weekends are for eating

Yesterday we were invited out to lunch by the “tall Russian” we met at the Sanda tournament in Taigu a few weeks ago.  I don’t know the name of the place he took us, but I will def. have to try and find it again.  It was a good sign when we walked in and the place was packed with a sea of Chinese faces.  Fish tanks made up the back wall, and I am sure we could have picked out a specific creature to eat had we wanted to.  But we aren’t that picky, so after glancing through the menu (which included pictures of everything along with English translations) we let our host order whatever.  We had planned on making this a light meal since it was one o’clock and we had dinner plans at seven, but I don’t think there really is such a thing in this country.  So we had lamb and beef and soup and rice and shrimp and… yeah, you get it.  They did bring the shrimp to our table alive in a basket for our approval before cooking them.  They were on the opposite side of me though, so I didn’t get a chance to see them.  The only not so good thing was the fried milk.  It was the shape, size, and color of a twinkie, but by no means was it a twinkie.  You are supposed to dip the fried milk in the condensed milk, and the first bite actually wasn’t that terrible, tasted a bit like a fresh donut.  But as you work your way to the middle it is less crispy outside and more gelatin-like inside.  And I guess that didn’t classify as dessert, because then out came individual mountains of pudding for each of us.  That was actually quite good, not too sweet and included a little sliver of chocolate and some fruit.  All together, this qualifies as one of the better meals in China thus far.

By the time I made it back to the apartment, I had 1.5hrs before I had to leave for dinner.  We were all meeting at a seafood hot pot restaurant that a local Beijinger had recommended.  Despite none of us being very hungry, we ordered as if we hadn’t eaten in days.  That’s what happens when half the table was raised by Cantonese parents. 

side note: If you’re wondering why I eat out so much and spend so much money on food, it is because 50% of my social group here are foodies.  Coincidentally (or perhaps not so coincidentally) they were also all raised on Cantonese food, despite being from three different countries (US, Germany, and Australia).  I have to say, this kinda makes me want to plan a long trip to the south of China where the sole purpose is just to eat as much as I can.

I am actually surprised at how much I enjoyed this place, because even though I really like hot pot and I do like seafood, I usually don’t like weird (by American standards) seafood.  I ate as much as I could, but was not even able to fit one of everything into my stomache.  Not that it mattered, because I ordered the spicy soup so much of the things you throw in there end up tasting the same anyway.  Scallops and veggies and fish and meat and… yeah, you get it.  And yes, I even ate one of the fish tails pictured above.

I don’t plan on going back to this place unless I am showing off to someone who really likes seafood.  But if you are such a person and are in Beijing, I do recommend it.  I can’t tell you the name, but I can tell you how to get there.