NEW SURVEY REVEALS WE'RE STIR FRY CRAZY


 We're a nation of stir-fry lovers, according to an eve of Chinese New Year
 poll by Chinese food experts AMOY.


 


 In the kitchen, stir frying was the top cooking method we feel comfortable
 with (30%), beating the microwave into second place (20%), followed by
 roasting (18%), grilling (17%) and boiling - just 7%.


 


 The survey also shows that it is women who are most confident in the
 kitchen, with men resorting to the microwave or grill for their quick meal
 solutions.


 


 Three out of five people say that Chinese is their favourite food and
 speed and convenience have led to its popularity. Oriental food narrowly beat
 the traditional roast (23%), Italian (19%), Indian (18%) and fish and chips
 (10%) but with one in two households owning a wok, the Chinese food sector
 grew by 6% in volume in 1999, led by noodles and stir-fry sauces (Nielsen
 25.12.99).


 


 However whilst we have a taste for the Orient, we do not always know that
 certain dishes were created for Western tastes - 64% wrongly believe that Chop
 Suey originates from China, with 57% believing that Pork Chow Mein is
 authentic (57%).


 


• Other findings reveal


 


 Our favourite dishes are associated with our personality:


 


 * A Chinese meal - popular with romantics


 


 * A roast and all the trimmings - signifies traditional British
 reservation


 


 * Italian food - chosen by those who say they are caring


 


 * An Indian curry - eaten by impulsive types


 


 * Fish and chips - a traditionalist's choice


 


• For women, the most popular celebrity that they would choose to spend
 Chinese New Year with is Sean Connery (the choice of 30%), but men would opt
 for Denise Van Outen (27%)


 


• Only 4% of those surveyed would choose to share their Chinese New Year
 with Tony Blair. When asked to suggest a dish, almost one in three would opt
 to serve him beef in black bean sauce, which is symbolically associated in
 Chinese philosophy with masculinity and assertiveness


 


• Eating Chinese food is seen as a social occasion with 38% choosing to
 go to a Chinese restaurant for a celebration, while Indian food is associated
 with a fun night out with friends (25%) and a meal out at an English steak
 house is a family occasion (41%)


 


• 23% of people would cook their partner a Chinese stir-fry if they
 wanted to prepare a quick but impressive meal and prawns was the top food to
 put them in a romantic mood (traditionally considered an aphrodisiac)


 


 THE WISDOM OF EATING


 


 Terry Tan, chef and writer on Chinese cuisine, commented: "Although
 Mexican, Thai and many other cuisines have gained in popularity in recent
 years, Chinese food remains hugely p and the first choice for many. It
 is not surprising that its ease and speed of preparation, convenience and
 association with healthy eating, make it popular," he said.


 


 Note to Editors:


 


 1. Copies of the AMOY Chinese Foods Survey available on request. AMOY's
 products include the Straight to Wok range of freshly prepared, authentic
 Chinese vegetables, authentic stir-fry sauces and soft, ready to use noodles -
 ideal for the 93% of people in the survey who had little confidence in boiling
 food.


 


 2. The Chinese food market is currently worth £62m (Nielsen, 25,12,1999)


 


 3. The survey was conducted amongst 600 adults who had eaten Chinese food
 in the last three months.


 


 For further information, samples and photography please contact: Jeanette
 Grose/Sarah Davies at Munro & Forster Communications on 0171 439 7177 Fax 0171
 437 0553.


 

SOURCE Amoy