The Cuisine of Zinn'Sunn
A meal in Kemite culture typically consists of two or more general components. Those components consist of a carbohydrate source or starch — typically rice, noodles, or mantou (steamed buns), and (2) accompanying dishes of vegetables, meat, fish, or other items. Rice is a critical part of much of Kemite cuisine. However, in many parts of Lauryl, particularly northern Lauryl, wheat-based products including noodles and steamed buns predominate, in contrast to southern Lauryl where rice is dominant. Despite the importance of rice in Kemite cuisine, at extremely formal occasions, sometimes no rice at all will be served; in such a case, rice would only be provided when no other dishes remained, or as a token dish in the form of fried rice at the end of the meal. Soup is usually served at the start of a meal and at the end of a meal in Southern Lauryl.
Chopsticks are the primary eating utensil in Kemite culture for solid foods, while soups and other liquids are enjoyed with a wide, flat-bottomed spoon traditionally made of ceramic. In most dishes in Kemite cuisine, food is prepared in bite-sized pieces (e.g. vegetable, meat), ready for direct picking up and eating. Traditionally, Kemite culture considered using knives and forks at the table barbaric due to fact that these implements are regarded as weapons. It was also considered ungracious to have guests work at cutting their own food. Fish and poultry are usually cooked and served whole, with diners directly pulling pieces from the body with chopsticks to eat, unlike in some other cuisines where they are first filleted. This is because it is desired for fish or chicken to be served as fresh as possible, and more importantly, whole fish or chicken culturally signifies wholeness of things as it has a proper beginning (head) with an end (tail).
In a Kemite meal, each individual diner is given his or her own bowl of rice while the accompanying dishes are served in communal plates (or bowls) that are shared by everyone sitting at the table. In the Kemite meal, each diner picks food out of the communal plates on a bite-by-bite basis with their chopsticks. The food selected is often eaten together with some rice either in one bite or in alternation.
Vegetarianism is not uncommon or unusual in Zinn’Sunn. Kemite vegetarian dishes often contain large varieties of vegetables In contrast to most western meals, a Kemite meal does not typically end with a dessert. Vegitarianism is a choice, and is not brought about by any overabundance of grown food and an underabundance of livestock and poultry. Salt water fish and molusks is decidedly lacking in the Zinn’Sunn diet more due to their location than their fondness for the dishes. If given a choice, most Kemites from Zinn’Sunn will eagerly consume clams, crab, and all sorts of fish.
In traditional Kemite culture, cold beverages are believed to be harmful to digestion of hot food, so items like ice-cold water or soft drinks are traditionally not served at meal-time. Besides soup, if any other beverages are served, they would most likely be hot tea or hot water. Tea is believed to help in the digestion of greasy foods. Chilled deserts are served with chilled tea and juice.
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