Generic Chinese

When K. and I left China in 2007 it took us two years before we could eat Chinese again. It wasn't because we were tired of it - quite the contrary, it was because we were scared of being disappointed. When we eventually did go, we realised we had been daft - 'foreign' Chinese and 'Chinese' Chinese were so far apart that it was like having two completely different cuisines.

And now we are fans of 'foreign' Chinese. Why is it that all Chinese restaurants look the same? Actually, Chinese restaurants in China do have similar decor but there is one big difference - in the western world we like our restaurants small and intimate. In China, a restaurant is not successful, or worth visiting, if it can seat less than 500....

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