Chinese soups

[veggie]

Can you get Chinese soups in America? Are they as popular as here in Poland? By the way, do you call them Chinese soups?

[Andrzej]

The most popular Chinese soup that you can get in any Chinese restaurant is Egg Drop Soup (kind of like Polish rosol with... well, egg drops). Another one that I sometimes buy is Won Ton soup (veggies, egg, chicken stock, mushrooms, and a few other things).
If you're referring to instant Chinese soups, I am not an expert, as I don't eat those here. In Poland I did enjoy the very spicy Kuksu soup, especially when I had the cold. I am sure you can find out a lot more by doing a Google search. In general, Chinese cuisine is quite popular in America and every big grocery store carries products that you can use specifically for cooking Chinese. Maybe Ken will add more (actually the last lunch Ken and I had together was at a Chinese place). He's more of an epicure that I am ;D

[KenWalsh]

The third soup, found on almost every Chinese restaurant menu here in America, is hot and sour soup. It's my favorite of the three, but I won't even dare to read all of the ingredients inside.

Thai soups are often much tastier, and I recommend lemon grass soup when you have an opportunity.

Grocery stores don't often carry the Chinese soups, but that may be because Chinese restaurants are so easy to find. Wednesday evening my parents and I were debating over four Chinese restaurants I like, not including the one where I last met Andrzej.

[Beata]

Once I was in the USA and can say that they also sell this kind of soup ( you mean powdered soup with some dry noodles and spices, all in a plastic package) Now I do not remember what they call them but I am not sure if it is "Chinese soup". As far as I remember they were called instant chicken or mushroom soups ( at least I used to buy such). Their flavour was the same as of this kind of soups sold in Poland. Are they popular there? I do not know if Americans often buy this powdered instant soups but as a "poor" student from Poland accustomed to this kind of food I used to eat them.

[KenWalsh]

You are certainly speaking now about Ramen Noodle soups. These salty concoctions were a staple food for me when I was in college. They are still popular with college students today because they require just boiling water.

I don't know if Poles are familiar with the odd entertainment of mud wrestling. I know several people who have engaged in Ramen noodle wrestling at friendly conventions. No prizes; just good, clean fun.

Maybe not so clean. Apparently the noodle starch remains in one's hair through several washings.

[xeo]

I have one more question or rather a gap to fill in...

When you're gonna visit the USA you have to taste ...(your answer) ... at all costs.

by the way... one more question for Ken... what do you like most in Polish cuisine ?
I know your answer boiled dough pockets filled with meat, cheese or fruit everybody says that

[KenWalsh]

When you're gonna visit the USA you have to taste pancakes with REAL maple syrup at all costs. They sure beat the crepes/nalesniki served in Europe, and pancakes are served at breakfast.

To answer Xeo's second question:

I like pierogi fine, and the plum pierogi at Ojcowski National Park were divine. However, the foods I liked most in Poland were those that used mushrooms. Poles know how to pick and prepare mushrooms in ways that Americans cannot.

Any dish that is simmered and prepared over a long period (e.g., bigos) is also high on my list of great Polish foods.

The Clickandbiters who visited the Rabka Camp will tell you that I found eating single-sided sandwiches quite difficult. Come to America where balancing your diet does not mean holding your bread level enough to avoid dropping tomatoes.