I t is a courteous and usual way of greeting to ask whether the other has eaten when two Chinese meet.
Chinese people consider food as their central part of life.
They prepare special food not only for particular occasions, such as wedding and festivals, but also for health, such as dishes made with herbs and tea. A wide variety of Chinese food may be one of the reason that people from all walks of life are attracted. Chinese people of different regions prefer different ingredients and have their unique preparing techniques. For example, soup noodles are typical food in the northern part of China, and dim sum is a very special kind of Cantonese food. Northern cuisine has mutton dishes, unheard of in the south.