“Appetite for food and sex is human nature, shi se xing ye,' as the philosopher Gaozi said. Or, as the popular saying derived from the Book of Rites puts it: 'Eat, drink, man, woman' (yin shi nan nü). We are all animals, blessed with tongues, stomachs and sexual desires, in need of comfort and affection.” Human NatureFoodAppetites Book:Invitation to a Banquet: The Story of Chinese Food Source: Invitation to a Banquet: The Story of Chinese Food
“A successful dish, as my cooking school teachers always used to say, must hit all the targets of se, xiang, wei, xing – colour, fragrance, flavour and form. It should first delight the eyes with its beauty, then the nose with its scent, the tongue with its tastes and the palate with its material qualities. Kougan – literally 'mouthfeel' – is an essential part of the enjoyment of eating, which is an all-embracing sensory experience.” PalateChinese Food Book:Invitation to a Banquet: The Story of Chinese Food Source: Invitation to a Banquet: The Story of Chinese Food