Shark's Fin and Sichuan Pepper
Fuchsia Dunlop’s *Shark's Fin and Sichuan Pepper* is a vivid, immersive memoir of her decades-long love affair with Chinese cuisine. What began as a 1992 trip to study ethnic minority history quickly shifted when a single Sichuan meal in Chengdu shattered her Western assumptions about Chinese food. She dives deep into the heart of Chinese culinary culture: mastering precise knife skills with local chefs, learning to cook iconic dishes like twice-cooked pork and Mao’s braised pork, and exploring how food shapes social bonds, holiday rituals, and even political identity. From Chengdu’s bustling street food stalls to the imperial banquets of the Forbidden City, from Hong Kong’s fusion flavors to Hunan’s fiery heat, Dunlop uncovers the stories behind every dish—including the survival wisdom of turning "offal" into delicacies, the cultural significance of Sichuan peppercorns, and the ethical dilemmas of rare ingredients like shark fin. More than a food book, it’s a heartfelt exploration of how food connects people, preserves tradition, and defines belonging.