Eating In China

I thought I'd start doing some more day to day entry type posts. I was also thinking a good theme might be a section on eating here because it is an adventure partly because the food is crazy, partly because I am limited to when I can go to the store because I don't have a car yet, and partly because I've had bigger closets than my kitchen here.

So to work off that theme. Today we went to the grocery store. By we I mean Lindon's wife, 6 month old son, and Lindon's brother all of whom have about the same English vocabulary.

Doing the shopping is not too bad. I have learned "Do you have..." and then I can usually fill in the last word via translator. But most of the fun comes from all the stuff I see in the stores I shop in and guessing what they will and won't have in the imported food section.

Today I was looking for salsa to no avail. I haven't had Mexican food in about 3 weeks and as some of you know that is kind of a big deal for me. I had a craving that no amount of noodles or rice would satisfy. So I remembered, oh hey I know how to make salsa, I made gallons of it at the Ocean Mist in my time. So I decided I would. I took pictures partly because I was proud of it and partly because some people have been asking me what my apartment is like and I have been slacking on pictures.

Here's what my kitchen and pre salsa making endeavors look like.


As you can see, it's not much. There is about 4 in of counter on the other side of the sink. Cooking for more than one is a little tricky but I have only tried it once so it hasn't been much of a problem.

These little babies made my eyes water a little.


China has a great variety of spicy peppers which is great for me. Half a dozen meals or so far have been me "entertaining" the people at the table with my "ability" to eat hot foods. It goes a little something like Lindon orders me the spiciest peppers on the menu, everyone kind of goes OH! (but not oh obviously they say La! because that means spicy.) Then I proceed to eat it and thoroughly enjoy it. Then everyone who said La! at the table tries one and we have to ask for more water and noodles to calm everyone down. Haha

Here is the viggies chopped up.


At this point I realized that some where a long the the line the lime I thought I bought didn't quite make it into my bag so I took my first venture down the street at night by my self which was fine. I went to a little fruit stand and bought a lime. Except when I got back to my apartment I realized it wasn't a lime it was some kind of little apple like thing the exact same shape, size, and color as a lime. Fortunately it only cost .50 RMB which is less than a dime. Now I have a new fruit to try.

So the salsa is still lacking lime but here it is almost finished.


Final opinion, Acceptable. Next time I will use a different type of pepper, these where a little too bitter and not sweat or spicy enough. By it self its alright, I made a quesadilla though and put it on and you can't tell. (because I found tortillas but not salsa :-/ go figure)

Anyway, I am thinking for my next series of eating related posts I am going to bring my Camera to the super market and show everyone all they funky stuff there. Lindon's wife also coaxed me into trying some little fryable Chinese roll thingys (I don't know what we would call them in English just the Chinese name) If the production is interesting I may include it.