Hainan Island yields an abundance of tropical crops like coconuts, pepper, coffee and tea. The island is also home to a variety of fruits and Chinese medical herbs. Fresh seafood is included in the home-style dishes.

Stewed Wenchang Chicken [dianping.com]

Hainan chicken rice and coconut oil rice are good complementary staple dishes. No doubt, the fragrance of chicken and coconut gives you an appetite.

Dongshan Goat. [www.lifeofguangzhou.com]

Hainan Cuisine consists of the following three parts:

1. Banquet dishes, which are prepared with complicated cooking techniques, and a wide variety of materials.

2. Simple and quick dishes, which are mainly served by small restaurants and food stands, featuring convenient and quick service and cheap prices.

3. Home-style dishes, which are cooked with local seasonal vegetables, such as Fried Dried Bean Curd, Fried Sliced Meat and Bean Curd, Steamed Fish with Shredded Ginger, Sweet and Sour Fish, and Soy Sauce Pork.

(CRI December 18, 2008)