Deh-Ta Hsiung is an acknowledged expert on Chinese food and cookery - besides being the author of several best-selling books and a food and wine consultant for Chinese restaurants and food manufacturers, he is also a tutor of renown. You can find him online at http://chinese-at-table.com.
Traditionally, a Chinese housewife is supposed to have firewood, rice, oil, salt, soy sauce, vinegar and tea. A Chinese cook in the west has no need for firewood, but there are a few more items they need to add. [...]