Chinese food is famous around the world with countless delicious and fantastic dishes. Its diverse cuisine dates back centuries, with classic cooking styles known as the “Eight Greats.” Food remains a focal point of life today, but young people are less likely than their grandparents to spend time in the kitchen. Food safety has also emerged as a major concern, with consumers shaken by several scandals in recent years.
This month’s On China, CNN’s Kristie Lu Stout travels to Shanghai, the Chinese city with sheer variety and quality of cuisine. She discusses the dining scene with a distinguished panel: author Fuchsia Dunlop, the first westerner to train at the Sichuan Institute of Higher Cuisine; Chef Paul Pairet, winner of the 2016 “Chef’s Choice Award” for “Asia’s 50 Best Restaurants”; and Crystyl Mo, a food critic, consultant, and long-time observer of China’s food trends. In the course of the talk show, they talk about the variety of international and regional cuisines in the metropolis of Shanghai, the loss of local food culture with this generation, and how cuisine in China is going to evolve.
Finally, Kristie Lu Stout enjoys a fully immersive dining experience with Chef Paul Pairet at his single-table restaurant Ultraviolet, where all five sense are being engaged.
On China airs on CNN International 4:30 p.m. today and at 11:30 a.m. tomorrow with subsequent replays on Sept. 17 (10 a.m.), Sept. 24 (7:30 p.m) and Sept. 25 (12:30 p.m.).
CNN International is available from all cable service and direct TV providers nationwide.