Fancy A Chinese?

I went to China recently and thought I would share my experiences of the food I encountered.

Now I love a ‘Chinese Takeaway’, and so was very much looking forward to sampling the delights that China could offer. After all, I’m going to the ‘source’ right?

Alarm bells starting to ring upon our arrival in Beijing, having met by our fantastic local guide Andy.  Who explained that he would be taking us to an authentic ‘Chinese’ Restaurant in order that we may sample the local delicacies….. hmm…. delicacies eh?  These needed further clarification, as we have all heard the stories of eating dogs, cats, and monkey brains….

So we asked what exactly were the local delicacies enjoyed in Beijing? ‘Oh you’ll love our favourite dish – Duck Face’ says Andy. Together with Chicken feet – yes claws and skin, Chicken gullet.  I stopped listening at this point… We stopped him right there!  err….. actual ducks face? beak, eyes, tongue etc?  Yes! was the enthusiastic reply!  Andy then proudly announced that the Chinese eat ALL of the animal, and NOTHING is wasted…..  Oh dear, we are a long way from Kansas I thought…..   A cry went out from all us soft Westerners, and Andy had to make a quick call to the restaurant – Hold the Duck & Feet! we need to rethink the menu!

So it was now time to go to the restaurant, and I must admit I was full of trepidation as to what would greet us.  I shouldn’t have worried though, as the food served was thoroughly delicious and recognisable, and not a tongue, beak eye or foot in sight!  We were served chicken, pork, dumplings, and a huge array of fresh vegetables. Served with Noodles and Rice.  Mountains of food actually, the plates just kept coming!  Andy did bring a plate of Duck Faces out for us to try, which I politely declined.  I do love pancake, duck and hoisin sauce though, but couldn’t ‘face’ a face!

My next problem was the Chopsticks….  I’m used to knife and fork, obviously, but of course now I’m in China, and these are a bit of a novelty as Chopsticks are the norm.  I did try, I really did, and all was fine until I tried to pick up food with them.  There is definitely a knack, of which I do not possess.  You also need patience, again, a lack of supply on my part.

After chasing grains of rice and bits of broccoli around on a plate with 2 sticks, I gave up and asked for a fork!

Throughout my visit to China, the food provided was varied, and delicious, albeit a bit spicey for my palate, especially the further South we travelled for some reason.  However I steered well clear of the local delicacies, which included Rabbit Face, and other body parts I didnt recognise, Bugs on sticks,

Pigs Brains and strange tentacle clad creatures on a skewer!  I ate a huge amount of vegetables (mainly because I knew exactly what they were, and I could pick them up with my Chopsticks)

The upside of this was, that I eat far more vegetables than before – and I lost nearly 2kgs in weight!

So be prepared to be enlightened and beware ‘local delicacies’ if you have a ‘delicate’ constitution!