Traditional Food from Guangzhou

This is some really traditional Yangzhou Food.. This restaurant has been open for many years and has been in many locations. This is where our host had her graduation celebration, when she was getting out of college.

We started with a plate of these rice cakes.. It was something like gaubao I think she called them.. They were these rice crackers on a plate and along comes a sizzling pot of some clear starchy liquid with a mushroom ginger broth that was poured over it.. Giving the rice cake that half crunchy half wet consistency.

Lunch somewhere by a factory in Yangzhou

So now it was time for lunch. The Chinese are really on top of lunch. If it were up to me we would work through lunch. I love to eat, don’t get me wrong but, when it comes to business, i have no time for food. I am not up for a multi course affair. I brought power bars and can soldier through..But, the guys I have encountered are very regimented. Lunch is at 12 or 1230 and they start to complain and get cranky if you don’t stop working. You can certainly use this to your advantage if you are negotiating at this point. “Just give me the nickel and we can go to lunch” sort of thing.

So we are literally in the middle of nowhere. We have driven down these dirt roads through places that look like they have been hit by bombs. i am really not looking forward to eating lunch. It also scares me that we are in this rural area that has lots of farms. There are also these standing swamps where I see all these people fishing in. I am hoping that we are not eating what is being grown and fished here.. Everything is covered in this film of dust and grime.. even the vegetables.

We walk into this huge empty building and there is nothing indicating it’s a restaurant. We notice this shady sort of pile of dishes with this crude hose sticking out of a wall. I am shaking my head, as I am getting really scared. We go upstairs and sit in this empty room with a lazy susan. I have no idea we are in for.

You know, the usual.. More cold goose:

Zhangjiagang China: Fancy Fusion Food

So, here was dinner last night. It was really high end. I think it was like 120 bucks for the three of us. Essentially, it was the equivalent of going to Per Se and getting like the truffle and wine tasting add ons. The food here is unique.. It’s international let’s say in its presentation and preparation.

Here you have tofu skins wrapped up like little crepes sitting in a chicken broth.. Super delicate, really lovely.. The serving dish is definitely the game changer here. Like nothing i have seen in 99 percent of the restaurants.

Hunan Restaurant: Yangzhou

So Mao is from the Province of Hunan and further more a little farming village called Shaoshan.. Besides farms and the birthplace of Mao, there is not much doing… So, some enterprising person decided to Capitalize on the popularity of the place and opened a chain of places featuring the cuisine of Hunan and the name of Mao.. Though, i am not for certain that the place we went to was that chain, there was plenty of references to Mao and lots of fun posters around… Fun for me, perhaps inspirational and terrifying for others..

This meal was spectacular chain or not,i think the two have different connotations.. Plus, i don’t know how well a crappy restaurant would fare carrying such a significant name in it’s title..

There is our buddy and he is ordering again, for us.. All the waitresses are in their Chinese Red Jump Suits.. Mao would have been happy..

Out come the peanuts and spicy pickled bean curd..

Fried fish and spicy salt:

Sichuan Food in Yangzhou China

So, I am back safe and sound. I spent the last 12 days traveling around China. I was in Yangzhou which is around 5 hours car ride north of Shanghai.  In addition to Yangzhou I was in a few other cities. This was the first restaurant I went to, the night we landed.

I was with a Chinese Host who helped us navigate the menu.  Here is a recap. I hope you enjoy the food:

I requested we go for some Sichuan Food:Thick gluttonous noodles with the classic Sichuan Combination of hot and a little vinegar

This was one of the better dishes of the night: