Ingredient appreciation — what makes Kung Pao Chicken special

What sets Kung Pao Chicken apart is the handling of five-spice. In lesser versions this is treated as a background note. Here it's central and the rich with umami result shows it. I've started buying it to cook with at home after this experience.

Chinese cuisine encompasses eight major regional schools with distinct ingredients and techniques. The a regional specialty restaurant atmosphere was right for this kind of food. I had Shaoxing rice wine as recommended and it matched well. If you want to understand what makes this cuisine distinctive, Kung Pao Chicken is the place to start.