Asian Food Has Become More Popular with Asian Restaurants of Most Every Type Available (Naomi Leone)

The popularity of Asian food and Asian restaurants in the United States has exploded in the last twenty years. Even more so the diversity of the types of Asian food, originally Chinese was the only type of Asian restaurant you could find in a town or small city but today there are restaurants representing most every Asian culture in small towns across the country. Yet many diners could not readily tell you the difference between the different types of Asian food, nor do they understand the ingredients, how it is prepared or why it is so good for you. Following is a primer on Asian food so you can know what to expect and how to identify the kind you like the most.

In general terms there are three main types of Asian food; the southwest style that includes cuisines from India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, and Burma: the northeast tradition, comprising China, Korea, and Japan: and finally the southeast style, which includes Thailand, Laos, Cambodia, Viet Nam, Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore, and Brunei.

The southwest has its roots in Persian-Arabian civilization and incorporates nan bread along with mutton, kebabs and the use of hot peppers, black pepper, cloves, and other strong spices, along with ghee. Curry also became a staple in this dietary culture. You will not find beef in this style as it is rooted in Hinduism. In addition to rice, chapati made from wheat or barley are also a staple part of the diet, and beans also play an important role in meals.

The northeast style emphasizes fats, oils, and sauces in cooking. In this culture, the foods, spices, and seasonings go beyond being mere foodstuffs as they are also used as medicines to promote a long and healthy life. In addition, food became associated with religion and the traditions associated with it. Many of this type of Asian cultures frequently used food as symbolic offerings to worship their ancestors.

The southeast tradition emphasis is on aromatic and lightly-prepared foods, using a delicate balance of quick stir-frying, steaming, and/or boiling, supplemented with discrete spices and seasonings, including citrus juices and herbs such as basil, cilantro, and mint. You will also find fish sauce, along with galangal, lemon grass, and tamarind for additional flavor instead of soy.

Most all Asian cuisine is exotic and flavorfull no matter which region it is from. The clever use of cooking techniques, which is comprised simply of a wok, a clever and chopsticks, is artistic in a sense. Most importantly spices has transformed what were originally humble peasant food dishes into specialties that are now known the world over. One place that has perfected such use of spices is Kenichi Asian Restaurant in Dallas America's increased sophistication with food has been fueled by new tastes acquired while traveling overseas, and by the growing number of immigrants living and bringing with them an expertise in the different styles of Asian food. The popularity of vegetarianism has also sparked interest in Asian cooking as many Asian dishes do not rely on meat yet provide a complete nutritious meal with great flavor.

Kenichi Dallas is a modern restaurant and lounge voted "Best Sushi in Dallas" by Citysearch 3 years in a row that features contemporary Asian cuisine and world-class sushi. We are located in the heart of Victory Park, under the South Tower of The W Hotel.

Asian restaurant, Dallas Asian food

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Chinese Influence On South-East Asian Cuisine

South East Asia measures nearly two million square miles across, holds a population of over 600 million people and includes 10 different countries. Yet if you look at the noodle soups of Vietnam or the fried rice found in Singapore, there's one thing that these cuisines all share - influences from Chinese culture, something that chefs at School of Wok make it their job to know a lot about.

This influence of Chinese culture in no way means that each country and region does not possess it's own unique traditions and flavors with their own cuisine, but it's undeniable that you can see elements of Chinese flavors and techniques wherever you look.

Woks, which originated from the Canton region of China, are the most common and versatile of the cooking utensils used across SE Asia, in which foods can be stir-fried, steamed, deep-fried, braised or even smoked. In fact, the Chinese are said that have brought their stir-frying methods to the rest of the continent as merchants traveled across the region for thousands of years.

As for the food of SE Asia, rice and noodles, now fundamental ingredients across the region, were originally Chinese foods that later found their way into kitchens further south. These ingredients are now considered to be staples across the whole region, and take their place among national dishes of many SE Asian countries - such as Vietnam (Pho), Thailand (Pad Thai) and Malaysia (Nasi Lemak).

Furthermore, the cuisines of the South East would be completely different without soy sauce, which was invented in China sometime between the third and fifth centuries. The influence of Chinese culture on the rest of SE Asia can be plainly seen through the use of this indispensable condiment with the majority of meals using it in one way or another.

More recently as example of Chinese influence, dim sum, unarguably a Chinese invention, has spread across the continent with steamed buns and boiled dumplings being served across the region, updated with each country's individual twist.

Living in a multicultural city like London more and more the food industry has an obligation to represent cultures from a variety of different influences. School of Wok, a recreational cookery school in Covent Garden, has made it's mission to represent a variety of Asian cuisines and heritage. As well as a number of Chinese cookery courses and Dim Sum courses, School of Wok teaches a host of different cuisines from across South East Asia, highlighting each countries key ingredients and unique flavors. Whether it's Thai cooking classes, tips about Thai food or think Malaysian cooking lessons, School of Wok specializes in a variety of Asian cuisines, cooking techniques and cultures.

Schoolofwok, a leading cookery school in London, offers a variety of Chinese Cookery Courses. We also provide chef Courses and Cookery Classes London. If you want to join cooking classes you can directly visit our site: http://www.schoolofwok.co.uk/

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