Diverse Sichuan cuisine gains worldwide appeal

"I wish time to pass slowly so that I can enjoy more of the food and culture here in Chengdu," says Raymond Greene, the new US consul general in Chengdu, capital of Sichuan province.

Greene says he fell in love with the spicy local food as soon as he took office in Chengdu in September.

"One of the greatest pleasures of living in Chengdu is the cuisine. In my opinion, it is the best in China. When I'm away from Sichuan, within a day or two, I start getting pangs for ma la (spicy)," he says.