| A typical Chinese meal consists of rice or noodles with a number of accompanying dishes. The number of dishes depends on the number of people sharing the meal. A basic meal would comprise of a meat dish, vegetable and soup. Depending on the number eating, the protein section could be expanded to include fish and maybe another meat. When planning a Chinese meal do serve plenty of rice or noodles as this provides the 'bulk' needed to satisfy the hunger.
At a family meal all the dishes are placed in the centre of the table for people to help themselves. Rice is served in small bowls and family members help themselves from the central dishes. It is good manners to take a little from each plate to keep taking small portions of food at a time. This way everyone gets a fair proportion of the main dishes to accompany the rice.
On more formal occasions and banquets, dishes are served individually. The serving order generally begins with a large starter platter followed by perhaps a 'special seasonal dish' and then meat, fish, poultry and vegetables. Ten courses are normal for a banquet, with the last course usually a large plate of fried rice or noodles, just incase there may be someone who might still be hungry! As you will probably guess, nobody goes away hungry from such a meal.
When planning the meal choose a variety of dishes to include one or two with a different cooking method. Try to buy the freshest ingredients possible, some products such as, garlic, ginger and spring onions are used in most dishes therefore do prepare enough of these for all your dishes.
Many people are put off cooking Chinese food for a large group because it can be difficult to serve everything at the same time. However with a little preparation and planning, it can be done. Blanch vegetables that take a while to cook such as, broccoli, sugar snap peas, fine beans etc as this saves cooking time. An hour or so before guests arrive cook each recipe up to the stage when the meat is cooked, take it off the heat and allow to cool quickly. This way, adding vegetables and sauces at the last minute can finish the dishes, just when it is time to serve the food. Remember to refrigerate cooked food until it is needed.
Prepare all the garnish such as, fried onions, toasted sesame seeds, curled spring onions etc, these will be ready to finish the dish just before serving. Prepare soup early and chill in the refrigerator to be reheated when it is required. Rice can be heated up in a microwave, a steamer or covered with foil in a warm oven. Or better still, invest in an electric rice cooker where rice will keep warm until needed.
Choose a simple cold desert and prepare ahead. Sliced tropical fruit on a platter is a nice, fresh way to finish a meal. To make it special serve the fruit with skewers and a boozy, warm chocolate dip. 
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