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Published: March 3rd 2008
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Typical Set-up
This is just a typical set-up of a Chinese dinner table. Many big tables like this have the huge "lazy susan" in the middle. If they are not that big, they just have your dishes on the table like America does. However, we use chopsticks, small plates, and bowls. You never see a big plate for an individual because the majority of the time you are all eating the same few dishes together. Well, here's the updates on Chinese Cuisine: It is very good, but also very interesting. Personally, I love it; many of the dishes are amazing to eat (even some of the weird ones) and you can always count on an adventure. One word that my classmates and I use to describe Chinese food is "interesting," and that word never fails. One of my friends put it well in saying, "Think of any food or your favorite foods back home and then think of them prepared in the most disgusting way that you can think of, and you have Chinese Cuisine." For instance, think of potatoes. In America, we have baked potatoes, mashed potatoes, twice baked potatoes, and every other style of potatoes that you can think of. In China, we have potatoes sliced into little, tiny slices and then pan fried in fish oil. Or, they're prepared in some way where you don't even realize you're eating a potato until you've eaten them all because it was so unrecognizable. The weird thing about Chinese food is that is prepared in a totally disgusting manner (sometimes), but in the end, it can be some of the best food you've ever eaten. It's
Bao Zi
The outside is some kind of dough and they are filled with meat and vegetables. They are amazing (especially at breakfast). weird, because I do not think that I have eaten anything that I have totally hated yet. Yes, I've eaten some awkward things where I say, "Well, I've done that once and probably won't do it again." But, I can't say that those things were awful.
I have concluded that some things that you eat in China are not an issue of taste, rather they are the traditional saying, "mind over matter." Some items and species that are eaten in China are actually thought of as a luxury or a very delicious dish; whereas, in America, we would never even think of eating it. For instance, when the Chinese prepare a fish, there are some social customs that go along with it. First off, any fish that you are going to eat, is going to be alive 5 minutes before you eat it. With this, the Chinese want to make sure that they have selected the best fish for you, as if two of the exact same fish are going to taste different than the other because there may be a slight difference in shape. So, after the Fu Wu Yuan (waiter/waitress) goes into the back and pulls your
fish out of the huge fish tank, they SLAM it down into a metal bucket, and walk it out to your table to ask you if it looks good enough to eat (yes, flopping around inside the bucket). Ok, so after you have officially approved your fish, they take it into the back to prepare it. When they bring the fish out, the head of the fish is supposed to point at the "most important" guest at the table. I don't know why but it is a respect thing. After everyone eats the fish, the most important custom about eating the fish occurs: the "most important" guest then proceeds to eat the fish eyes. If there are two important guests, then each of them receives one eye. Now, obviously, we have reached the part that never occurs in America. Raise your hand if you have ever a) seen the actual fish head on a plate or b) seen someone eating the eyes of the fish? Exactly my point. To answer your brewing questions, yes, I have eaten the fish eye. I would say that the only appropriate word to describe it is "gooey." This fish eye sensation, if you will,
One of my favorites
This is one of my favorite dishes that I have eaten here. It is lamb, wrapped in an egg-like thing. It's so amazing. directly brings me back to my original point in that you have to put your mind over the matter. Advice for any of you thinking about going to China is to not think about what you are actually eating before you eat it...unless ofcourse it's pork or chicken. With all of this, there are obviously other things that do not have social customs other than the Chinese people like to eat them (or at least that I know of), such as: any animals' intestines, stomachs, feet, etc; bugs (i.e: scorpions); and other such "delicious" foods......
Finally, or at least "until next time on Chinese cuisine," I just want to say that eating Chinese food every day does not equal losing weight. As a matter of fact, Chinese food is soaked in more oil than you could imagine. I definitely eat more vegetables here, but oh wait, they are fried and soaked in some kind of oil. Fruit is harder to come by. Granted, there are fruit stands in a few places on campus, but you can't wash the fruit because of the water, so you can only eat fruit that you can peel. Outside of campus, you do not
yum?
Ok so, we were playing with our food when we had this big banquet. We ate chicken and fish that day. The fish head and the fish tail came from the fish plate (go figure). The awkward, sick-looking feet things are chicken feet. Chicken feet is the one thing that I can not bring myself to eat - I hope that you understand why.... find too much fruit. You have to drink water in bottles (though I do drink a ton of water here) and we drink a lot of tea. But, seriously, Chinese food is not the healthiest thing in the world. Honestly, I believe that a big part of the stereotypical, thin Chinese person has a lot to do with their lifestyle. Every morning, the Chinese people get up around 5:00 am or 6:00 am. They all go to work out, come back and shower, then go to class or work. If they can't work out at that time, they do it after whatever they have to do. Many of them play tennis or other raquet sports (you wouldn't believe how great of a work out their ping pong is...they can move!). I'm not saying that they work out more than Americans, but also, add on to their daily workouts the fact that many of them walk or ride bikes to where they are going. So, it's almost a constant work-out. I am not sure if that makes sense. I think it is possibly just the fact that they work out and always walk or ride a bike to work/class every day......more
Squirrel-Shaped Carp
The menu reads, "Squirrel-Shaped Carp." So, naturally, who wouldn't want to see/try a squirrel-shaped carp?! Well, it turns out that the carp is NOT squirrel-shaped; I repeat, the carp is NOT squirrel-shaped.....but still decent.... on that to come because I have not totally established how I really feel on this subject yet......
I have attached some pictures of different foods for you to look at. I've eaten all of these and I plan to eat more (haha, obviously). Enjoy.
**Hot Pot is a form of eating at a restaurant. Literally, they bring out a huge pot (as seen in the picture) and pour really boiling water into it. Then, they bring you the raw meats and vegetables that you have ordered, you put them into the water for a few minutes and then take them out, dip them in the sauce, and eat them. Essentially, if you think about it, you end up paying to cook your own food...but it's still awesome and fun.
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Lana
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Food...
Well - I will let you pass on the chicken feet! GROSS!!!! That one orangy looking chicken dish looks like something I could try. That squirrel carp thing was two funny! Glad to know that you are eating good (lol) and having a great time! I look forward to each of your entries. :o)