In this issue: What is a Yurt, Daryl Ong & Morissette Amon’s cover of Calum Scott’s ‘You are the Reason’, & why Chinese food is oily.

What Is a Yurt? A Guide to Semi-Permanent Cabin Style Dwellings

A yurt is an ancient version of the modern tent. Traditionally, they were used by nomadic tribes and herders across Central Asia, designed to easily dismantle when a community needed to move from one place to another. Yurts are one of the oldest forms of shelter used by ancient civilizations that are still relevant today-with some deviations.

Originally, nomadic people used yurts throughout the dry, grassy plains of the Eurasian Steppe, which spans from Hungary to China. People have used them for as long as three thousand years. Different cultures have different names for the yurt structure. For example, in Russia, they are called ‘yurta,’ while this structure is known as a ‘ger’ in Mongolia.

Although different cultures call them different names, the meaning of the words mostly stays the same, translating to ‘home’, ‘homeland’, or ‘kinsman’ in English. These structures are so closely linked to the nomadic people who traditionally inhabited them that these homes even inspired the word ‘nomad’.’ The original word, ‘nomad’, stemmed from the word ‘felt’– the material used to cover the structure. Thus nomads, or yurt dwellers, were known as ‘felt people’… Field Mag

Daryl Ong & Morissette Amon - You Are The Reason

Why Chinese Food is Oily

Have you ever walked into a Chinese restaurant and just marveled at the enormous menu they have to offer? Even the smallest, most unassuming establishments will usually provide a list of at least a hundred options.

China spans a vast geographic area and this allowed its people to have access to a huge variety of ingredients. Suffice to say, Chinese cuisine has produced a countless number of recipes across its numerous regions and cultures. And of all the different ways of cooking, frying in oil seems to have established itself to be the most prevalent and preferred method, and by a long shot at that.

Consider these dishes that may be familiar to you. From North American favorites such as Fried Rice, Chow Mein, and Kung Pao Chicken to those that are loved in China such as braised pork belly and mapo tofu. All of these items share a commonality in being cooked with generous amounts of oil… VIZBITE

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