5 Facts about Indo-Chinese Cuisine, We Bet You Didn’t Know Having just the sight of veggies and noodles being tossed in a hot wok and dribbled with soya sauce
can make you crave Hakka noodles. Similar would be the situation in the case of every other IndoChinese dish, especially when it’s time for an evening snack. All thanks to the amazing fusion of Indian and Chinese cuisine that our ancestors did! Given the popularity, we all happen to be quite familiar with the available Indo-Chinese menu items whether when we go to a heart-warming food stall on the streets of India or when we visit an Indian restaurant in Northeast Calgary. However, what we don’t know about is how this fusion came to life and became the most liked foreign cuisine among the Indian population. So, why wait? Let’s uncover some of the unexplored facts about Indo-Chinese foods that actually blow your mind.
#1. Indo-Chinese Cuisine Was Born In Kolkata Yes, you might not believe what you’re reading but this is the bitter truth. Indian-Chinese Food’s origin dates back to the 1700s when Calcutta was the capital of the British Empire in India. Back then, Hakka-speaking Chinese immigrated to the city mainly to work in tanneries, ports, and railways to earn a livelihood. Some also worked as silk traders. These Chinese settlers adapted to India's customs, rituals, and habits partly by adopting them but still missed their native food found back in China. Using local ingredients, immigrants in Calcutta's Chinatowns of Tiretta Bazaar and Tangra began satisfying their spicy fried food cravings and selling it to Chinese workers, resulting in the birth of Indo-Chinese cuisine.
#2 Many Bollywood Stars Visited Kolkata's First Indo-Chinese Restaurant The cuisine that just started as an experiment soon was loved and adored by locals, slowly transforming the food stalls into full-blown eateries. The Au family opened Nanking Restaurant in Kolkata's Chinese Toongon Church building in 1925, making it possibly the first Chinese restaurant in Kolkata and India. Nanking Restaurant was not just an ordinary restaurant. It was a mesmerizing place where enchanting violin melodies greeted guests at the gate, opulent furnishings elevated the atmosphere, and impeccably dressed servers catered to VIP guests. This glamorous haven played host to yesteryear Bollywood icons such as Raj Kapoor, Nargis, and Dilip Kumar, who were drawn to its allure.
#3 Schezwan Sauce Is Nothing But a replacement for Sichuan Peppercorns Puree The Schezwan sauce that we mostly see being used in every Indo-Chinese dish is India’s substitute for China’s Sichuan Peppercorns. Sichuan peppers are what actually give Chinese food its exclusive taste and spiciness. And, Sichuan is a small region in China, which is very wellknown for its peppercorns. Basically, In India, Sichuan is pronounced and spelled as Schezwan. But, in its absence, Indians use dry red chilies as a substitute for Sichuan peppers. Hence, the Schezwan sauce that we usually eat is made from dry red chilies in garlic found in India.
#4. A Mumbai-Based Chef Invented The First Manchurian Dish Nelson Wang, an Indian chef of Chinese origin was always amazed by Indian condiments and wanted to use the Indian-Chinese fusion to create something that all may love. And, he made the magic happen in 1975, when he created chicken Manchurian, the first Manchurian dish, at the Cricket Club of India in Bombay. Wang fried chicken cubes coated in corn starch and made a
sauce using Indian ingredients like garlic, ginger, and green chilies sautéed in oil. He mixed in Chinese ingredients such as soy sauce, cornstarch, and fried chicken. This dish became a sensation in India, giving rise to vegetarian options like Gobi Manchurian.
Whoa! That’s a lot to digest. Isn’t it? Well, how about trying the sensational fusion called IndoChinese side-by-side, while reading the facts? Also, not many restaurants serve Indo-Chinese food, especially in Canada. One restaurant in Northeast Calgary where you will be able to taste some finger-licking Indo-Chinese Food is Bombay Chowpatty®. So, why wait when you can enjoy your favorite Indian-Chinese food right now? Explore our menu to find what’s available with us. Click here to discover! Also, follow us on social media to stay updated.