Rice to the Occasion!

Chi le fan mei you? Have you eaten rice yet? If a Chinese friend asks you this, don't take it literally. It's a common greeting, equivalent to "how are you?" It highlights the importance of rice to the Chinese sense of well-being.

A staple in many countries, today rice sustains more than half of the world's population. And it's versatile: every culture creates its own unique and delicious rice recipes, according to its own cooking customs and local ingredients.

In China, rice is often the heart of the meal … accompanied by meat, fish and vegetables. In fact, the word for rice, fan, has become interchangeable with the word for food.

Rice plays a key role in the cuisine of different cultures. It may serve as a main dish, a side dish, a soup or salad base, or even a desert. Try these diverse rice recipes. Open your mind … rice to the occasion!

Appetizers
Hainanese Chicken Rice
Rice Steamed in a Lotus Leaf

Soup
Lemongrass & Ginger Rice Soup

Entrees
Pineapple & Chinese Sausage Fried Rice
Oyako Donburi (Chicken and Egg Rice)

Dessert
Coconut Rice Pudding Parfait

Lotus Leaves

Kecap Manis

The Chinese Chef's Knife