We're visiting Harbin to see the Annual Snow and Ice Festival in all it's glory, but you can't buy train tickets outside of China without paying through the nose, arse and any other orifice you care to name. So Kenny came to the rescue and secured a couple of sought-after tickets to Harbin for us. The trains were already pretty packed, so we were lucky to have Sara's connections!
We trundled over to meet Kenny on the subway and he suggested we all go out for some lunch together. He took us to what he considers the best restaurant in Beijing for Chinese food Schezuan-style.
As we walked into the restaurant and were taken into the back dining room, we realised that there was a wedding going on. There was a lovely poster of the happy couple up just as we walked in, and red chiffon everywhere, the bride was dressed in red. About ten minutes after we sat down (on a table just behind those of the friends and family), the groom made his entrance, splendid as a strutting cockerel sporting his amazing hairdoo. It must be all about the hair for Chinese grooms this year. He then proceeded to walk around the room with what I imagine was either his best man or brother, taking a drink with every male guest. I hate to think what state he must have been in afterwards.
Back to the food, it's what's important after all! Forgive me for not remembering the Chinese names but I'm afraid that's far and beyond me. To start with something easy we had Kung Po Chicken, a plate of lightly battered prawns, a chicken soup and a fish dish which is basically fish sliced and then cooked and submerged in chilli oil. Rice and jasmine tea to finish off.
All sounds quite normal right? Yus.
The Kung Po chicken was amazing! But knocked your socks off if you unknowingly munched on a peppercorn.
The prawns were equally delicious, you eat them with their crunchy jackets still on.
The chicken soup was yummy, however, it's not like our chicken soup. The Chinese do not believe in waste. Hence the following picture of Kenny....
......about to partake in a lovely boiled chicken head. This is after he offered it...and feet to everyone at the table, but before he prised the closed eyes open with chopsticks to see what he'd find.
And the fish was gorgeous, it just melted in your mouth. However, Sara found that having his big fish eye staring out the bowl at her was a bit too much to stand. I was repeatedly ordered to bury the fish head because 'He's staring at me again!' Personally, the accusatory gazes I felt most were those of his mates in the tanks we walked past on our way out. It was only made worse by the fact that they had actually visited the table with him in a plastic bag so that we could nod our approval before his demise. That just made it personal.
The experience could only be improved by the swivelly table centre, tug-o-war over the last fish-eyeball has never been so much fun :o)
It was a lovely lunch and I enjoyed meeting Kenny and Cindy, you see the fire light up in his eyes when he talks about travelling. Then you look over at Cindy and she's watching him closely, then rolling her eyes, they make a great little couple.
I wish I could say more exciting things about this day, but the truth is that we came home, took a little walk down a nice street with a Christmas tree and trams, and then retired to the hostel for rest, food and an early night, we are hardcore in the extreme!
I'll leave you with a mission:
Can anyone ID this for me? We bought it thinking maybe fishcake....chicken? Potato?
None of those, it's a strange, stodgy, red, sweetish......stuff, deep fried in breadcrumbs. Sara reckons it might be some kind of red bean paste. Can anyone shed some light?
No disgusterising haphazard guesses either people! Thanks muchly :o)
xxx
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