"Kenneth" > wrote in message
...
> On 23 Jan 2005 10:00:10 -0800, "salgud"
> > wrote:
>
>>It probably works best with
>>blast furnace like heat, but I don't recall reading about many ancient
>>Chinese villages having blast furnaces handy. Of course, I'm not a
>>early Asian historian, so I'll defer to some experts opinion on this.
>
> Howdy,
>
> This is an interesting matter...
>
> Why would we assume that in ancient Chinese villages the
> inhabitants were enjoying delicious meals?
>
> I believe it far more likely that they were lucky to avoid
> starvation just as were ancient peoples over much of the
> planet.
>
> This is similar to the idea that I often see when people try
> to learn about making various forms of naturally leavened
> bread. Often they ask "Did the original "Sourdoughs" go
> through this to make their wonderful bread?" Again, assuming
> that people ate wonderful food in earlier times. Nonsense.
> Most starved.
>
> All the best,
>
> --
> Kenneth
>
> If you email... Please remove the "SPAMLESS."



Not at all. The 'ancient peoples'/Chinese villages used the wok as a 'one
pot fits all'. It didn't require a blast furnace, but it did require that
the veggies-that many of them grew themselves-be very dry when they went
into the wok.
Meat was at a premium and was used sparingly. It was also highly
spiced-refridgeration not available.

Essentially, they cooked what was available, in small batches, usually with
lots of rice.