FoodBanter.com - View Single Post - have you tried caviar, truffles, and such and such?

(Vanya) writes:
>> It's entirely possible to make either pizza or chop suey from good
>> quality frech ingredients and without chemical additives. (Even MSG.)
>
> Chinese food (which chop suey, of course, is not) without MSG is not
> authentic Chinese. MSG is very common in Taiwan and the PRC. It's not
> an additive any more than salt is an additive.

Perhaps, but it seems clearly wrong to say "Chinese food without MSG is
not authentic Chinese".

I've had a number of Chinese Flatmates who were great cooks, and the
spices they used were largely restricted to Garlic, chili peppers, and
vast quantities of salt (plus vast quanties of oil).

It was amazing to taste the results they could achieve with just that.
My attempts to replicate it -- while they were watching! -- inevitably
resulted in a salty greasy mess.

-Miles
--
"Suppose He doesn't give a shit? Suppose there is a God but He
just doesn't give a shit?" [George Carlin]