essay compare and contrast

Compare and contrast between Malay food and Chinese food.

When we talk about food, I think Malaysia has variety of food from variety of races and ethnics. Three major races in Malaysia are Malay, Chinese and Indian. Every race has their own traditional or modern food that actually reflects their identity. Mostly Malaysian likes to eat Malaysian food whether it is Malay, Chinese or Indian cuisine. So, there are several similarities and comparisons between Malay food and Chinese food in terms of staple food, food during festival and atmospheric during eating.

First of all, every ethnic in the world have their own staple food. In, Asia especially, most of the country are using rice as a staple food, same goes to the Malay food and Chinese food. Both of them make rice as their staple food especially during lunch and dinner. The comparisons between both are the types of rice they cooked. Most Malay food eats white rice with variety of other dishes and most of the dishes are a bit spicy. Whereas, Chinese rice usually has been make chicken rice. When we talk about chicken rice, automatically cross in our mind that this type of food is one of the famous Chinese cuisine. As mention, most of the Malay foods are using spices and other local ingredient such as lemon grass, ginger, galangal, tamarind and turmeric. But, in Chinese food, rarely can found the dishes with spices ingredient. Another one that commonly used in Malay food is coconut milk. As example is Nasi Lemak, usually eat during breakfast but in Chinese food, they rarely use coconut milk in their cooking except for making pudding and others.

Then, comes to festival celebrations, every people or ethnics have one or two biggest official celebrations. For Malay, the biggest celebration is Hari Raya and for Chinese, the biggest celebration is Chinese New Year. The similarities for both festivals are, there must be had traditional food served. Other than that, during both festivals, there are open houses that been make by owner of house and they invite their relative, friends and other people come to their house. The differences between both festival are, the traditional food that been served. Traditional Malay foods are Kuih bahulu, ketupat lemang and rendang. But in Chinese food, the traditional food that been served are mooncake and kuih bakul. Other than that, during Chinese New Year, there are specific fruits that also been served is orange. This is because, for Chinese, orange is symbolizes prosperity. Whereas, in Malay festival, there is no specific fruit are used. Next is the big eating activity, in Malay festivals, big eating is held before pray for Hari Raya Aidilfitri and after prays for Hari Raya Aidiladha. Whereas for Chinese New Year big eating held during night of Chinese New Year day.

Every ethnics have their own style and atmospheric during eating. The similarities between two ethnics is, both eating with their family member especially during holiday. And during eating, usually, the older people will eat first then followed by the younger and youngest. Then the differences of both athmospheric and style eating are, the traditional Malay way of eating is by using the right hand. The use of the left hand is considered bad manners, then the way of eating is normally according to tradition is sitting on the floor. Whereas, Chinese style are using chopsticks during eating and they usually eating on chair and using table. Other than that, based on tradition, Malay style, usually people take dishes that nearer to them and them not holding their plate while eating. But in Chinese style, same goes to Malay but they can hold their bowl. Then, Malay style eating the dish and rice together in plate but Chinese style eat dish and rice alternating in a bowl.

In conclusion, there are many similarities and comparisons of both Malay and Chinese culture in context of food. All Malaysian love all food whether it is from Malay, Chinese and Indian. This difference between the ethnics actually gives big and attractive variations to attract local and foreign visitor. This kind of food is one of the tourism activities and interests all people.