Many of the best Chinese restaurants in the country still abide by the same philosophy of menu writing as those strip mall takeout joints. They write menus that are too damn long.
China's relationship with food is a window into basic instincts. The country's cuisine is a manifestation of a civilization that has never taken survival for granted.
For many years I kept saying that I was going to learn how to cook Chinese dishes, but somehow never found the time. However, this year, 2011 James Beard Award Winner, Grace Young has a new book, Stir Fry From the Sky's edge.