Job Discussion Forums

[StayingPower]

Anyone here have some info on Chinese cooking or how to obtain some good books?

[markholmes]

A possible reason for the silence is because Chinese food is so cheap and plentiful in Taiwan that it is not worth the effort cooking it at home. I have to say that most of the meals I cooked at home in Taiwan were either Thai or Mexican (and western Xmas dinner - roast chicken from CostCo).

[sbettinson]

I would agree that it is easier to hunt down the food as it is cheap enough to buy ready to eat.

Try Page 1 in Taipei 101 mall. One of the best bookstores I have ever known. There is a big section near the back on cooking books. You are bound to find something in there.

Woks away!

[StayingPower]

Okay, I understand. But I'm just looking for simple meals I can cook. I also like the art of cooking. Besides, I want to stay away from fried foods and too much oil.

[Dr_Zoidberg]

[SanChong]

[markholmes]

[StayingPower]

My health is always paramount, since I've had stomach problems before and of course, am a conscientious Westerner in regards to what they eat. Not knowing this culture's food, therefore, I'm apt to disagree with some of you saying eating out is a better alternative.

I know street vendors are less hygienic.

I know deep fried is common here.

I know oil here is unhealthy too.

But how can you avoid these and still eat nutriously? Unless you've stayed here a long time, know exactly where to eat and what it is, than you're pretty much going to have to be very cautious and either buy pre-cooked foods at the big supermarkets or learn some healthy dishes on your own.

The vendors, I'm afraid, are not a healthy way to choose.

And sorry to say, but heart disease is a soaring killer rising in Asia as well.

[Dr_Zoidberg]

[SanChong]

Everyone's entitled to their opinion, of course.

I just don't think that Zoidberg's and Staying Power's are a reflection of how most of us Westerners feel about the food in Taiwan.

I think it's easier to eat a healthy diet in Taiwan for all the reasons I've detailed above.

As for fried foods: Of course you can get fried food in Taiwan. Just as you can back home. I never eat fried food in the States and I never eat it in Taiwan. No one is forcing you to go to the fried chicken stand!

I think it's a LOT easier to eat out in a healthy way in Taiwan then it is back in the States. You have a lot more healthy options and more variety, in general.

In fact, I don't know anyone that DOESN'T eat out in Taiwan, almost everyday.

[StayingPower]

Any of you at all cook with a Wok? How's using a walk in regards to healthy cooking? What I mean is that I bought a cookbook today which has a lot of Chinese food recipes requring using a wok. And oil. If I get the right kind of oil I think this would be better than deep-fried foods though, don't you think so?

I forget the name of the cookbook, but it's just a mini-cookbook I bought at 'Cave's.' I think it's called 'Pleniplus.'

[lou_la]

Definitely! If you cook yourself you can decide how much oil you use. Even the non-deep fried stuff here is swimming in the damn stuff. Annoying as hell, because all the veggie stuff seems to be extra heavy on the oil.

I don't cook chinese food here, but did all the time at home. Stir fries are quick, easy, and pretty healthy. However, the sauces could change all that. But, at least you know what's going in it.

I think cooking for yourself is the way to go. I've put on a fair amount of weight over the last three months, and I've even been trying far harder to eat healthily than I did at home. I'm finding it nigh on impossible. Everything is covered in fat, sugar, or usually both. Gahh! By insides feel so dirty - like my blood feels gloopier than it should.

[Dr_Zoidberg]

Stayingpower, if you're going to cook with oil, use olive oil.


I said Olive oil, not Olive OYLE! But, hey, whatever floats your boat.

Make sure it is pure olive oil, some bottles contain olive and some other kind of oil, usually grape seed.

Olive oil is actually good for you. It contains high density lipoprotiens, unlike other oils which contain low density lipoprotiens. LDL is unstable, breaks up, and adheres to the walls of your blood vessels. HDL is stable, and not only does it not adhere to the walls of your blood vessels, it scrapes away the goop that has.

Olive oil is high in calories, so don't over indulge. I use about 1 or 2 tablespoons per day. The rest of the time I boil or steam, or opt for fresh fruit.