Making Christmas Dinner Special

It is becoming increasingly common to see people dining out on Christmas day. Traditionally Christmas dinner is an intimate and special meal prepared in the comfort of a home. Families usually meet at their parents’ home or in one of the sibling’s houses in turn. The meals prepared are elaborate in both their ingredients and in their presentation. All family members are present irrespective of the distance needed for travel. If the house is not big enough to accommodate all, some are booked into a hotel or stay with other relatives. This event brings out a unique sense of togetherness and sharing which spreads the good will associated with the season.

Eating Out at Christmas

Animated banter fills the dinner table as family members trade stories of their travels and catch up with each other. New members of the family are made to feel welcome whether this is due to new marriages or new born babies. Gifts are exchanged after the family dinner, which heightens the excitement of the day. Usually thoughtful gifts are given and in some cases specific people buy gifts for specific people, although some buy gifts for the entire family depending on their financial capability and creativity. The entire family is also engaged in playing games that further strengthen the bond. Some families also do the cleaning up together while taking advantage of this opportunity to catch up with each other.

Having Christmas dinner at a restaurant may not be as intimate as having it in the comfort of a home although some restaurants try to make this occasion very special.  Large families opt to book a whole section to themselves as opposed to having the Christmas dinner with other diners and strangers. The restaurant dinner does not afford the warmth of a home though it can be as special.

Chinese and Thai Cuisine

There are several Chinese and Thai food outlets in most major cities across the country and oriental food is becoming the fast food and dining favourite. However there seems to be little difference in the Chinese and Thai varieties as most are just referred to as Chinese food outlets. Distinct differences and similarities exist in Chinese and Thai food. Thai food is from Thailand with influences from Indian and Chinese as well as other oriental cuisines. Chinese food is from China and is very homegrown. Thai food is basically spicier maybe due to the Indian influence and also tends to be less greasy as compared to Chinese. Thai food also uses a lot of coconut milk which adds that extra tropical flavour to the food.

Different Ingredients for Different Flavours

Another difference would be in the décor and the general ambience of the distinct cultures, this however would take a very discerning eye to decipher as most oriental traditions use the same class of objects for their décor, for example the dragon. The use of herbs and spices for both cuisines is common and they use basically the same type with Thai food considered to be more currier maybe due to the Indian influence. Chinese use soy sauce and ginger, which is sometimes mixed with sugar for a more distinct taste.

Noodles and rice are considered to be the staple for both the Chinese and the Thai, with the rice served in a separate bowl in Chinese, while Thai food is always served with steamed rice with some vegetables on top. As a general rule of thumb, the Chinese use much less ingredients and more oil than Thai food which ranges from sweet, sour, hot and spicy varieties. However it is said that the cuisine tastes different here from the cuisine in China or Thailand.