Monthly Archives: May 2009

Chinese restaurants typically name their dishes after the regional cooking styles of China (e.g., “Szechwan”). Many feature the same standard ingredients, such as soybeans, vegetables, rice, and noodles. Appetizers often include crispy fried noodles with fried cuts of meat. They […] Read more »

French cuisine can be quite seductive from the start with its exquisite hors d’oeuvres and first courses. Indulge with caution since many are known to be rich in fat and high in cholesterol. Crudités and Oysters on the Half Shell […] Read more »

Whole grains, fish, vegetables, olive oil, and fruits are at the base of traditional Mediterranean diets. Greek restaurants make abundant use of these ingredients, sometimes too generously. A Greek meal is a leisurely event. Appetizers are offered on small plates, […] Read more »

India has a great variety of culinary traditions. From the north, we get mildly seasoned rich and comforting flavors; from the south, exotic tastes and fiery hot spices. Fried Jhinga Tikka and Pakoras are the classic appetizers. Nan bread and […] Read more »

Italian food is at the center of the Mediterranean diet. Its major components are pasta, vegetables, low fat dairy products, and olive oil. Italians also enjoy a great variety of seafood. If you can’t resist your Calamari Fritti, ask for […] Read more »

Sushi bars have undergone an enormous surge in popularity both in Japan and abroad. Traditional Japanese sushi dishes are largely based on raw fish. Contemporary cooking styles are distinctly more westernized. Sunomono, a traditional appetizer, is a tiny portion of […] Read more »

Authentic Mexican food is hearty yet healthy. Its traditional ingredients are fresh, lean, full of vegetables, cornmeal, and salsas. But modern, westernized versions have brought large amounts of fats and sodium to the table. In the United States, Mexican restaurants […] Read more »

Thai cuisine is based on intense flavors of sweet, sour, salty, and hot, using such ingredients as lime, fish and oyster sauce, lemon grass, herbs, and chilies. On the rich side, many recipes call for coconut milk, peanut sauce, and […] Read more »

Bold, distinctly seasoned, with a bounty of poultry, meat, fish, and vegetable dishes, southern cooking forms a league of its own. But take note that this can be dangerous territory! Gumbo is perhaps the richest soup on the planet. Thickening […] Read more »