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 (0)

The Year of the Hedgehog

Pictured above is a Chinese cookie with a happy little girl dancing next to an ignited stick of dynamite.

Posted by debra at 03:18 PM | Comments (0)

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)

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)

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)

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.

Posted by debra at 11:59 PM | Comments (4)

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.

Posted by debra at 11:59 PM | Comments (4)

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

A bite of heaven

The dumpling is a perfect food. This one is from a shop on the HuaHaiLu in Nanjing.

Posted by debra at 04:53 PM

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

Clams, mud, blood, bike...

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

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 apetite for snakes. "

"Nope, not even if they're skewered."

Posted by debra at 04:48 PM

Eat Yer Snakes

"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 apetite for snakes. "

"Nope, not even if they're skewered."

Posted by debra at 04:48 PM

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

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.

Posted by debra at 02:39 PM

Culinary Experimentation

Posted by debra at 02:39 PM

Duck Entier

May 04, 2004

A complete duck, completely chopped. Note bill.

Posted by debra at 02:37 PM

Nomadic Banquet

May 03, 2004

Mobile kitchen number 59.

Please read more... "Nomadic Banquet"

Posted by debra at 01:43 PM

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

Don't Spit Everywhere

May 01, 2004

No one seemed to be paying a whole lot of attention to these wonderful posters.

Posted by debra at 01:32 PM

Cooking out of doors

April 30, 2004

An outdoor kitchen on a Shanghai street corner. This restaurant was serving breakfast, lunch and dinner.

Posted by debra at 01:30 PM

Cooking out of doors

An outdoor kitchen on a Shanghai street corner. This restaurant was serving breakfast, lunch and dinner.

Posted by debra at 01:30 PM

Hot Dog

April 29, 2004

Notice the way the bun has been cut to accomodate the sausage.

Posted by debra at 01:27 PM

Hot Dog

Notice the way the bun has been cut to accomodate the sausage.

Posted by debra at 01:27 PM

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

God's Own Fodder

A selection of kimchis including radish and cabbage and wakame cucumber.

Posted by debra at 01:20 PM

New Logo

April 27, 2004

This is not a KFC.

Posted by debra at 01:18 PM

New Logo

This is not a KFC.

Posted by debra at 01:18 PM

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)

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)

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 will explain this project in greater depth, but at least I've got the neon sign.

Posted by debra at 12:49 PM | Comments (1)

A Single Grain of Rice

Posted by debra at 12:49 PM | Comments (1)

Water Distribution by Bike

April 24, 2004

2L PP PD = Two litres per person per day.
Get it out there.

Posted by debra at 06:09 PM

Water Distribution by Bike

2L PP PD = Two litres per person per day.
Get it out there.

Posted by debra at 06:09 PM

Pink and Greens #2

April 23, 2004

Grassy tasting greens, 1000 yr. eggs and mushrooms.

Posted by debra at 12:33 PM

Pink and Greens #2

Grassy tasting greens, 1000 yr. eggs and mushrooms.

Posted by debra at 12:33 PM

Snack

April 22, 2004

'Tamari' marinated peanuts with something delcious yet unidentifiable vegetable matter.

Posted by debra at 12:32 PM

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

Nomadic Banquet

April 20, 2004

A tea jar holder in a taxi.

Posted by debra at 12:24 PM

Nomadic Banquet

A tea jar holder in a taxi.

Posted by debra at 12:24 PM

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)

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

Pink and Greens

April 17, 2004

Garlic fried greens turn everything pink.

Posted by debra at 12:11 PM | Comments (1)

Custard and Clams

Baked custard with clams.

Posted by debra at 12:09 PM

Marinated Chilled Silken Tofu

April 16, 2004

Chilled sliced tofu served on a beautiful plate.

Posted by debra at 12:06 PM

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

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.

Posted by debra at 11:33 AM

The Single Most Delicious Pork Fat

Cubes of marinated and roasted pork fat atop aromatic stewed seagrass. So far this is the most delicious thing I have eaten in China.

Posted by debra at 11:33 AM

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

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

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

No Drinks in the Lecture Hall

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

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

Street Food

April 09, 2004

Posted by debra at 11:12 AM

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

Attempt # 2 at Acquiring a Taste for Stinky Tofu

Posted by debra at 11:05 AM

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

Wonton Soup

Posted by debra at 10:52 AM

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

Chinese Frozen Food Code De-mystified

Posted by debra at 10:59 AM

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

Rice Crispy Treats

Posted by debra at 10:41 AM

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

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

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

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

Feeding the Animals

April 02, 2004

A shellfish as large as your arm. That's good eatin'.

Posted by debra at 10:17 AM

Feeding the Animals

A shellfish as large as your arm. That's good eatin'.

Posted by debra at 10:17 AM

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)

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)

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)

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)

Dumpling Array

A dazzling array of dumplings!

Posted by debra at 09:19 AM

Sparkling Dumplings

This image shows what a little tapioca can do to an ordinary steamed bun.

Posted by debra at 09:15 AM

Dumplings

Egg dumplings

Posted by debra at 08:47 AM

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

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.

Posted by debra at 08:27 AM

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.

Posted by debra at 08:27 AM

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

Eggs and Pears

From left-to-right; tea eggs, roasted pear, salted duck eggs and roasted yam.

Posted by debra at 08:18 AM

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