Chopstix

A highly successful Chinese food enthusiasts' site featuring top chefs and food writers from the UK and America, and put together by Ian Fenn who is himself training to be a Chinese chef. The 2000 redesign has made it a model of simplicity and clarity: it's Zen internet layout at its best. Lack of images keeps it quick, but a few more original recipes in the database would improve it tremendously.



Special Features



Ingredients A superb directory written by Ken Hom, and divided into sections such as Dried Preserved and Processed Foods, Staple Foods, and Nuts and Vegetables. In addition, there are feature articles including a useful introduction to the Chinese storecupboard and information on Chinese beverages.



Recipes This section, which is being expanded constantly, highlights the site's top ten dishes and offers an internet search facility that expands the database to around 4000 recipes. It also tells you which Chopstix-approved books contain matches for your search. On the rare chance that the site cannot produce what you're looking for, you can post an appeal on the forum. The section also includes good articles on menu planning, from simple meals to banquets, plus an analysis of the essential qualities of Chinese food. Prestigious contributors include Ken Hom, Deh-Ta Hsiung, Yan-Kit So, Martin Yan, Nina Simmonds and Grace Young. The site's Top Ten dishes is updated on a minute-by-minute basis and, after several months, General Tso's Favorite Chiken seems to have been ousted from the number one slot - a coup achieved by Fried Rice and Spare Ribs in Sweet and Sour Sauce.



Lifestyle and Culture Contains articles on dinner table etiquette, notes from ancient Chinese cookbooks, and a few personal articles by Ken Hom such as his experiences visiting his family's home province in China.



Other Features



Book sales, message boards, links to various recipe sites including the Chinese section of The Open Directory, as well as ChineseAstrology.net and The Chinese Love Calculator.