msg and sa char

sorry to jump que here. since i saw this first so i thought i might as well reply to it.

msg is Monosodium Glutamate . many people including me have problems with this. i do NOT add this in any dishes i cook. it causes different headaches for me and after a dish with it, i feel extremely thirsty. i'd advise to leave it out all together. many old asian folks believe it improve the taste of savory dishes. but it doesn't, in my opinion. check this link out about MSG.
http://www.holisticmed.com/msg/

and sar char sauce is a blend of shrimp garlic, salt, shallots, chillies and some other typical ingredients you find in chinese cooking. normally, we buy it in the shop coz it's rather difficult to make it from scratch. the brand i like is the "bull head brand" from taiwan. you can't miss it coz it has a "bull head on the small glass bottle. the vietnamese style is different. it sometimes has dried anchovies and not the right one to use in chinese dishes. sa char sauce is mainly used in steam boat, a chinese dish that you dip meats and seafood in a broth cooking on the table while you eat. i also like beef tenderlion stir-fried in sa char sauce.

NOTE: i have not seen sa char sauce used in any peking sauce, however... but that doesn't mean you can't try it or you won't like it.

good luck.