Monday, June 20 2011

More China

Who's afraid of a few chilis?

Not much time for blogging--it turns out I've had a lot of behind-the-scenes work to do after the grand opening with our winery partner here in Xinxiang. But I can't complain--I'm staying in a hotel with a hot springs-type spa in it, so I'm pretty relaxed, and the meals have been fantastic.

I used to think it was a conceit from people who visited China who claimed that the food was always better there. After all, doesn't BC have a fine Chinatown with many great cooks and Richmond with all of its fabulous restaurants? Notwithstanding the excellence of our local cooks at home, the food here has been off the charts fantastic.

Of course I made a few mis-steps. First, I got into a Bai Jiu toasting festival with the folks at my dinner table. For those who don't know, Bai Jiu is rocket fuel disguised as white lightning disguised as rice vodka. Luckily I didn't totally go girly and held my own--mostly.

The other bit of amusement came from my confession that I like hot food. Well, I'm in Hunan, where they wean the babies on chili peppers. The dish in the picture above had liver, tripe, blood sausage, bamboo shoots and one trillion chili peppers, and it was especially for me.

I'm pretty sure my mouth glowed after I ate it, but it's one of the best-tasting dishes I've ever had. These folks know how to live.

5 pm and I've got a wrap-up meeting in the winery. And, of course, another dinner afterwards.

Posted by Tim AT 1:56AM

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