Food Trivia Question from the Oriental Oasis Newsletter
TRIVIA QUESTION: A staple of take-out restaurants, I am generally not
considered to be an authentic Chinese dish. None the less, I am mentioned in a few Chinese
cookbooks as originating in Szechuan. There's no doubt that my method of preparation is
unusual for Chinese food, as I am one of the few beef dishes that is deep-fried. Something
else that sets me apart is that the beef is cut along, instead of across, the grain. What
am I?
TRIVIA ANSWER: Ginger beef. One source claimed that ginger beef is actually an Alberta
invention, although as I mentioned some cookbooks list it as a Szechuan dish. Certainly,
it's not readily obtainable in other Canadian cities, although I don't know about the
United States.
Quest for Ginger Beef: My article talks a bit more about this dish, and includes a recipe.
