If I were traveling in rural China and I am invited into a Chinese family home for a meal, what would I eat.?!
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My, Elle is severely misinformed. Chinese do not eat Rice at every meal. Many eat little Rice at all. Depends on the region. A rural family is likely to invite you. Elle claims that rural families are poor. Poor as in cash maybe. The region of China would be the most determinant factor in what was offered. Anywhere near Wuxi and Shanghai you would almost be guaranteed to have some sort of dumpling. They could be filled with anything from mushroom to Tofu to ground Lamb. The meal probably would not have a lot of meat or fish. I ate very well on my two trips to China.
On a side note: I highly doubt they'd invite you in, rural families are extremely poor. But if you happened to be in luck and close by a ricer family:
definitely rice, as it's served with every meal. A few side dishes would be vegetable only (in the case of a poor family and it is not a holiday, just one) such as lettuce with szcheuan aged tofu, garlic baby bok choy, things like this. You'd most commonly eat a fatty beef dish, as every week or so they'll cook alot in a pressure cooker (it has a specific taste that I can't really identify but I know has anise in it) maybe this with peppercorns and chinese cabbage (a favorite of mine). Alot of poor families also have this dish that is amazingly good called "mash" (not said like smash but like mosh), it's a noodle soup composed of these tiny noodles that look almost like beans served with vinegar. I think it would vary though with what the family has on hand to make really. I've seen alot of farmers hand out roasted sweet potatoes (you can get these at the vendors as well) in their homes and congee (a favorite breakfast item, it can be rice or corn).
likely rice, since thats the most common food in China
likely some really basic fruit, and possibly meat if its a celebration or they want to welcome you.