-old-hong-kongs?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/leisure/article/3135995/beatles-cantonese-opera-alien-miss-universe-old-hong-kongs?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 06 Jun 2021 01:00:16 +0000 Thanks in large part to Netflix, we’ve all fallen under the spell of K-dramas – and one cultural aspect you can’t fail to notice is how passionate Koreans are about noodles. Some variety or other of noodles feature in the majority of the most popular K-dramas and many award-winning films (Parasite’s class-war-in-a-bowl ram-don, for example). And the eating of them – or more specifically an invitation to eat ramyeon – has even become a metaphor for sex. Are Blackpink’s Jennie and G-Dragon really... https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/k-pop/k-drama/article/3124265/k-drama-why-are-ramyeon-noodles-invitation-sex?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/k-pop/k-drama/article/3124265/k-drama-why-are-ramyeon-noodles-invitation-sex?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 06 Mar 2021 04:00:11 +0000 While we can definitely argue about which biryani is the best, it’s clear that the dish is one of South Asia’s finest culinary inventions. Biryani rose from humble origins to becoming a staple at all kinds of restaurants today, from roadside dives to luxury fine dines. 5 things to know about India’s ‘Queen of Television’ Ekta Kapoor A video of Bollywood’s Shah Rukh Khan making biryani during lockdown last year went viral; and he swears by fellow actor Salman Khan’s recipe. Shah Rukh’s wife,... https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/watches/article/3123265/why-do-bollywood-stars-love-biryani-shah-rukh-khan-swore?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/watches/article/3123265/why-do-bollywood-stars-love-biryani-shah-rukh-khan-swore?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 03 Mar 2021 04:00:13 +0000 It’s time to celebrate Lunar New Year again! Aside from receiving red packets, the other tradition that children are guaranteed to get excited about is the candy box, or chuen hup. But while nowadays we might be more focused on the box’s colourful exterior and delicious contents, the custom is actually steeped in history – from the name to the traditional sweets found inside.  6 places to eat poon choi with a twist in Hong Kong this Lunar New Year   First of all, chuen hup used to be called zan... https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/leisure/article/3121146/what-lunar-new-year-chuen-hup-or-candy-box-and-what-are?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/leisure/article/3121146/what-lunar-new-year-chuen-hup-or-candy-box-and-what-are?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 10 Feb 2021 04:00:10 +0000 When the origin of a national dish is disputed, this can lead to “food wars”. And the most scorching culinary battle of the moment might be the “kimchi wars”, over the origin of the popular naturally fermented vegetable side dish. The controversy has been raging since late November, thanks to three main incidents – or ingredients. BTS to Blackpink: K-pop stars’ favourite foods and Korean dishes revealed The first was a result of new international regulations for the making of Chinese pao cai,... https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/news-trends/article/3119446/kimchi-south-korean-or-did-chinas-pao-cai-come-first?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/news-trends/article/3119446/kimchi-south-korean-or-did-chinas-pao-cai-come-first?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 28 Jan 2021 09:00:11 +0000 From the clacking of tiles echoing from players huddled around outdoor tables in cities across East Asia, to dramatic cinematic showdowns in movies like Crazy Rich Asians , it’s clear that mahjong plays a deep role in Chinese social culture. But where did it come from, and how did the beloved four-player game begin? Mahjong first appeared during Imperial China’s Qing dynasty around the mid-1800s, but it was influenced by Chinese card games like pai gow that go as far back as the Southern Song... https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/news-trends/article/3118185/mahjong-line-was-playing-fire-its-refresh-beloved?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/news-trends/article/3118185/mahjong-line-was-playing-fire-its-refresh-beloved?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 18 Jan 2021 08:50:44 +0000 Pizza is more than just a famous Italian flatbread. Making the savoury dish is an art form and there’s only one original pizza: the “veracious”, or true, Neapolitan, made according to strict regulations. Forget Pizza Hut and other commercial chains. Authentic pizza was born in the city of Naples, has a distinctive flavour and crust, and is generally topped with tomatoes and mozzarella. The traditional recipe is protected by a consortium – the Associazione Verace Pizza Napoletana, or Association... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/food-drink/article/3111895/how-asia-fell-love-real-neapolitan-pizza-and-disciples-who?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/food-drink/article/3111895/how-asia-fell-love-real-neapolitan-pizza-and-disciples-who?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 02 Dec 2020 09:15:09 +0000 Ketchup, that thick, sweet and tangy tomato sauce that goes hand in hand with burgers and fries, is a true American culinary classic – or is it? In a history pieced together through old recipes, missionary dictionaries and etymological echoes, researchers have traced the condiment’s origins to an unexpected source: Southeast Asian fish sauce. Old American recipes show that tomato is a relatively new addition to ketchup, only appearing as an ingredient from the early 1800s. According to The... https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/well-being/article/3108807/ketchup-isnt-even-american-language-food-explains-how?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/well-being/article/3108807/ketchup-isnt-even-american-language-food-explains-how?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 07 Nov 2020 22:00:11 +0000 Drinking tea is entrenched in the British way of life. From early morning to late at night, the kettle is on for a brew in many households across the country. Not surprisingly, Britain is one of the world’s biggest tea-drinking nations alongside Turkey, Ireland and China, but why do they drink so much tea? Turns out, it’s all to do with taxes. Coffee or tea? Order a yuen yeung for the best of both Tea was first brought to Britain in the early 17th century by the East India Company and was... https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/leisure/article/3106840/why-do-british-love-tea-so-much-thank-royal-family-how-tea?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/leisure/article/3106840/why-do-british-love-tea-so-much-thank-royal-family-how-tea?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 25 Oct 2020 04:00:17 +0000 Nothing signifies autumn on the Chinese calendar like Mid-Autumn Festival, and nothing says Mid-Autumn Festival like mooncakes. Most mooncakes consist of a thick, tender pastry skin enveloping a sweet, dense lotus paste filling, and may contain one or more whole salted egg yolks in the centre as a symbol of the full moon. The more egg yolks, the higher the price. Although the traditional recipe for mooncakes isn’t complicated, it is rather labour intensive, making the sweet snack one of the most... https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/news-trends/article/3103478/why-do-we-eat-mooncakes-mid-autumn-festival-legend-moon?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/news-trends/article/3103478/why-do-we-eat-mooncakes-mid-autumn-festival-legend-moon?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 29 Sep 2020 07:00:22 +0000 In late 2019, Seamus Blackley, known as the father of the X-Box, and a keen sour dough bread baker and Egyptologist, made bread using a 4,500-year-old yeast, collected from ancient Egyptian ceramic pots once used for beer and bread making. Quite the achievement. While resurrecting dormant yeasts is not for everyone, there are certainly fans of keeping a dish going for a lengthy time, or keeping something alive and active for as long as possible. Take the perpetual stew for example. Dating back... https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/well-being/article/3099085/lot-rot-bread-rising-4500-year-old-egyptian-yeast-thai?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/well-being/article/3099085/lot-rot-bread-rising-4500-year-old-egyptian-yeast-thai?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 27 Aug 2020 08:35:57 +0000 Baijiu is big business. Nicknamed “fire water” for its intense flavour and strength, the Chinese liquor is huge in its homeland and looking to take over the world. Kweichow Moutai, one of the most famous producers of baijiu, is the most valuable company listed in mainland China – more valuable than the likes of Diageo, which owns brands such as Johnnie Walker, Smirnoff, Baileys, Tanqueray and Guinness – and is worth more than nearly all the major international drinks brands put together. Despite... https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/news-trends/article/3097439/baijiu-chinas-national-drink-served-us-presidents-nixon?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/news-trends/article/3097439/baijiu-chinas-national-drink-served-us-presidents-nixon?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 17 Aug 2020 02:00:10 +0000 For a business, going global usually means one of two things. Either your citizens have flocked to different countries so you expand to continue to serve them, or spreading awareness of your brand abroad provokes demand from locals. From the moreish pour of San Miguel lager to Jollibee spreading the famous “chickenjoy”, these home-grown brands from the Philippines have made a mark internationally, often for both reasons. 5 Filipino fashionistas who are making a splash on social media San... https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/news-trends/article/3092878/san-miguel-jollibee-how-philippines-finest-brands-took?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/news-trends/article/3092878/san-miguel-jollibee-how-philippines-finest-brands-took?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 12 Jul 2020 23:00:12 +0000 From the time of the Mughals to the British Raj, India’s culinary map has been dotted with dishes that have their roots all across the globe. It hasn’t all been one-way traffic though, with the British “recreating” a few recipes from the Indian kitchen – like the railway mutton curry and mulligatawny soup. One of their more glorified yet debatable interpretations is the nargisi kofta, popularly known in the West as Scotch eggs. A Scotch egg is a boiled egg enclosed in a minced meat patty and... https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/news-trends/article/3091657/are-scotch-eggs-actually-indian-mughal-curry-nargisi?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/news-trends/article/3091657/are-scotch-eggs-actually-indian-mughal-curry-nargisi?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 03 Jul 2020 04:15:18 +0000 Japanese sushi rolls and Korean kimbap – many people struggle to tell the difference. Both often use fillings such as pickles and fish that are wrapped in rice and sheets of dried seaweed. Many sushi purists usually snub the Korean version as the ingredients aren’t traditional. However, because kimbap uses more modern and common ingredients, it has become popular as a quick and healthy meal, easily accessible and budget-friendly. One of the biggest differences between sushi rolls and kimbap is... https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/well-being/article/3089435/which-came-first-sushi-or-kimbap-japan-and-korea-tangle?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/well-being/article/3089435/which-came-first-sushi-or-kimbap-japan-and-korea-tangle?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 18 Jun 2020 07:26:49 +0000 From sticky cones of vanilla and chocolate to elegant scoops of exotic fruit sorbet, the globally relished treat of ice cream has origins that can be traced to Mesopotamia – an ancient region that corresponds to today’s Iraq, Iran, Syria and Turkey – as far back as 1200BC. It is believed that ice cream as the world knows it now was an Italian creation – yet a 12th century Chinese ode, written by poet Yang Wanli in praise of an icy, crunchy refreshment that “appears congealed and yet it seems to... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/food-drink/article/3089279/history-ice-cream-iced-slush-vanilla-cone-was-it-invented?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/food-drink/article/3089279/history-ice-cream-iced-slush-vanilla-cone-was-it-invented?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 17 Jun 2020 20:30:05 +0000 Who would have thought the humble wonton could expose the cross-cultural misunderstandings in our globalised kitchens? The staple Chinese dumpling recently sparked a fiery debate after taking the spotlight in an episode of MasterChef Australia. Which popular Chinese restaurant staples are truly Chinese?         View this post on Instagram                   Like I said, BEST, FOOD, EVER!! @masterchefau #masterchefau A post shared by Andy Allen (@andyallencooks) on Apr... https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/celebrity/article/3086060/should-wontons-be-fried-or-boiled-maybe-masterchef?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/celebrity/article/3086060/should-wontons-be-fried-or-boiled-maybe-masterchef?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 26 May 2020 08:00:17 +0000 Just as French toast was originally found in Roman recipes of the fourth or fifth century, some of the world’s most popular Chinese dishes did not originate in China. Many of the dishes found at Chinese takeaways and restaurants in the West have been invented or adapted for local palates. Conversely, some Chinese-style dishes we thought were made in the west are Chinese. Here’s the lowdown on your favourite dishes. Where are Singapore noodles from if not from Singapore? Prawn crackers Although... https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/well-being/article/3084546/fortune-cookies-are-japanese-prawn-crackers-indonesian?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/well-being/article/3084546/fortune-cookies-are-japanese-prawn-crackers-indonesian?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 15 May 2020 06:58:25 +0000 When we stuff ourselves with yummy chocolate eggs and bunnies at Easter, do we ever stop to think about why we actually eat them? Many religious celebrations come with a great dose of delicious goodies, all with a highly nutritional – and sacred – value. The egg represents life itself, and its key symbolism predates the rise of religion. As with many holidays, the origins of Easter traditions are rooted in paganism. The Ancient Romans were among the first to paint red freshly hatched eggs to... https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/news-trends/article/3079190/easter-traditions-why-we-eat-chocolate-and-why-all-eggs?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/news-trends/article/3079190/easter-traditions-why-we-eat-chocolate-and-why-all-eggs?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 11 Apr 2020 07:00:13 +0000 It’s no secret that the invention of instant ramen in Japan was a game-changer in modern Asian cuisine. Starting as a premium product that evolved into a cheap staple in every kitchen in Asia, instant ramen is now consumed all over the world. But there were a lot of socioeconomic and political factors that led to this innovation, which can be traced back to post-war USA. Instant noodles were created by Momofuku Ando, owner and founder of the famous Nissin company in Japan in 1958. Ando... https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/news-trends/article/3077785/whats-story-behind-instant-ramen-noodles-and-how-did?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/news-trends/article/3077785/whats-story-behind-instant-ramen-noodles-and-how-did?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 01 Apr 2020 06:00:08 +0000 Despite their belligerent Viking roots, modern Scandinavian people are not renowned for their fierce pride or strong sense of nationalism. The 21st century’s Nordic nations are considered models of stability and compassion – case studies of progressive politics, strong social support and gender equality; offering a warm welcome and understanding ear to other outlooks and cultures. 5 unexpected places to see the Northern Lights from But if there’s one thing Scandinavians, and especially Swedes,... https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/leisure/article/3076938/are-swedish-meatballs-really-sweden-or-did-they-plunder?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/leisure/article/3076938/are-swedish-meatballs-really-sweden-or-did-they-plunder?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 25 Mar 2020 12:00:17 +0000 When it comes to coffee, Italians are dead serious. They love straight, pure caffeine injections, and many are addicted to espresso or the sharper-still ristretto (an intense, 15 millimetre dose). Forget long coffee. A small round coffee cup – not a mug – is gulped down on the run while standing at a bar counter, like a tequila shot. No sitting down at tables, no lingering. The traditional Italian coffee culture is drink and go. Coffee is an infusion of black adrenaline that is often tasted... https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/news-trends/article/3075791/coffee-wars-italians-adore-espresso-what-about-matcha?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/news-trends/article/3075791/coffee-wars-italians-adore-espresso-what-about-matcha?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 19 Mar 2020 01:00:19 +0000 One of the worst mistakes tourists make in Italy is ordering a dish of macaroni and cheese, thinking they’re in for the treat of an authentic take on their favourite pasta dish, only to find the waiter frowning and eyebrows raised. “Eh?” Origins series: the stories behind our favourite dishes View this post on Instagram A post shared by MŌPA • VEGGIE FOOD • PARIS (@mopa_restaurant) on Mar 5, 2020 at 1:13am PST Mac and cheese doesn’t even exist in... https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/news-trends/article/3075719/mac-and-cheese-can-classic-comfort-food-be-considered?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/news-trends/article/3075719/mac-and-cheese-can-classic-comfort-food-be-considered?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 18 Mar 2020 04:00:24 +0000 The Spanish way of life is tightly linked to food, rivalling the Italians for their passion for cuisine. For the most authentic taste of Spain you must, of course, try the tapas – small, shareable, snack-sized dishes typically served in rustic restaurants and bars, accompanied by wine. Tapas are a favourite pastime nationwide, but in the poorer times of days past, it was often difficult to source food. This is where offal and other animal parts came into the Spanish cuisine. Here are five... https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/news-trends/article/3075419/spains-5-weirdest-tapas-dishes-careful-you-might-order?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/news-trends/article/3075419/spains-5-weirdest-tapas-dishes-careful-you-might-order?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 16 Mar 2020 22:00:17 +0000 The fried curry puff is not native to any particular Southeast Asian country. So how did Old Chang Kee manage to come into its own as the region’s best-known brand? The answer is the founder, who created the famous snack, and the second owner who believed in it. From Malaysia to Brunei, Indonesia to Thailand, and Singapore to Myanmar, all these countries have their own versions of the curry puff. What’s not to like? Thick curry is mixed with chicken and potatoes then wrapped into pastry, similar... https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/article/3074676/how-singapores-old-chang-kee-became-southeast-asias-favourite-fried?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/article/3074676/how-singapores-old-chang-kee-became-southeast-asias-favourite-fried?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 12 Mar 2020 06:36:08 +0000 Sardinia is renowned for its pecorino Romano cheese, and is in fact, the largest producer of this ewe’s milk cheese. This fact however, is often overshadowed in favour of the island’s other claim to cheese fame, casu marzu. Considered a Sardinian delicacy and an aphrodisiac, casu marzu – meaning rotten cheese in the local tounge – is exactly that; decomposing pecorino complete with a pungent, eye-watering aroma, and wriggling maggots and their cheesy excretions. An insect-infected cheese covered... https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/leisure/article/3074588/rotten-cheese-wriggling-live-maggots-sardinias-beloved-casu?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/leisure/article/3074588/rotten-cheese-wriggling-live-maggots-sardinias-beloved-casu?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 11 Mar 2020 06:00:09 +0000 Prawn crackers are as ubiquitous and as popular in Southeast Asia as potato crisps are in the west. They are however, more than a snack – and predate the crisp. “As far as we know, they appeared first in West Malaysia in the 16th century. Legend states that leftover crushed prawn heads from a feast were used to make the very first batch,” says celebrity chef and street food expert, Will Meyrick, who has five restaurants in Bali and one in Hong Kong. Called keropok in Malaysia and krupuk udang in... https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/well-being/article/3052901/did-prawn-crackers-originate-malaysia-or-indonesia-and?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/well-being/article/3052901/did-prawn-crackers-originate-malaysia-or-indonesia-and?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 02 Mar 2020 01:00:13 +0000 Circular, flat and crunchy – these words best describe the Indian-influenced roti canai (pronounced “cha-nigh”), a staple snack, breakfast, lunch, dinner and late-night curry accompaniment for all ethnicities in Malaysia and Singapore (though it goes by the name roti prata or prata bread in the latter). But what’s the real story behind this crowd-pleasing dipping dough? Origins series: the stories behind our favourite dishes What’s in the name? In Malaysia, locals recognise “roti” as the Malay... https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/leisure/article/3052878/what-roti-canai-and-why-cant-people-southeast-asia-get?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/leisure/article/3052878/what-roti-canai-and-why-cant-people-southeast-asia-get?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 29 Feb 2020 10:00:11 +0000 Pizza is disputably one of the world’s best-loved dishes, exported and appropriated across the globe. The word pizza is one of the most clicked Italian words online in China, according to Italy’s linguistic academy Crusca. But how did this world-beating combination of dough, cheese and tomato come to be? “Pizza is the symbol of the Neapolitan lifestyle, part of our soul,” says Guglielmo Vuolo, pizza master chef at the True Neapolitan Pizza Association, who tours the world to train chefs in the... https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/leisure/article/3052876/pizza-origins-how-did-beloved-dish-come-be-and-what-do?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/leisure/article/3052876/pizza-origins-how-did-beloved-dish-come-be-and-what-do?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 29 Feb 2020 04:00:16 +0000 A mandarin duck caused a stir in New York’s Central Park in November 2018 – it was an unusual place to see this magnificent multicoloured bird, native to China and Japan. It was a welcome infusion of colour as the waterfowl enchanted commuters with its peaked crown of plumage, feathery violet breast, upturned orange wings and body in variegated blues, whites and greens. New Yorkers were instantly hooked – much like one of Hong Kong’s off-menu beverages, named after the famous duck. How does Hong... https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/leisure/article/3052122/coffee-or-tea-order-yuen-yeung-menu-half-half-hybrid-served?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/leisure/article/3052122/coffee-or-tea-order-yuen-yeung-menu-half-half-hybrid-served?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 25 Feb 2020 03:00:15 +0000 To the uninitiated, consuming an embryonic duck egg may not sound particularly tempting. Yet balut is so popular in the Philippines that it is often referred to as a national street food. Consumption runs so deep in the culture that there are songs written about it, including a hit record describing the distinct call of “Balu-u-ut!” by late night and early morning balut vendors, and it is the main product of the country’s duck industry. Eaten as an inexpensive source of protein, balut is also... https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/leisure/article/3051542/would-you-eat-duck-embryo-better-sex-life-or-hangover-cure?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/leisure/article/3051542/would-you-eat-duck-embryo-better-sex-life-or-hangover-cure?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 21 Feb 2020 08:00:10 +0000 Tempura – that classic Japanese dish. Or is it? It is most likely that Japan’s iconic dish of vegetables, fish or seafood coated in batter and deep-fried actually originated in Portugal. The Portuguese took peixinhos da horta – a dish of battered and fried green beans, along with the technique of deep frying in oil – to Japan in the 16th century. It is this key dish that probably developed into tempura. Origins series: the stories behind our favourite dishes It was in 1543 that a Chinese ship... https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/leisure/article/3051515/wait-tempura-isnt-japanese-so-where-everyones-favourite?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/leisure/article/3051515/wait-tempura-isnt-japanese-so-where-everyones-favourite?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 20 Feb 2020 10:00:17 +0000 Since the birth of man, seduction and a sated stomach have always been a perfect match. But some cultures have historically gone to extreme lengths to concoct the most extravagant, kinky dishes that are said to boost libido. Often the more gruesome the dish, the better the sex. Or so the legends say. Columbia: roasted leafcutter ants How about receiving a nice skewer of roasted ants on the day you tie the knot to wish you good luck for the first night of passion? Considered a potent sexual... https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/news-trends/article/3049986/bulls-testicles-balut-birds-mucus-5-weird-edible?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/news-trends/article/3049986/bulls-testicles-balut-birds-mucus-5-weird-edible?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 11 Feb 2020 08:00:15 +0000 How could a holiday created to celebrate love and romance be born of brutality and debauchery? What do chocolates and flowers have to do with expressions of affection? And how did a naked cherub get in the picture? The answers to these Valentine’s Day questions are not entirely clear. There are various accounts of how all these symbols made their way to the modern-day holiday d’amour, but here are the most common: The history of Valentine’s Day The romantic holiday has a somewhat debated past.... https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/leisure/article/3049779/valentines-day-explainer-how-did-holiday-love-start-and-why?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/leisure/article/3049779/valentines-day-explainer-how-did-holiday-love-start-and-why?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 10 Feb 2020 10:00:21 +0000 British food used to be a punch line. “One cannot trust people whose cuisine is so bad,” then-French President Jacques Chirac remarked in 2005. “The only thing [the British] have ever done for European agriculture is mad cow disease.” Fortunately for Brits, since then the country has experienced a “food renaissance” that led trendsetters Vice to declare “British food is taking over the world”. From Gordon Ramsay to The Great British Bake Off, British cuisine has probably never been so highly... https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/news-trends/article/3048409/whats-toast-sandwich-and-why-do-gordon-ramsey-heston?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/news-trends/article/3048409/whats-toast-sandwich-and-why-do-gordon-ramsey-heston?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 02 Feb 2020 08:00:06 +0000 Among all the well-known Lunar New Year snacks, bak kwa or rou gan is probably among the most famous of them all. Where did this tasty treat, which is similar to jerky, come from? Bak kwa’s birthplace Ask any Chinese person and you’ll most likely be told this: bak kwa, which means “dried meat” in the Hokkien dialect, is synonymous with Lunar New Year, and it is almost a crime not to have this moreish snack in your home all through the festive season. View this post on... https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/news-trends/article/3048397/what-bak-kwa-and-why-do-chinese-malaysians-and?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/news-trends/article/3048397/what-bak-kwa-and-why-do-chinese-malaysians-and?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 01 Feb 2020 10:00:12 +0000 When one thinks of carnivals, Venice’s bright, picturesque masked festival is likely to pop into mind. First celebrated in the 11th century, it used to start on December 26 and ran for six whole weeks. Now it takes place in February and March. Carnival however predates Venice. The origin of the term “carnival” stems from the Latin “carnem levare” – aka “farewell to meat” – to refer to Fat Tuesday, the last day when eating meat, considered an elite food, was still allowed before the start of the... https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/news-trends/article/3048029/how-did-italys-venice-carnival-start-and-why-all-scary?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/news-trends/article/3048029/how-did-italys-venice-carnival-start-and-why-all-scary?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 29 Jan 2020 23:00:10 +0000 A popular dish at Lunar New Year is Buddha Jumps Over the Wall also known as Buddha’s Temptation and Happiness and Longevity. Originating from the Fujian province during the Qing dynasty, the soup or stew often includes more than 20 ingredients such as quail eggs, bamboo shoots, scallops, sea cucumber, abalone Jinhua ham and taro. It originally featured shark fin, but concerns over environmental issues and the welfare of sharks has inspired many chefs to take out this ingredient and replace it... https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/news-trends/article/3047405/would-you-pay-us144-popular-lunar-new-year-dish?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/news-trends/article/3047405/would-you-pay-us144-popular-lunar-new-year-dish?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 26 Jan 2020 04:00:06 +0000 It’s Lunar New Year, and the clanging of cymbals and the persistent beat of drums are aural cues to the lion dance. Colourful and loud, the lions are an ancient Chinese ritual to scare away evil spirits, and bless a business or home. The Chinese lion does not look much like a lion, though, and if these predators aren’t native to China, where does the dance come from? Humans have long dressed up like animals to dance, a practice that dates back to the Qin dynasty, around 220BC, when there were... https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/news-trends/article/3047386/lunar-new-year-lions-arent-native-china-so-where-did?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/news-trends/article/3047386/lunar-new-year-lions-arent-native-china-so-where-did?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 25 Jan 2020 04:00:15 +0000 Red lanterns, mouse year decorations and the festive music booming from every corner are all reminders that the Lunar New Year is only a few days away. As the longest holiday in Hong Kong, Lunar New Year is the most important festival of the year for the Chinese community, celebrated by an estimated 1.5 billion people globally. But did you know that historically Chinese New Year once fell around October? So how did the festival become the way it is today? Which Lunar New Year dishes bring luck... https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/leisure/article/3046993/how-did-lunar-new-year-festival-arise-and-whats-all-lions?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/leisure/article/3046993/how-did-lunar-new-year-festival-arise-and-whats-all-lions?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 21 Jan 2020 10:30:15 +0000 This delicacy was once only available to emperors and their wives. It is gelatinous, slithery, predominantly lacking in taste or smell. It is said to be excellent for skin, although those with ranidaphobia may jump out of theirs at the thought of it. The dish to which we’re referring is hasma, or xueha (雪蛤) in Chinese – fatty tissue near the oviducts of a frog. There are a number of common misconceptions about hasma, which is eaten mostly for health reasons. Would you eat bird mucus for better... https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/leisure/article/3045506/would-you-eat-fatty-frog-tissue-look-younger?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/leisure/article/3045506/would-you-eat-fatty-frog-tissue-look-younger?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 20 Jan 2020 04:00:07 +0000