The Taste of Qingdao Cuisine

Chinese cuisine is widely diverse and spans beyond the normal take-out favorites.  As China’s geographic coverage  span from temperate coastal towns to cold mountainous provinces, there is so much to expect when going on an  adventure in exploring local dishes.

The city of Qingdao in the Shangdong province is in fact not just the metropolitan center of the region.  With a rich northeastern culture, this coastal city is also home to one of China’s distinctive seafood dishes.  In addition to the usual Chinese stamp in Qingdao cuisine, the city’s history is also steeped with foreign influences as it was once occupied Germany and then eventually, invaded by Japan.

Qingdao’s location has strongly inspired the local cuisine.  Surrounded by the rich waters of the Yellow Sea, locals have had access to a wide range of fish species, sea cucumbers, shellfish, prawns, squid and shrimp.  As a seafood heaven, Qingdao cuisine is usually deep fried, stewed, roasted or braised with soy sauce, shallots and garlic as its base flavoring.

What is interesting about Qingdao is that its dishes highlight the flavors of these prime ingredients.  Qingdao dishes are generally easy to prepare and are not too complex.  A good sampler of this simplicity can be seen in the classic Qingdao hotpot which is composed of different seafoods and fruit de la mer.  Slices of seafood meat such as fish, shrimps, squid and shellfish are prepped to be cooked hotpot-style.  The hotpot soup is a very simple yet tasty, a clean clear soup base with options for some spice.

Another famous Qingdao dish is a GaLa which is basically sautéed clams with red and green peppers.  This dish shows the spicier side of Qingdao.  The Qingdao version of the dumpling, the Qingdao Guotie, is longer and crispier.  It is stuffed with different goodies such as shrimp, pork, mutton and beef, among others.  Other memorable seafood dishes from Qingdao include the exotic sea cucumber with minced meat and braised cuttlefish eggs.

Even though Qingdao is known for its great seafood cuisine, the city also prides in other meaty fares as well.  The Qingdao’s Jingju pork rib rice is a good example.  By culinary practice, the pork ribs need to be of a certain standard such as the size of the source and the thirteen spices used to flavor the meat.  The ribs are then braised with different kinds of vegetables such as cabbage, beans, wax gourd , kelp and potatoes.  This exotic meal is usually served with rice and pickles.

The Jiaodong Chicken Wings is also another Qingdao favorite.  What makes these chicken wings different is that they are cooked with local vegetables.  Instead of the usual fried wings with sauce, these chicken wings are served in a very delicious onion broth.

Qingdao is also known as the home of the famous Chinese beer, Tsingtao.  Qingdao’s taste for beer can be seen in its active participation in the global beer culture through the Qingdao International Beer Festival.  True to the Qingdao cuisine style, Tsingtao beer is also known among beer lovers as delicate and subtle with clean yet crisp flavors.  When paired with a a typical Qingdao fare, Tsingtao does not take the shine away from the highlight of the plate which is the flavor of the sea.

Qingdao cuisine is another facet of the very popular Chinese food scene.  Although Chinese food is known for its complexity and elaborateness, the important objective in Qingdao food is to make the dish elegant.  This kind of Chinese food takes a simpler and more straightforward approach by underlining the main flavors of the stars of Qingdao dish: the fruits of the sea.