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Q: Are food in restaurants close to homemade food?
I was wondering for some time... How does food served in restaurants compare to homemade food in China?
Back in 'Merica, there can be a big difference, usually because an old grandma puts much moar love in her cooking than chefs that work fast and efficienly to produce moar food. And because of the quality of the ingredients.
I never tasted traditionnal Chinese food made by a grandma, here in China. Is there a huge difference with restaurants?
Yeah there usually is a notable difference unless you eat at a really good 家常菜 restaurant (these are hard to find though in my opnion). I find the biggest difference is the amount of oil used. Restaurants love to over-do it with oil and salt actually. Home-cooked food definitely tastes lighter and healthier than the slimey stuff served at restaurants. Another interesting thing I find about eating "old grandma" home-cooked food is their individual take on common recipes. The more you eat in various Chinese homes, the more you realize that each person has their own little tricks and favorites. I wish I could learn to cook from an old Chinese lady...its so interesting.
Actually it is not salt but MSG, which is even worse.
Like most places in the world I find that homemade food is only better if the person cooking it at home actually knows how to cook.
I have had some really good homemade jiaozi and pork bones in China that blows away anything I have ever had in a restaurant, but then again I have had some really nasty homemade food too.
So if you have have a Chinese friend and they are always talking about how one of their family members is a good cook then I would definitely try to get over there and eat up some of that good food. It will be more fresh and it will be made with plenty of love.
