What smell is this, so strong and good?
December 28, 2005
Shih ching, in C. Birch and D. Keene (eds.) Anthology of Chinese Literature (1965), pb 1967 pp. 37-8.
High we load the stands,
The stands of wood and earthenware.
As soon as the smell rises
God on high is very pleased:
'What smell is this, so strong and good?'
A text from the Shih ching, (Book of Songs), a collection of traditional ballads and fragments gathered after 600 BCE describing the life of the warrior farmers of the north western highlands of Shanxi (Shensi). This text is being quoted nowadays on websites hocking everything from garlic to hemp.
image: a closeup of kale farci
Posted by debra at 01:52 PM | Comments (0) | post to del.icio.us
The Year of the Hedgehog
November 18, 2004
Pictured above is a Chinese cookie with a happy little girl dancing next to an ignited stick of dynamite.
Boey says that my interpretations of the images on the Chinese cookies are all incorrect (see the June entries). The hedgehog turns out to be a monkey - from the Chinese zodiac, and the frog doesn't have fans in it mouth but coins - symbolising prosperity. Silly me.
Posted by debra at 03:18 PM | Comments (1) | post to del.icio.us
The Year of the Hedgehog
Pictured above is a Chinese cookie with a happy little girl dancing next to an ignited stick of dynamite.
Boey says that my interpretations of the images on the Chinese cookies are all incorrect (see the June entries). The hedgehog turns out to be a monkey - from the Chinese zodiac, and the frog doesn't have fans in it mouth but coins - symbolising prosperity. Silly me.
Posted by debra at 03:18 PM | Comments (1) | post to del.icio.us
Fashion Food
October 03, 2004
And indeed, what is UNfashionable about a fake black lacquer bowl filled with instant Tom Yum noodles? Especially if you recycle the fake lacquer bowl and use it again and again for your own stylish soup lunches.
I came across this product researching what I will do for my contribution to Museum N8. J.P. of Mediamatic has asked me to come up with something for the theme pret a porter. Unlikely that I'll do something related to the noodles (because I'm leaning towards fruit leather) but I am amused by the product design.
Please read more... "Fashion Food"
Posted by debra at 12:04 PM | Comments (6) | post to del.icio.us
Taiwanese Bean Beverage
July 01, 2004
Yesterday Dan said that Latvians are lucky.
But today is another day and for breakfast I decided to serve up this Taiwanese Bean Beverage to my Latvian guest *Emils. Just a little good morning experiment. Emils remained cheerful throughout the tasting although shortly after fulfilling his task as guinea pig he dashed out of the house supposedly to buy a shirt - but I think he hauled off and got a bagel.
Discorea Mixed Congee ingredients: water, sugar, adlay(?), discorea rhizome (?), chickpeas, glutinous rice, red beans, kidney beans, millet, oatmeal, oats.
* Emils Rode is a Latvian artist currently participating in the show BREAKTHROUGH in Den Haag. This exhibition in the Grote Kerk spotlights artists from the new European member states. http://www.grotekerkdenhaag.nl
Posted by debra at 02:41 PM | Comments (3) | post to del.icio.us
Smart Taiwanese Packaging (because you never know when you're going to want to tuck into that Discorea Mixed Congee snack that you've been stowing away in your purse for special occasions)
The spoons that come with the Taiwanese bean beverages that I bought yesterday snapped neatly into the lid. Unfold and click and you're ready to suck up all the goodness.
Posted by debra at 02:04 PM | Comments (2) | post to del.icio.us
More Chinese Food!
June 25, 2004
Yes, that's a hedgehog riding a donkey! This Chinese cookie is made from fortune cookie dough. Normally I never eat fortune cookies, but these were so beautiful... that I can't eat them either.
Please read more... "More Chinese Food!"
Posted by debra at 11:59 PM | Comments (4) | post to del.icio.us
More Chinese Food!
Yes, that's a hedgehog riding a donkey! This Chinese cookie is made from fortune cookie dough. Normally I never eat fortune cookies, but these were so beautiful... that I can't eat them either.
Please read more... "More Chinese Food!"
Posted by debra at 11:59 PM | Comments (4) | post to del.icio.us
A bite of heaven
May 11, 2004
The dumpling is a perfect food. This one is from a shop on the HuaHaiLu in Nanjing.
Posted by debra at 04:53 PM | post to del.icio.us
Clams, mud, blood, bike...
May 09, 2004
You can use the bike to get away from the clams, mud and blood.
(This photo was taken in front of the market in Nanjing, PRC.)
Posted by debra at 04:51 PM | post to del.icio.us
Eat Yer Snakes
May 08, 2004
"Well because my Auntie was a Mormon missionary and she was actually E A T E N A L I V E by snakes. Ever since then I haven't had much appetite for snakes. "
"Nope, not even if they're skewered."
technorati tags: China, Nanjing, snakes, outdoor market
Posted by debra at 04:48 PM | post to del.icio.us
The Tofu Section
May 07, 2004
A tofu stand at the open market in Nanjing.
The black tofu is 'aged' and has a smell that takes some getting used to, but once you get past the aroma it is very mild of taste. It might take awhile to get past the aroma. I didn't succeed.
Click image to see a different tofu stand.
Posted by debra at 02:50 PM | post to del.icio.us
Culinary Experimentation
May 05, 2004
This is the wierdest thing a chef dished up for the author during her stay in PRChina. A r�sti bound with sweetened mayonnaise surrounding a watermelon morsel and with a bit of modifictaion it could be delicious. Click the image, see the morsel.
Please read more... "Culinary Experimentation"
Posted by debra at 02:39 PM | post to del.icio.us
Culinary Experimentation
This is the wierdest thing a chef dished up for the author during her stay in PRChina. A r�sti bound with sweetened mayonnaise surrounding a watermelon morsel and with a bit of modifictaion it could be delicious. Click the image, see the morsel.
Please read more... "Culinary Experimentation"
Posted by debra at 02:39 PM | post to del.icio.us
Duck Entier
May 04, 2004
A complete duck, completely chopped. Note bill.
Posted by debra at 02:37 PM | post to del.icio.us
Nomadic Banquet mobile kitchen
May 03, 2004
Mobile kitchen number 59.
Please read more... "Nomadic Banquet mobile kitchen"
Posted by debra at 01:43 PM | post to del.icio.us
Black Pearl
May 02, 2004
This is a delicious milky 'iced' tea drink with black rice gluten balls drifting around the bottom of the glass. The straw is huge but never huge enough to ensure smooth sliding!
Posted by debra at 01:40 PM | post to del.icio.us
Don't Spit Everywhere
May 01, 2004
No one seemed to be paying a whole lot of attention to these wonderful posters.
Please read more... "Don't Spit Everywhere"
Posted by debra at 01:32 PM | post to del.icio.us
Cooking out of doors
April 30, 2004
An outdoor kitchen on a Shanghai street corner. This restaurant was serving breakfast, lunch and dinner.
Please read more... "Cooking out of doors"
Posted by debra at 01:30 PM | post to del.icio.us
Hot Dog
April 29, 2004
Notice the way the bun has been cut to accomodate the sausage.
Posted by debra at 01:27 PM | post to del.icio.us
Hot Dog
Notice the way the bun has been cut to accomodate the sausage.
Posted by debra at 01:27 PM | post to del.icio.us
God's Own Fodder
April 28, 2004
A selection of kimchis including radish and cabbage and wakame cucumber.
Posted by debra at 01:20 PM | post to del.icio.us
God's Own Fodder
A selection of kimchis including radish and cabbage and wakame cucumber.
Posted by debra at 01:20 PM | post to del.icio.us
New Logo
April 27, 2004
This is not a KFC.
Posted by debra at 01:18 PM | post to del.icio.us
New Logo
This is not a KFC.
Posted by debra at 01:18 PM | post to del.icio.us
Peking Duck
April 26, 2004
Slices of crispy duck fat dipped with HoiSin sauce and wrapped in thin rice pancakes. Roll it up with some green onions, slices of cucumber...
Posted by debra at 12:55 PM | Comments (0) | post to del.icio.us
Peking Duck
Slices of crispy duck fat dipped with HoiSin sauce and wrapped in thin rice pancakes. Roll it up with some green onions, slices of cucumber...
Posted by debra at 12:55 PM | Comments (0) | post to del.icio.us
A Single Grain of Rice
April 25, 2004
Yi Li Mi = A Single Grain of Rice in mandarin neon. A Single Grain of Rice is a project for a culinarily oriented fasting restaurant that I am initiating. Future entries in 2006 will explain this project in greater depth, but at least I've got the neon sign.
technorati tags: fasting, China, neon
Posted by debra at 12:49 PM | Comments (1) | post to del.icio.us
Water distribution by bike
April 24, 2004
2L PP PD = Two litres per person per day.
No gettin' around that.
Now get it out there.
Posted by debra at 06:09 PM | post to del.icio.us
Pink and Greens #2
April 23, 2004
Grassy tasting greens, 1000 yr. eggs and mushrooms.
Posted by debra at 12:33 PM | post to del.icio.us
Pink and Greens #2
Grassy tasting greens, 1000 yr. eggs and mushrooms.
Posted by debra at 12:33 PM | post to del.icio.us
Snack
April 22, 2004
'Tamari' marinated peanuts with something delcious yet unidentifiable vegetable matter.
Posted by debra at 12:32 PM | post to del.icio.us
Korean Food in China
April 21, 2004
... is a 'welcome change'. Korean BBQ'd beef served with F R E S H lettuce and God's own favourite food, KimChi.
Posted by debra at 12:29 PM | post to del.icio.us
Nomadic Banquet
April 20, 2004
A tea jar holder in a taxi.
Posted by debra at 12:24 PM | post to del.icio.us
Coffee Backpack
April 19, 2004
A multinational corporation is trying to share the goodness in Nanjing.
Posted by debra at 12:20 PM | Comments (1) | post to del.icio.us
Nectar of the Gods
April 18, 2004
Pickled daikon radish and pickled cabbage. The author of this blog can get rather excited about pickled vegetables. These examples were homemade in the dumpling stall of a street vendor. She served these while you were waiting for your dumplings.
Posted by debra at 12:14 PM | post to del.icio.us
Pink and Greens
April 17, 2004
Garlic fried greens turn everything pink.
Posted by debra at 12:11 PM | Comments (1) | post to del.icio.us
Custard and Clams
Baked custard with clams.
Posted by debra at 12:09 PM | post to del.icio.us
Marinated Chilled Silken Tofu
April 16, 2004
Chilled sliced tofu served on a beautiful plate.
Posted by debra at 12:06 PM | post to del.icio.us
Smokey Dates
April 15, 2004
Dates marinated in yellow wine (a sort of sweet sherry). The dates have a smokey taste to them and this is an excellent palate cleanser.
Posted by debra at 12:05 PM | post to del.icio.us
The Single Most Delicious Pork Fat
April 14, 2004
Cubes of marinated and roasted pork fat atop aromatic stewed seagrass. So far this is the most delicious thing I have eaten in China.
Please read more... "The Single Most Delicious Pork Fat"
Posted by debra at 11:33 AM | post to del.icio.us
Attempt #3 to Acquire the Acquired Taste
April 13, 2004
This image represents the third attempt to acquire the taste for stinky tofu. Here the S t o f u is served behind a bush of coriander.
Posted by debra at 11:28 AM | post to del.icio.us
Tea House Tea
April 12, 2004
In a beautiful and calm (!) tea house in Nanjing we enjoyed this chrysanthemum and red date tea.
Posted by debra at 11:25 AM | post to del.icio.us
No Drinks in the Lecture Hall
April 11, 2004
Nanjing University Students leave their thermos' of hot water outside the lecture hall and somehow remember which one is theirs when they leave the building after the lecture.
Posted by debra at 11:21 AM | post to del.icio.us
Love of the Lamb
April 10, 2004
Thank GOD for the love of the lamb. In this image a student of mine is intervening at a street vendor's BBQ. This image is part of the Nomadic Banquet Website that documents the workshop I gave at the Nanjing Art Institute College of Design. Read about it here: Nomadic Banquet
Posted by debra at 11:18 AM | post to del.icio.us
Street Food
April 09, 2004
Posted by debra at 11:12 AM | post to del.icio.us
Attempt # 2 at Acquiring a Taste for Stinky Tofu
April 08, 2004
I like the i d e a of stinky tofu but I haven't yet acquired a taste for it. The version depicted above is fried. I thought this would diminish the aroma reminiscent of human excrement that this foodstuff can't help but exude. Sadly the frying seems to have had no affect upon the smell of stinky tofu. It's a pity that I can't yet upload an ODOR.
Posted by debra at 11:05 AM | post to del.icio.us
Attempt # 2 at Acquiring a Taste for Stinky Tofu
I like the i d e a of stinky tofu but I haven't yet acquired a taste for it. The version depicted above is fried. I thought this would diminish the aroma reminiscent of human excrement that this foodstuff can't help but exude. Sadly the frying seems to have had no affect upon the smell of stinky tofu. It's a pity that I can't yet upload an ODOR.
Posted by debra at 11:05 AM | post to del.icio.us
Wonton Soup
April 07, 2004
Heaven in a bowl. The wontons look like almond tree flowers and just melt away in your mouth. The soup broth is seasoned with little itsy bitsy salted dried shrimps. At first you think an insect has gotten into your bowl but then you realise its an a q u a t i c insect and its all OK again.
Posted by debra at 10:52 AM | post to del.icio.us
Chinese Frozen Food Code De-mystified
April 06, 2004
Packets of sticky rice in the frozen food section of the supermarket. The green string tying it all together indicates a vegetable interior, the pink string signals pork and the yellow string is a sign for chicken. In the supermarket there is a GREAT assortment of these in a frozen foods section which seemingly stretches for miles.
Posted by debra at 10:59 AM | post to del.icio.us
Chinese Frozen Food Code De-mystified
Packets of sticky rice in the frozen food section of the supermarket. The green string tying it all together indicates a vegetable interior, the pink string signals pork and the yellow string is a sign for chicken. In the supermarket there is a GREAT assortment of these in a frozen foods section which seemingly stretches for miles.
Posted by debra at 10:59 AM | post to del.icio.us
Rice Crispy Treats
April 05, 2004
First you are served sizzling rice cakes. Then you dump an entire terrine of soup over the rice cakes and the whole lot sputters like a physics experiment. This is delicious and fun to eat texturewise although you constantly run the risk of burning your tongue.
Posted by debra at 10:41 AM | post to del.icio.us
Rice Crispy Treats
First you are served sizzling rice cakes. Then you dump an entire terrine of soup over the rice cakes and the whole lot sputters like a physics experiment. This is delicious and fun to eat texturewise although you constantly run the risk of burning your tongue.
Posted by debra at 10:41 AM | post to del.icio.us
Eaten Alive
April 04, 2004
"Well you see, my maternal grandfather was a merchant marine and he was actually EATEN ALIVE one day by an octopus and ever since that day I just can't eat octopus anymore..."
"No, not even if its dead and skewered."
Posted by debra at 10:37 AM | post to del.icio.us
Eaten Alive
"Well you see, my maternal grandfather was a merchant marine and he was actually EATEN ALIVE one day by an octopus and ever since that day I just can't eat octopus anymore..."
"No, not even if its dead and skewered."
Posted by debra at 10:37 AM | post to del.icio.us
Lotus Root
April 03, 2004
Lotus root stuffed with rice and then ruined I mean draped with an orange shimmery gloss.
Posted by debra at 10:24 AM | post to del.icio.us
Lotus Root
Lotus root stuffed with rice and then ruined I mean draped with an orange shimmery gloss.
Posted by debra at 10:24 AM | post to del.icio.us
Feeding the Animals
April 02, 2004
A shellfish as large as your arm. That's good eatin'.
Posted by debra at 10:17 AM | post to del.icio.us
Feeding the Animals
A shellfish as large as your arm. That's good eatin'.
Posted by debra at 10:17 AM | post to del.icio.us
Mystery Food
April 01, 2004
I will cook a nice meal for the first person that can tell me what this manufactured food source is. Hint: Although reminiscent of, it is not 1000 yr. egg.
Posted by debra at 10:05 AM | Comments (1) | post to del.icio.us
Mystery Food
I will cook a nice meal for the first person that can tell me what this manufactured food source is. Hint: Although reminiscent of, it is not 1000 yr. egg.
Posted by debra at 10:05 AM | Comments (1) | post to del.icio.us
The Most Beautiful Dumpling in the Entire World
March 29, 2004
This is an image of what I consider to be the most beautiful dumpling that I ever have seen. It was also rather delicious, and the texture was... curious.
Steamed rice gluten, chopped spinach interior with egg and spring onion.
Posted by debra at 09:22 AM | Comments (1) | post to del.icio.us
The Most Beautiful Dumpling in the Entire World
This is an image of what I consider to be the most beautiful dumpling that I ever have seen. It was also rather delicious, and the texture was... curious.
Steamed rice gluten, chopped spinach interior with egg and spring onion.
Posted by debra at 09:22 AM | Comments (1) | post to del.icio.us
Dumpling Array
A dazzling array of dumplings!
Posted by debra at 09:19 AM | post to del.icio.us
Sparkling Dumplings
This image shows what a little tapioca can do to an ordinary steamed bun.
Posted by debra at 09:15 AM | post to del.icio.us
Dumplings
Egg dumplings
Posted by debra at 08:47 AM | post to del.icio.us
Porridges and Fruit Soup
March 28, 2004
From Top Left; millet porridge, black and white rice porridge with red dates, sweet adzuki bean porridge
From Bottom Left; wonton soup, je ne sais quoi, fruit soup with plums, lychee and some prickly sweet fruit not mentioned in Jane Grigson's Fruit book.
Posted by debra at 08:44 AM | post to del.icio.us
Attempt #1: Learning to Love Stinky Tofu
March 27, 2004
The Chinese call it 'Stinky Tofu'. And they're not lying. It's aged tofu that many a left coast university student has inadvertently made by just leaving the tofu to its own devices.
Eating Stinky Tofu requires acquiring an acquired taste. Every image of this food in my Chinese Food point-it will represent an attempt to acquire a love for this dish.
Please read more... "Attempt #1: Learning to Love Stinky Tofu"
Posted by debra at 08:27 AM | post to del.icio.us
Attempt #1: Learning to Love Stinky Tofu
The Chinese call it 'Stinky Tofu'. And they're not lying. It's aged tofu that many a left coast university student has inadvertently made by just leaving the tofu to its own devices.
Eating Stinky Tofu requires acquiring an acquired taste. Every image of this food in my Chinese Food point-it will represent an attempt to acquire a love for this dish.
Please read more... "Attempt #1: Learning to Love Stinky Tofu"
Posted by debra at 08:27 AM | post to del.icio.us
Eggs and Pears
March 26, 2004
From left-to-right; tea eggs, roasted pear, salted duck eggs and roasted yam.
Posted by debra at 08:18 AM | post to del.icio.us
Eggs and Pears
From left-to-right; tea eggs, roasted pear, salted duck eggs and roasted yam.
Posted by debra at 08:18 AM | post to del.icio.us
Duck Entier en plastique
March 25, 2004
Duck under plastic wrap at a food-court style restaurant in Nanjing, PRC
Posted by debra at 08:12 AM | post to del.icio.us
