Food for thought, Shanghai :)

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I've been working in Shanghai for 1 month now. If i am not getting very far with the language... one sure shot of way of getting to know the Chinese people is to eat their food ! The language of food comes quite close to that of love! Its a necessity, we all need to eat, so why not?

Some of these food explorations i did on my own. Struggling to explain what I want. Pointing at pictures or the displayed food.. The waiter telling me something in Chinese, me giving my best 'I don't know what u r talking about expression', followed by a meek smile ! always follow with a smile... Then of course they'll just give you what they think u want and show you how much it costs on a calculator..

Some others where people from work have taken me. They love that I want to try the Lobsters, the snails and so much else. And of course, I don't know what I'm getting into when I agree to go there. Once there the excitement makes me give in! The more the faces I make, the more I spill, the further away my chopstick goes flying across the room, the warmer and closer to these people I feel. We discuss the food, about it being hot, or crispy or difficult to eat. Or smooth and chewy and slippery. Soups, noodles, tofu, rice, and so many different kinds of meat! I'm told of mystic delicacies, the subtle differences of foods across provinces. What each province is known for and how some royal dishes can take days to prepare. How some recipes have been lost, how others have changed to become fast food. Learning how the same chopsticks can be used to eat so many different kinds of foods with different textures and sizes.

Here are some statistics...

small soupy lobsters - one trough full

snails - 1 plate full

cold donkey meat - tiny piece ! yuck

frog legs - NO WAY

Check out the pictures.. they do the talking

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Photos

So many options !
better know what ur looking for !;)

pork and sugar zongzi
Sticky rice is packed in these leaves, to make the traditional Chinese dish.. it could also contain pork or other kinds of meats or be plain.

crispy pork !
reminds me of the cutlets at LABS

Comments

[Bikram]

:O
Dudeeeeeee ! This is just - Dudeeeeee ! :O

[Bikram]

Whats the Zongzi ?

[apoorva]

Its a traditional food made during the dragon boat festival. Bamboo leaves are used to wrap sticky rice with pork or other meats.

[Bikram]

Perfect combination !

[Bikram]

The bottle looks like a part of the girl's dress ! :D

[apoorva]

Hahaha ! I never thought of it that way.. but now that you say ...

[Bikram]

Is that a hybrid Jackfruit or something ?

[apoorva]

I think it is a Jackfruit.. haven't tried it as yet

[Bikram]

:o

[Bikram]

So hello kitty captured the Chinese market ?

[Bikram]

Thats eaten too ?

[apoorva]

yup ! :D