Chinese-Italian cuisine in Milan
Italians have only learned about China more closely in recent years, yet they have had to deal with this population on many occasions throughout their lives, especially in relation to food.
If we think of Chinese dishes that are now stainless in the collective imagination, these are only a handful compared to the huge number of authentic and traditional specialties of one of the largest countries in the world. China has an impressive geographical variety and this obviously affects the cuisine. In fact, there are eight different styles of Chinese cuisine, which can be classified as macro-areas:
Anhui: region of the Huangshan mountains
Fujian: area located in front of Taiwan
Guandong: Southern China, Canton
Jiangsu: Nanjing
Hunan: Southern China
Sichuan: Chengdu area
Shandong: Yellow Sea, Tsingtao
Zhejiang: West Lake
Of all these culinary styles in Italy, Cantonese (from Guandong) was established during the Chinese diaspora in the 1980s, when a real boom in Chinese cuisine broke out in Italy. At that time, many cooks found it very difficult to find the original ingredients to replicate the authentic recipes, as well as having to deal with an Italian clientele not inclined to that type of preparations.
Southern Chinese cuisine is still known today for its delicate, non-spicy, light and tasty recipes: this was one of the highlights for the acceptance of Chinese cuisine in our country. Chinese cooks thus changed the original recipes to bring them closer to the taste of Italians, contaminating them with local ingredients, effectively founding a new Chinese-Italian gastronomic style.
From the first Chinese restaurant in Italy, La Pagoda (located in the Paolo Sarpi area, where over the years the most important Chinatown in Italy has developed), in which Mr. Sing Cheng King worked (from whose legacy the famous restaurant Lon Fon), over time Chinese restaurants have multiplied like wildfire, entering our homes with the famous take-away at competitive prices.
Today the Milanese finally discover and appreciate the true Chinese regional cuisine thanks to capable and professional restaurateurs who have decided to propose the cuisine of their land in the Milanese city, yet we cannot forget the dishes that have always been considered Chinese.
So here's the Chinese-Italian cuisine with is a list of dishes that we have loved (or not) over time and where they prepare them well to be able to taste them.
Cantonese rice
The famous white rice with peas, eggs and cooked ham is perhaps the most popular and appreciated "Chinese dish".
In reality it is a reinterpretation of Yangzhou rice, one of the many variations of sautéed rice or fried rice: in China each one has its own version, in Italy it has been simplified to make it accessible to everyone.
Where? At Ta Hua, one of Hong Kong's authentic family-run restaurants in Milan since 1979. The proposal on paper is truly vast, the care and passion make this place really the difference. 🌎 http://www.tahua.it 📍 Via Gustavo Fara 15, Milan 📞 02 4548 8800 💰 $$
Spring roll
The timeless roll stuffed with cabbage and carrots is a must of Chinese diners appetizers. Yet in China they are not prepared this way (they have different fillings), they are much smaller, they can be fried or prepared according to other cooking methods and eaten as a snack - in fact they are part of the dim sum tradition.
Where? At Lon Fon, a real Milanese institution. A familiar and informal restaurant, perfect for enjoying dishes that have become legend over the years. 🌎 http://lonfon.it 📍 Via Lazzaretto 10, Milan 📞 02 2940 5153 💰 $$$
Almond chicken
Chicken nuggets dipped in a gelatinous sauce and filled with almonds are etched in our memory. This dish refers to the many quick preparations in a wok over high heat, with the difference, however, that this dish does not exist in China! But there are chicken with cashews or Sichuan kung pao (or gong bao) chicken, prepared with shredded chicken, peanuts, onion, chillies, vegetables and spices.
Dove? Da Yuebilou, situato nel cuore di Chinatown e cristallizzata negli anni '80. Un menù ampio, ingredienti freschissimi e porzioni abbondanti fanno di questa trattoria una validissima scelta. 📍 Via Paolo Sarpi 42, Milan 📞 02 3650 4611 💰 $$
Dove gustare il pollo kung pao? Da Fan Wu, a mio avviso uno dei migliori ristoranti del Sichuan in città. 📍 Viale Tunisia 30, Milan 📞 02 4969 0934 💰 $$
Pork in sweet and sour sauce
The "sweet and sour sauce" in Italy is a type of preparation that is used in cooking (just think of sweet and sour vegetables or peperonata), while in China it is a mix of sugar and vinegar that is poured mainly on fish when cooked.
During the Cultural Revolution, the Chinese Communist Party used to distribute this sauce to enhance the image of Chinese culture, while in the rural areas of north-east China it is called "people's sauce" due to the low price. According to some, this sauce was invented in Hunan (where Mao Tse-tung was born).
The westernized version of these dishes is used to season mainly chicken, pork or shrimp which are first dipped in a batter, then fried and seasoned with this sauce often mixed with ketchup (to increase the red color), rice vinegar, sherry, but also pineapple, green onion and red pepper.
Where? At Mandarin 2, a milestone of Chinese catering in Milan. 🌎 https://www.mandarin2.it/ 📍 Via Garofalo 22, Milan 📞 02 266 4147 💰 $$$
Fried ice cream
Iconic and kitsch at the same time, perhaps it will surprise you to know that in reality this dessert has an uncertain origin, but certainly not linked to China.
In fact, it is said that it was presented for the first time at the Colombian Fair in Chicago in 1893 (during which the sundae was also presented), while others hypothesize that it was invented in the same period in Philadelphia, by frying a ball of ice cream enclosed in a thin pie crust. A final hypothesis indicates some Japanese tempura restaurants in the early 1960s. In fact, over the years this dessert has been served mainly in Chinese restaurants.
Where? At Kim Bar Chinese Bistrot, a small restaurant specializing in Cantonese and Hong Kong dishes. 🌎 https://www.facebook.com/kimbarmilano/📍 Via Correggio 16, Milan 📞 339 293 6017 💰 $$$
Fortune cookie
More than a dish, a real symbol of Chinese restaurants of the 80s and 90s!
The origin of this biscuit is Japanese: it was in fact traced in an illustration of 1878 which showed the tradition in the temples of Kyoto of omikuji (ticket containing a divine prediction) with the name of tsujiura senbei.
It was the Japanese who exported this custom to California (as well as the culture of sushi, I'll tell you about it here): the landscape architect Makoto Hagiwara, in charge of the maintenance of the Japanese tea garden at San Francisco's Golden Gate Park, is said to have been the first to having served them in the modern version we know today at the beginning of the 20th century, produced by the Benkyodo pastry shop. Subsequently many others have claimed paternity. Only in 1989 were they exported to Hong Kong and throughout the 1990s they were offered at the end of a meal in Chinese restaurants.
Where? Today it is a bit out of fashion in town, but for every purchase you make you will find it at the Food House grocery store. 📍 Via Rembrandt 9, Milan 📞 02 404 1224 💰 $$
