A Bite of China
| A Bite of China 舌尖上的中国 Shéjiān Shàng De Zhōngguó | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Genre | Documentary |
| Created by | Liu Wen |
| Directed by | Chen Xiaoqing |
| Narrated by | Li Lihong |
| Composer(s) | Roc Chen |
| Country of origin | China |
| Original language(s) | Mandarin Chinese |
| No. of seasons | 2 |
| No. of episodes | 15 |
| Production | |
| Executive producer(s) | Liu Wen |
| Producer(s) | Zhou Yan, Shi Yan, Shi Shilun |
| Editor(s) | Zhang Ning, Liu Wen |
| Location(s) | China |
| Running time | 50 minutes |
| Production company(s) | China Central Television |
| Distributor | China Central Television |
| Broadcast | |
| Original channel | CCTV-1, CCTV-9 |
| Picture format |
576i (Letterboxed 4:3 SDTV), 1080i (HDTV) |
| Original run | May 14, 2012 – present (Season 2) |
| External links | |
| A Bite of China | |
A Bite of China (Chinese: 舌尖上的中国; pinyin: Shéjiān shàng de Zhōngguó) is a Chinese documentary television series on the history of food, eating, and cooking in China directed by Chen Xiaoqing (陈晓卿), narrated by Li Lihong (李立宏) with original music composed by Roc Chen (阿鲲). It first aired May 14, 2012 on China Central Television and quickly gained high ratings and widespread popularity.[1][2] The seven-episode documentary series, which began filming in March 2011, introduces the history and story behind foods of various kinds in more than 60 locations in mainland China, Hong Kong, and Taiwan.[3] The documentary has also been actively encouraged as a means of introducing Chinese food culture to those unfamiliar with local cuisine. Various notable chefs such as Shen Hongfei and Chua Lam were consultants on the project.
A second season of A Bite of China, also consisting of seven episodes (plus trailer), is set to air from April 18 to June 6, 2014.[4][5]
Episodes
Season 1
Gifts from Nature (自然的馈赠)
China has a large population and the richest and most varied natural landscapes in the world. Plateaus, forests, lakes, coastlines, These various geographical features and climate conditions have helped to form and preserve widely different species. No other country has so many potential food sources as China. By collecting, fetching, digging, hunting and fishing, people have acquired abundant gifts from nature. Traveling through the four seasons, we'll discover a story about nature and the people behind delicious foods.
The first kind of food is matsutake under the pine needles. It is a precious and edible fungus, only surviving in certain high-altitude mountain areas that are free of pollution. We can usually only find one matsutake per kilometer. Heavy rain is a gift from nature. Everyone works hard.
On the menu of traditional Chinese cuisine, there is another dainty food growing in mountains. The cubes of fresh winter bamboo shoots, after being cooked in deep fat with various spices,will be a widely popular dish in Jiangsu and Zhejiang Provinces. In China, many people rely on bamboo forests.The winter bamboo shoot hides in the earth, and is hard to find on the surface.Chinese chefs love it because it is single-grained, able to easily absorb the flavor of added garnishes. In particular, it can help attain a flavor balance when being cooked with greasy fatty meat.
Besides fresh food materials, some spices used to season delicacies also come from nature.In Nuodeng Mountain area in northern Dali, (Dali, Yunnan) The eye-catching red sandstones are the home to many natural salt wells. The salt is indispensable for making a delicacy in the mountain. The potassium in the salt is good for health. With a mild taste, the salt is perfect for making hams. The mold helps weigh a certain amount of salt. The precise weighing measure proves that salt used to be the most important commodity here. The good ham was salted years ago, and has been air-dried completely. Over the course of three years, the fat in the ham oxidized,and created a unique flavor. The ham will be cut into parts before cooking. Each part can be cooked differently.The wet and warm climate helps ferment the hams, it's a gift from nature.People today no longer take salt seriously. Advanced transportation and technology have make salt common and cheap. But Nuodeng salt is still a gift bestowed by nature.
Another gift from nature is the fish and the helpful environment.The fish head dish is a favorite specialty of Chinese people. High quality fish heads are more expensive than fresh fish. At such a low temperature, fish keep still. Traveling long distances within one day,the people who depend on the sea finally received generous gifts from nature once again. But pelagic fishing only runs months a year. There's no time to be lost. The fishermen have a unique way to celebrate the harvest: A rich feast of fish. The decocted mackerel can retain its original flavor after being cooked alone. Chizi fish tastes good after being braised with garlic. Shell fish has the fine quality of making soup with sour bamboo shoot. The dishes retain the original flavor of seafood. Only time can see how human beings will adapt to the changing ocean. When we enjoy delicacies, we should appreciate the people who make this happen through their hard work and wisdom. Nature tends to be generous and forthcoming with her rewards for man.
The Story of Staple Foods (主食的故事)
China has diverse natural conditions across its land. As a result, Chinese people livingin different areas enjoy absolutely differentbut rich staple food. From the south to the north, the diverse staple foods provide energy for human bodies. Moreover, they influence people's feelings towards the change of four seasons and enrich the lives of the Chinese.
Rich in mountains while lacking rivers, Shanxi is scarce in its vegetable varieties. Housewives cannot do much to enrich the non-staple food. So they figure out different ways of making flour food to increase the family's appetite. Flour is processed into various delicacies on the table. These diverse and delicate foods remind people of the women's nimble fingers and rich imagination.In Northern Shanxi. Today, minor cereals and wheat are the main ingredients on the table. The yellow steamed buns are made with this main ingredient. Due to its drought-enduring nature, glutinous millet became the most important crop on the loees plateau.
For thousands of years, Chinese people gain food and clothing from the five cereals. Heilongjiang Wheat was introduced into the Central Plains through the Hosi Corridor.This species originated from West Asia and has become the most important staple food for the Chinese. Naan is the most favorite staple food for Uyghur people.Five cereals in China have always been a changing concept. No matter how things have changed, the leading status of rice remains unchanged.
In Dimen,Rice noodles are the most important rice product in Liping, Guizhou. They can be seen everywhere on the local markets. People here love the noodles in soup the most. The most popular rice noodle product among the Cantonese can be this stir-fried rice noodles with beef. This dish is a test of a Cantonese chef's basic skills.
People in North China like eating flour products. The noodles in the south are made of rice.China was divided by the Qinling Mountains and Huaihe River in terms of the rural pattern:Rice in the south and wheat in the north. Therefore,people in the south love eating rice and those in the north can not live without wheaten food.
In Xi'an, a type of baked bun is the most widely accepted staple food. The marinated meat in baked bun is the most classic way to enjoy the buns.The buns Xi'an people eat are baked on fire. The meat is made with -plus seasonings and is stewed with gentle heat. So it tastes soft and glutinous. Today, Xi'an remains a heaven of staple foods for the Chinese. Paomo, another staple food in Xi'an, originated from the baked buns.
In Northwest China, chopped-up baked buns in lamb or beef broth is a perfect combination of staple food and soup. Another example can be the Lanzhou beef noodles.The best beef noodles should acquire the following five features: Clear soup, clean white turnips, brilliant red chili oil, green parsley and yellow noodles.
Noodles are the most popular staple food on birthdays for the Chinese. At the birthday banquet in Ding Village, a ritual requiring the participation of all people is ongoing. Before eating the noodles, all the people pick out the longest noodle in their bowl and put it into the bowl of the one who celebrates the birthday.
The methods to make the ingredients for the Qishan saozi noodles are very particular. Meat is chopped into thin and even dices and dry-fried until they turn transparent. Add vinegar and chili and fry the meat on slow fire. The good-quality ingredients for Qishan saozi noodles are red in color, sour and spicy in the taste. The bright color and spicy taste are the essence of Qishan saozi noodles. The trimmings for the noodles have five colors. Fungus and tofu mean black and white. Eggs represent wealth. Red carrot symbolizes a prosperous life. Garlic sprouts mean vitality. The five colors, red, yellow, green,white and black represent Qishan people's best wishes for life.
Jiaxing natives start their day with a hot meat zongzi,a traditional Chinese food, made of glutinous rice with different stuffing.Every year in early lunar May, people memorize the poet Qu Yuan on the Dragon Boat Festival. Families in South China dip glutinous rice, wash bamboo leaves and make zongzi. Rice cake is a traditional food that Ningbo people make to celebrate the Spring Festival. Ningbo rice cake is made with the fresh late rice. Dipping, grinding, steaming and pounding, the molecules of rice get restructured and the taste gets improved. After pounding the rice flour dough, people need to knead it. A most ordinary strip rice cake is made.
If you always eat something in your childhood, the taste of it would stay with you. You'll never easily forget it.Place stuffing into a ready flour skin and wrap it into the shape of a crescent, a simple but special jiaozi is made. Jiaozi means the end and beginning of time. No matter how the past year is like, eating jiaozi is a must at the year-end Spring Festival.It symbolizes family reunion. When a lot of food have been put onto the production lines for manufacturing, the Chinese people, who treasure the concept of family the most in the world, repeat the same things every year at their homes.In the mind of the Chinese, nothing is more important than being together with their family. This is all their hope. This is how the Chinese people are like. This is the tradition of the Chinese. This is the story about staple food for the Chinese.
Inspiration for Change (转化的灵感)
Taste is more important than anything else as far as food is concerned. The Chinese have never restricted themselves to a certain tedious food list. With their understanding of food, the Chinese are always looking for an inspiration for change.The inspiration is from tofu. Jianshui is a small city of Yunnan province,in south of China.Burn tofu is a tridional food.It is a kind of tofu ball.And for making the tofu ball,it should tightly wraps the shapeless tender tofu with gauze and squeezes out the water. Then the tofu takes shape. We have to work very quickly,because the fresh tofu will quickly turn sour.Then,we have to put the tofu ball in the sun in the split-bamboo baskets for some days . When it gets hard and shriveled and the skin turns black,then the tofu has matured. For eating tofu ball , a basin of charcoal fire of proper heat will be the key.Put tofu ball above the charcoal fire.The tough tofu quickly inflates in the heat of charcoal fire.It reminds people of fermented flour.People of Jianshui like enjoying this special air-dried and fermented flavor. People can enjoy the tofu with varied sauces.
The Taste of Time(时间的味道)
This episode focuses on the different preservation techniques and preserved food across the regions.Time is a friend of food, and also its enemy. New technologies can help preserve food, while traditional preservative techniques may create different and even tenderer flavours through salting, air-drying, stewing or smoking procedures. Today, the renovated traditional foods still influence the Chinese diet and preserve the unique feeling of the Chinese towards flavour and the world.
Secrets of the Kitchen (厨房的秘密)
Today, it seems a mission impossible to count up the number of varieties of Chinese food, or to divide the dishes into groups geographically, without raising any objections. Besides food itself, there is something more important: The control of heat, seasonings and knives. Too many secrets are there to be discovered in Chinese kitchens.
Secret of the kitchen This hut is where the Tashis dry their hand-made potteries, and also, the salted meat which is called Pipa (a Chinese traditional string instrument) Pork by the Tibetans. They have been hung here for more than half a year. Fresh food is precious to the Tashis, so they process most of their food in such a way, to preserve them as long as possible. Tashi is a potter specialized in making black potteries. Some of the black potteries he made will be bought by the travelers, but it does not mean that they are handicraft. Instead, the black potteries here are the secret of the kitchens.
Lying between the water and the fire, it passes the heat to the food, helping to release natural flavors. The secret in the kitchens in Nixi lies exactly under this boiling broth. It was the "surprising" discovery thousands of years ago, and now, one of the most commonly used cooking methods in our daily life. In China, food is usually connected with gratefulness. It is the reward to the laborers. "Steaming" is one of the basic cooking skills in China. In history, the word "steam" has the same meaning with "sacrifice". The sacrificial offerings have to be presented to the god intact. The fluidity of steam enables the heat to be passed evenly, and makes it possible to cook a pig as a whole.
The Chinese first introduced the method of "steaming" into kitchen, and invented a variety of steamed dishes. People here in Jun'an Town, Shunde are celebrating the Double Ninth Festival. The young are marching, carrying a statue of Guangong, while the old wear cornel on their heads. It is even more exciting than the Spring Festival.
As an important trading centre in Asia, Hong Kong introduces delicacies from all over the world to Chinese, and at the same time, introduces Chinese cuisine to the world. The earth offers everything it has to humans, and humans share their common enthusiasm toward delicacies. Therefore, the secret in the kitchen is NOTHING!
A Perfect Blend of Five Flavors (五味的调和)
No matter whether in the realm of cuisine or linguistics, the word "taste" encapsulates infinite possibilities. Besides gustatory and olfactory experiences, it can also refer to feelings incited by things way beyond food. For the Chinese, taste is a matter of not only the tongue and nose, but the heart. The Equilibrium of Tastes As in the rest of the world, the Chinese use sweetness to express the feeling of joy and happiness. The taste buds can pick up sweetness before all other gustatory feelings.
Sugar is the most common source of sweetness. To Yao Jinghong, sugar means a lot. In the early morning he starts a big fire to melt sugar. Sweet onion pancakes is a famous traditional dessert in Chaozhou.Sugar is the source of sweetness in desserts in many regions of China. Some km away from Dahao, Wuxi thrives with industry and commerce. Its residents enjoy a prosperous life. Although Wuxi doesn't produce sugar cane, Locals see Pork Ribs in Soy Sauce a representative of the Wuxi cuisine, not only for the meticulous choice of materials and cooking methods, but also for its sweetish taste.
MSG has been widely used, the Chinese have different views towards it. In south China, people prefer the flavor of natural ingredients. After the harvest season, Li is going to spend his leisure time fishing, drinking tea, and of course, eating roasted laver. For Chinese, good taste originally refers to the taste of raw fish. For modern people who are accustomed to cooked food, it takes some wisdom to preserve the freshness and original flavor of foods. This is exactly what the Cantonese are good at.
We love cooking. It makes life wonderful. Please stay tuned to explore the world of gastronomy. To enjoy authentic and healthy cooking, and to live a simple and unadorned life is the theme of Zhuang's program, and also the reflection of his life. The diverse culinary flavors of the Chinese kitchen not only please the palate, but also allow the Chinese to express their diverse feelings towards the ups and downs of life. They prefer the orchestra of tastes to the solo of any of them. The equilibrium of tastes is what the Chinese chefs pursue. Moreover, such cooking philosophy has extended to other realms of the Chinese life and even their notion of running the country.
Our Farm (我们的田野)
Chinese people say one has to make useof the local resources available. This is not only an example of people adapting to their local conditions, it is also a natural way of living according to Chinese characteristics. They take great advantage of every inch of ground they stand on.And their ability to seek out foodis instinctual. From the fertile and rich plain to the plentiful rivers and lakes, from the cold and desolate plateau to the urban landscapedominated by high rises; where there is green there is a harmony between the sky aboveand the people below. But in order to gain and harvest food from the vast ocean, people must possess a completely different set of extraordinary skills. Every day, when night falls, Different kinds of diners hang around in thousands of restaurants across Beijing In these restaurants, manner of all food is gatheredfrom across the nation and from abroad.In various regions, Chinese people use their own wisdom to get the most out of nature. This wisdom is a product of respect towards the heavens and a sentimental attachment to the earth. A writer describes the simple life viewof Chinese people in the following words: No matter whether they ploughwith their heads down or whether they bow their heads to eat, they never forget to raise their headsto the sky.
Season 2[6]
Footsteps (脚步)
In China ,the habit of having breakfast dates back to Han Dynasty 2000 odd years ago.Since then,the majority of Chinese people have had three meals a day,which is beneficial to living and production.Although having three meals a day,has almost become a common diet pattern worldwide.In China,however,the pattern embodies various life experiences in different paces of life.
Heart's Message (心传)
In the old city of Beijing,within a short distance,you can have a taste of authentic Turkish food,genuine Spanish seafood paella,or prime French cuisine.People come across food from around the globe,and their taste has assimilated with that of the whole world.However,there always exists food that has not been discovered,hiding in the hills and valleys,rivers and seas,deserts and grasslands in China.These are the realms of secrets that we want to explore.
Seasons (时节)
Most of great food is fissile spectacle resulting from combination and crash of different ingredients.If compare it with human relationship,some would be regarded as amazing perfect match.Some meet by chance but touched us deepiy.Some can only make us regret not letting them meet sooner.Human activities lead to the gathering of food.The separation and reunion of food,on the other hand,also controls people.What Westerners called “destiny”, is called”Yuan fen ”by Chinese.
Daily Domestics (家常)
Home where life begins is also one’s ultimate safe harbor.Under the same roof they cook together,eat together.They use food to unite and consulate family members.Though pots and pans are everydayness,they are symbols of Chinese living style and more of a reflection of the Chinese ethics.People grow up,in love,be apart,reunite.In some sence,enjoy home cooking is also an experience of various tastes of life.
Encounters (相逢)
China,a country with varieties of geographical encironment and climates.People work from day to night.As spring planting,autumn harvesting,summer cultivating and winter storing.There is a tight schedule exist in the cycle of season and has maintained over thousand years.Compare to the agrarian age people have gradually estranged from the nature.Nevertheless,by following the footsteps of their ancestors and cooking their own foods have become the unique cooking way of Chinese.This is the story of time and is the secret of how Chinese get along with nature.
Realm of Secrets (秘境)
There are a thousand pairs of hands with a thousand flavors.Chinese cuisine is mystic and hard to duplicate.From the countryside to the downtown area,cuisine is still inherited via teaching face to face.The wisdom from ancestors,the secret from family,the tips from mentorship,the understanding from gourmet.Every moment of gourmet is created attentively generation by generation.
Three Meals (三餐)
Life always pushes us to strive forward regardless of our willingness.Prepared to depart,people begin to trudge.Where they settle,there is cooking fire.From the migration of individuals to the transportation of food ingredients,from the evolution of cooking methods to the alternation of human destiny,the footsteps of human and food never cease.
Foods Featured
Season 1
| Episode | Ttitle | Dish (Chinese) | Dish (English) | Location |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Gifts from Nature | 烤松茸 | Grilled Matsutake | Xamgyi'nyilha County, Yunnan |
| 1 | Gifts from Nature | 油焖冬笋 | Stewed bamboo shoots | Suichang County, Zhejiang |
| 1 | Gifts from Nature | 黄豆酸笋小黄鱼 | Deep-fried little yellow croakers fried with soybean and pickled bamboo shoots | Liuzhou, Guangxi |
| 1 | Gifts from Nature | 螺蛳粉 | Rice flour and garnish in snail soup sauce | Guangxi |
| 1 | Gifts from Nature | 腌笃鲜 | Pickled pork simmered with bamboo shoots | Suichang County, Zhejiang |
| 1 | Gifts from Nature | 莴笋炒火腿 | Celtuce with Nuodeng ham | Dali, Yunnan |
| 1 | Gifts from Nature | 火腿炒饭 | Nuodeng ham with rice | Dali, Yunnan |
| 1 | Gifts from Nature | 炸藕夹 | deep-fried lotus root sandwich | Jiayu County, Hubei |
| 1 | Gifts from Nature | 莲藕炖排骨 | Stewed spareribs and lotus root | Jiayu County, Hubei |
| 1 | Gifts from Nature | 酸辣藕丁 | Sour and hot diced lotus root | Jiayu County, Hubei |
| 1 | Gifts from Nature | 鱼头泡饼 | Fish head soup and baked pancake of Chinese style | Chagan Lake, Jilin |
| 1 | Gifts from Nature | 垮炖杂鱼 | Stewed fish of various kinds in thick soybean sauce of Chinese Northeast style | Chagan Lake, Jilin |
| 1 | Gifts from Nature | 水煮红螺 | Sanya, Hainan | |
| 1 | Gifts from Nature | 香煎马鲛鱼 | Fried scomberomorus | Sanya, Hainan |
| 1 | Gifts from Nature | 蒜烧池子鱼 | Sanya, Hainan | |
| 1 | Gifts from Nature | 酸菜炮弹鱼 | boiled Bullet mackerel with pickled cabbage | Sanya, Hainan |
| 2 | The Story of Staple Foods | 花馍 | Dingcun, Xiangfen, Shanxi | |
| 2 | The Story of Staple Foods | 黄馍馍 | Steamed broom corn millet bun | Suide County, Shaanxi |
| 2 | The Story of Staple Foods | 馕 | Naan | Kuche, Xinjiang |
| 2 | The Story of Staple Foods | 黎平汤粉 | Liping, Guizhou | |
| 2 | The Story of Staple Foods | 干炒牛河 | Rice-flour noodles with stir-fried beef | Guangzhou |
| 2 | The Story of Staple Foods | 肉夹馍 | Rou jia mo | Xi'an |
| 2 | The Story of Staple Foods | 泡馍 | Paomo | Xi'an |
| 2 | The Story of Staple Foods | 兰州牛肉面 | Lanzhou beef lamian | Lanzhou |
| 2 | The Story of Staple Foods | 竹升面 | Jook-sing noodles | Guangzhou |
| 2 | The Story of Staple Foods | 长寿面 | Dingcun, Xiangfen，Shanxi | |
| 2 | The Story of Staple Foods | 岐山臊子面 | Qishan minced noodles | Qishan, Shaanxi |
| 2 | The Story of Staple Foods | 嘉兴肉粽子 | Jiaxing sticky rice dumpling | Jiaxing, Zhejiang |
| 2 | The Story of Staple Foods | 宁波年糕 | Ningbo rice cake | Ningbo, Zhejiang |
| 2 | The Story of Staple Foods | 梭子蟹炒年糕 | rice cake stir-fried with crabs | Ningbo, Zhejiang |
| 2 | The Story of Staple Foods | 焖面 | braised noodles | Beijing |
| 2 | The Story of Staple Foods | 饺子 | Jiaozi | Beijing |
| 3 | Inspiration for Change | 豆腐 | Tofu | Jianshui, Yunnan/Shiping, Yunnan/Shou County, Anhui |
| 3 | Inspiration for Change | 奶豆腐/奶茶 | Quark and milk tea | Xilingol League, Inner Mongolia |
| 3 | Inspiration for Change | 黄酒/酱油 | Shaoxing Wine and soy sauce | Shaoxing |
| 4 | The Taste of Time | 泡菜 | Kimchi | Yanbian Prefecture, Jilin |
| 4 | The Taste of Time | 腊肠(和興腊味) | Preserved Sausage (Wo Hing Preserved Meats) | Hong Kong |
| 4 | The Taste of Time | 腌鱼, 腊肉 | Cured Fish, Preserved Pork | Xiangxi Prefecture, Hunan |
| 4 | The Taste of Time | 金华火腿 | Jinhua ham | Jinhua, Zhejiang |
| 4 | The Taste of Time | 虾酱 | Shrimp paste | Hong Kong |
| 5 | Secrets of the Kitchen | 汽锅鸡 | Boiler chicken | Kunming |
| 5 | Secrets of the Kitchen | 包子 | Baozi | Yangzhou |
| 5 | Secrets of the Kitchen | 葱烧海参 | Braised sea cucumber | Shandong |
| 5 | Secrets of the Kitchen | 西湖醋鱼 | Hangzhou | |
| 6 | A Perfect Blend of Five Flavors | 糖葱薄饼 | Shantou | |
| 6 | A Perfect Blend of Five Flavors | 熏鸭 | Xiashan | |
| 6 | A Perfect Blend of Five Flavors | 酱排骨 | Wuxi | |
| 6 | A Perfect Blend of Five Flavors | 陈皮鸭 | Macau | |
| 6 | A Perfect Blend of Five Flavors | 盐焗鸡 | Salt baked chicken | Guangdong |
| 6 | A Perfect Blend of Five Flavors | 糖醋排骨 | Zhenjiang | |
| 6 | A Perfect Blend of Five Flavors | 鱼香肉丝 | Sichuan | |
| 6 | A Perfect Blend of Five Flavors | 豆瓣酱 | Sichuan | |
| 6 | A Perfect Blend of Five Flavors | 麻婆豆腐 | Sichuan | |
| 6 | A Perfect Blend of Five Flavors | 藤椒鱼 | Sichuan | |
| 6 | A Perfect Blend of Five Flavors | 麻辣火锅 | Hot pot | Chongqing |
| 6 | A Perfect Blend of Five Flavors | 紫菜蛋汤 | Shantou | |
| 6 | A Perfect Blend of Five Flavors | 鱼丸紫菜煲 | Shantou | |
| 6 | A Perfect Blend of Five Flavors | 清蒸鱼 | Steamed fish | Guangzhou |
| 6 | A Perfect Blend of Five Flavors | 白切鸡 | Steamed chicken | Guangzhou |
| 7 | Our Farm | 酸汤鱼 | Congjiang, Yunnan | |
| 7 | Our Farm | 葱烧海参 | Zhangzidao, Liaoning | |
| 7 | Our Farm | 赛螃蟹 | ||
| 7 | Our Farm | 蟹黄汤包 | Crab-roe tang bao | Jingjiang, Jiangsu |
| 7 | Our Farm | 蟹黄汪豆腐 | Xinghua, Jiangsu | |
| 7 | Our Farm | 芋头红烧肉 | Xinghua, Jiangsu | |
| 7 | Our Farm | 青稞酒 | Tibet | |
| 7 | Our Farm | 油炸倭瓜花 | Beijing | |
| 7 | Our Farm | 角瓜饺子 | Beijing |
Season 2[7]
| Episode | Title | Dish (Chinese) | Dish (English) | Location |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Footsteps | 麻辣香肠 | Spicy sausage | |
| 1 | Footsteps | 蜜汁鳗鱼 | Honey-glazed eel | |
| 1 | Footsteps | 清炖跳跳鱼 | Stewed mudskippers | |
| 1 | Footsteps | 山东煎饼 | Shandong pancake rolls | Shandong |
| 1 | Footsteps | 潮州春卷 | Chaozhou spring rolls | Chaozhou, Guangdong |
| 1 | Footsteps | 雷山鱼酱 | Leishan fish sauce | Leishan County, Guizhou |
| 1 | Footsteps | 酥油蜂蜜 | Honey shortening | |
| 1 | Footsteps | 蓝田裤带面 | Lantian 'belt' noodles | Lantian County, Shaanxi |
| 1 | Footsteps | 煎饼卷大葱 | Pancake roll stuffed with scallions | |
| 1 | Footsteps | 泉州萝卜饭 | Quanzhou radish rice roll | Quanzhou, Fujian |
| 2 | Heart's Message | 菜籽油 | Rapeseed Oil | She County, Anhui |
| 2 | Heart's Message | 挂面 | Hanging Noodles | Shaanxi |
| 2 | Heart's Message | 糯米卷 | Glutinous Rice Rolls | Suzhou |
| 2 | Heart's Message | 苏式小方糕 | Suzhou-style Little Diamond Cakes (dim sum) | Suzhou |
| 2 | Heart's Message | 蕨根糍粑 | Fern Root Cake | Chenzhou |
| 2 | Heart's Message | 蚝烙 | Or Luak, or Oyster Omelette with Tapioca Starch, Chaozhou specialty | Shantou |
| 2 | Heart's Message | 烫干丝 | Dried Beancurd Threads in Consomme | Yangzhou |
| 2 | Heart's Message | 扣三丝 | Chicken, Mushroom, Ham Threads in Consomme | Shanghai |
| 2 | Heart's Message | 油爆河虾 | Flash Fried River Shrimp | Shanghai |
| 2 | Heart's Message | 黄鳝啫啫煲 | Eel Clay Pot | Guangzhou |
| 2 | Heart's Message | 三套鸭 | Three-nested Duck | |
| 2 | Heart's Message | 脱骨鱼 | Bone-free fish | |
| 2 | Heart's Message | 船点 | Boat pastry | Suzhou |
| 2 | Heart's Message | 枣泥拉糕 | Red date paste cake | Suzhou |
| 2 | Heart's Message | 苏州头汤面 | Suzhou noodles stewed in first-time soup | Suzhou |
| 2 | Heart's Message | 重庆小面 | Chongqing small noodles | Chongqing |
| 2 | Heart's Message | 凉拌猪耳 | Pig ears dressed with sause | |
| 2 | Heart's Message | 蒜泥白肉 | Shredded pork with garlic sauce | |
| 2 | Heart's Message | 红油 | Red Oil | |
| 2 | Heart's Message | 油炸锅巴 | Fried rice crust | |
| 2 | Heart's Message | 回锅肉 | Double cooked pork slices | |
| 3 | Seasons | 雷笋炒肉丝 | Thunder bamboo shoots fried with shredded pork | |
| 3 | Seasons | 笋干炖鸡 | Stewed chicken with dried bamboo shoots | |
| 3 | Seasons | 铁锅炖鱼 | Fish and tofu stewed in iron pot | |
| 3 | Seasons | 咸肉蒸黄泥拱竹笋 | Steamed bacon with Huang-ni-gong bamboo shoots | |
| 3 | Seasons | 榆钱饭 | Elm seeds meal | |
| 3 | Seasons | 九层皮 | Nine-layer cake | |
| 3 | Seasons | 紫苏炒青蛳 | Purple perilla fried with spiral shell | |
| 3 | Seasons | 玛仁糖/切糕 | Xinjiang nut cake | Xinjiang |
| 3 | Seasons | 抓饭 | Xinjiang hand pilaf | Xinjiang |
| 3 | Seasons | 虾子小刀面 | Sliced Noodles with shrimp roe | |
| 3 | Seasons | 桂花糯米藕 | Steamed lotus root stuffed with sweet sticky rice | |
| 3 | Seasons | 板栗烧鸡 | Braised chicken with chestnuts | |
| 3 | Seasons | 老鸭雁来蕈 | Old duck stewed with lactarius deliciosus | |
| 4 | Daily Domestics | 小凹馍 | Steamed concave buns made of maize flour and Chinese chives | |
| 4 | Daily Domestics | 莜面凉皮 | Cold oat noodles | |
| 4 | Daily Domestics | 枣花馍 | Steamed jujube flower bun | |
| 4 | Daily Domestics | 天门蒸菜 | Tian-men steamed dishes | |
| 4 | Daily Domestics | 红烧肉 | Braised pork in brown sauce | |
| 4 | Daily Domestics | 泡菜鱼 | Stewed fish in pickles | |
| 4 | Daily Domestics | 泡菜 | Pickles | |
| 4 | Daily Domestics | 西瓜酱 | Watermelon jam | |
| 4 | Daily Domestics | 虾子焖茭白 | Shrimp roe stewed with cane shoots | |
| 4 | Daily Domestics | 蒲菜涨蛋 | Cattail omelette | |
| 4 | Daily Domestics | 蒲菜水饺 | Cattail dumplings | |
| 4 | Daily Domestics | 奶汤蒲菜 | Stewed cattail in milky soup | |
| 4 | Daily Domestics | 蒲笋干烧肉 | Braised pork with dried cattail | |
| 4 | Daily Domestics | 陈皮红豆沙 | Orange flavored red bean paste | |
| 4 | Daily Domestics | 红豆姜撞奶 | Ginger milk with red bean | |
| 4 | Daily Domestics | 莲子龟苓膏 | Lotus seed tortoise jelly | |
| 4 | Daily Domestics | 木瓜雪耳羹 | White fungus broth with papaya | |
| 4 | Daily Domestics | 鹌鹑蛋白果糖水 | Quail egg white sweet soup | |
| 4 | Daily Domestics | 黄糖糍粑 | Glutinous rice cake with brown sugar | |
| 4 | Daily Domestics | 猪脚姜 | Stewed pig’s feet with ginger | |
| 4 | Daily Domestics | 冬瓜荷叶煲老鸭 | Boiled old duck with winter melon and lotus leaf | |
| 5 | Encounters | 小鸡炖蘑菇 | Stewed chick with mushroom | Jilin |
| 5 | Encounters | 烩南北 | Stewed mushrooms with winter bamboo shoots | |
| 5 | Encounters | 重庆火锅 | Chongqing hot pot | Chongqing |
| 5 | Encounters | 北京涮肉火锅 | Beijing instant-boiled sliced mutton hot pot | Beijing |
| 5 | Encounters | 云南菌子火锅 | Yunnan mushroom hot pot | Yunnan |
| 5 | Encounters | 潮汕牛肉火锅 | Stewed chick with mushroom | Chaoshan |
| 5 | Encounters | 鸡蛋仔 | Egg puff | Hong Kong |
| 5 | Encounters | 粉圆 | Tapioca Pearls | Hong Kong |
| 5 | Encounters | 烤香肠 | Toasted sausage | |
| 5 | Encounters | 鸡蛋仔 | Egg puff | Hong Kong |
| 5 | Encounters | 葡式焗扇贝 | Portuguese-style baked scallops | Macau |
| 5 | Encounters | 豆腐蒸桂花鱼 | Steamed mandarin fish with tofu | |
| 5 | Encounters | 金汤水煮鳜鱼 | Stewed mandarin fish in pumpkin soup | |
| 5 | Encounters | 水煮海鲜 | Poached seafood | |
| 5 | Encounters | 盆菜 | Poon choi / basin meal | |
| 5 | Encounters | 西湖醋鱼 | West Lake fish in sweet and sour sauce | |
| 5 | Encounters | 鲤鱼焙面 | Sweet-and-sour carp baked with noodles | |
| 5 | Encounters | 开封灌汤包 | Kaifeng soup dumplings | Kaifeng |
| 5 | Encounters | 杭州小笼包 | Hangzhou soup dumplings | Hangzhou |
| 5 | Encounters | 片儿川 | Noodles with preserved vegetable | Kaifeng, Henan |
| 5 | Encounters | 罗宋汤 | Borscht | Shanghai |
| 5 | Encounters | 炸猪排 | Fried pork chop | Shanghai |
| 5 | Encounters | 牛肉球 | Steamed beef ball | |
| 5 | Encounters | 纳仁 | Stewed mutton with noodles | |
| 5 | Encounters | 大盘鸡 | Saute spicy chicken with potatoes | Xinjiang |
| 5 | Encounters | 架子肉 | Meat roasted on skewer | |
| 5 | Encounters | 烤包子 | Roasted stuffed bun | |
| 5 | Encounters | 拉条子 | Xinjiang noodles | Xinjiang |
| 5 | Encounters | 上海桂花糕 | Shanghai osmanthus cake | |
| 5 | Encounters | 红烧牛肉面 | Braised beef noodles | |
| 5 | Encounters | 壳菜肉/淡菜 | Dried mussel meat | |
| 6 | Realm of Secrets | 酸辣华子鱼 | Hot and sour Amur ide | |
| 6 | Realm of Secrets | 沙蟹汁 | Ghost crab extract | |
| 6 | Realm of Secrets | 韭花酱 | Leek flower sauce | |
| 6 | Realm of Secrets | 羊肚包肉 | Roasted mutton wrapped in lamb tripe | |
| 6 | Realm of Secrets | 红柳枝烤羊肉 | Roasted mutton cubes on rose willow branch | |
| 6 | Realm of Secrets | 手抓羊肉 | Boiled mutton / Mutton eaten with hands | |
| 6 | Realm of Secrets | 馕 | Xinjiang naan | Xinjiang |
| 6 | Realm of Secrets | 清蒸石斑鱼 | Steamed grouper | |
| 6 | Realm of Secrets | 清蒸鱼干 | Steamed dried fish | |
| 6 | Realm of Secrets | 清蒸虾干 | Steamed dried shrimps | |
| 6 | Realm of Secrets | 炒鸡枞 | Fried termite mushroom | |
| 7 | Three Meals | 煎饼果子 | Pancake rolled with crisp fritter | |
| 7 | Three Meals | 面窝 | Chinese doughnut | |
| 7 | Three Meals | 三鲜豆皮 | Seafood tofu | |
| 7 | Three Meals | 热干面 | Hot-and-dry noodles | Wuhan |
| 7 | Three Meals | 艇仔粥 | Tingzai porridge | Guangzhou |
| 7 | Three Meals | 肠粉 | Steamed vermicelli roll | Guangzhou |
| 7 | Three Meals | 干蒸烧卖 | Siu Mai (Steamed pork dumplings) | Guangzhou |
| 7 | Three Meals | 榴莲酥 | Crispy durian cake | Guangzhou |
| 7 | Three Meals | 虾饺 | Har gow (Steamed shrimp dumpling) | Guangzhou |
| 7 | Three Meals | 咸鸭蛋 | Salted duck egg | |
| 7 | Three Meals | 剁椒蒸鱼头 | Steamed fish head with peppers | |
| 7 | Three Meals | 蒿子粑粑 | Crown daisy rice cake | |
| 7 | Three Meals | 干子烧肉 | Braised dried tofu with pork | |
| 7 | Three Meals | 时蔬彩虹蛋糕 | Seasonal vegetables rainbow cake | |
| 7 | Three Meals | 冰皮月饼 | Snow skin mooncake | Hong Kong |
| 7 | Three Meals | 生煎包 | Pan-fried bun stuffed with pork | |
| 7 | Three Meals | 锅盔 | Guokwei/ Dried bun | |
| 7 | Three Meals | 豌杂面 | Noodles with peas and meat sauce | Sichuan |
| 7 | Three Meals | 麻辣鸡 | Chicken with cayenne pepper | |
| 7 | Three Meals | 酸木瓜煮鱼 | Stewed fish with pickled papaya | |
| 7 | Three Meals | 爆炒见手青 | Stir-fried Jian-Shou-Qing mushrooms |
Reception
A Bite of China attracted high ratings during its nightly airing on CCTV-1, drawing an estimated 100 million viewers.[8] It also has an overall approval rating of 91% on Douban.[9] Oliver Thring of The Guardian praised it as "the best TV show I've ever seen about food. I'd hazard it's the best one ever made."[10]
Controversies
The background Chinese painting appeared in the documentary's poster is "岭云带雨" by Xu Qinsong (许钦松). At first, The poster designer used the painting without permission of Mr. Xu, However, this copyright issue was later solved by reconciliation between the artist and the documentary producer.[11]
References
- ↑ Jia, Mei (26 June 2012). "Readers sink their teeth into A Bite of China". China Daily. Retrieved 26 June 2012.
- ↑ Chow, Jason (11 June 2012). "CCTV Finds the Way to Viewers’ Hearts is Through Gorgeous Food Documentary". The Wall Street Journal. Retrieved 26 June 2012.
- ↑ "《舌尖上的中国》美食背后的主旋律". Retrieved 24 June 2012.
- ↑ "舌尖上的中国第二季". CCTV. Retrieved 2014-04-16.
- ↑ 《舌尖上的中国》第二季最新分集简介
- ↑ "A bite of China II whets the appetite". website. Retrieved 26 April 2014.
- ↑ “舌尖上的中国2”美食英文说法
- ↑ ""A Bite of China" becomes the rage". Xinhua News Agency.
- ↑ "舌尖上的中国(豆瓣)". Retrieved 2 December 2012.
- ↑ Thring, Oliver (2012-09-12). "A Bite of China: the finest food TV ever?". The Guardian.
This is just one segment of the best TV show I've ever seen about food. I'd hazard it's the best one ever made.
- ↑ "TV documentary gets right to use image". Retrieved 14 June 2012.