“Why are most restaurant chefs male in China?”. A simple enough question which I asked my lunch companion as we waited for our food.

‘Ah, I think you already know the answer” he replied, laughing at my “bizarre” question.

A million random thoughts ran through my mind, I wasn’t sure what to expect; Oil vapour is bad for women’s health? Women typically wear unsuitable footwear for the kitchen? Women’s hands are too small for the larger commercial kitchen cookware? Women attract insects? Too many cold drinks?

I gave up trying to predict, “I really don’t know”, I said.

“Because women cannot judge the amount of ingredients like salt when they are menstruating” he replied.

Ah, yes, of course, how did I not think of that……..