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Archive for the ‘cuisine corner’ Category

The Honeymoon’s over…

Sunday, September 28th, 2008
Kevin and Doven: Quality control!

Kevin and Doven: Quality control!

The food, the food, the food! How’s the food?

The Good: Hot Pot!

The Good: Hot Pot!

I have to say that the food in China has been both an amazing and extremely interesting experience.  We have had some absolutely fantastic and inspiring meals…but with the good there has also been the bad and the ugly… And I mean ugly! Over the past two weeks our taste buds (or stomachs) have been bombarded with extraordinary dishes such as pig’s ear, pig’s heart, donkey, pig’s face, cooked blood, dog, and the unforgettable chicken’s head (that I was lucky enough to enjoy). Or actually not enjoy at all. It’s unreal, I didn’t think half this stuff was eatable and for the most part my assumption was correct. I’m not quite sure how these people do it because those dishes were down right offensive. lol.  Anyways, I’ve since relinquished the nickname ‘take one for the team Kevin’ and I’ll be sticking to a much gentler diet over the next few days.

The Bad (Look for the Chicken's head...bottom right)!

The Bad (Look for the Chicken's head...bottom right)!

The Ugly: Pig's Heart!

The Ugly: Pig's Heart!

Blood!

and...Blood!

Yikes...An other delicious breakfast in China!

Yikes...An other delicious breakfast in China!

and on a lighter note...The Great Wall!

and on a lighter note...The Great Wall!

Oh yeah, big ups (congratulations) to Shenzhou 7!

Shenzou 7...Minutes before takeoff!

Shenzhou 7...Minutes before takeoff...Front row seats!

***Note to our readers: All of the dishes above were ordered (and tasted) without our knowledge of it’s ingrediants…We have since taken a more active role in the ordering process.


Man Zou is a common phrase in Mandarin. It is more of a philosophy than anything. Man Zou literally translates to "Walk Slow."

"Slow and steady wins the race," they say. This is at the heart of the meaning of Man Zou. Walk slowly and you won't fall. Act carefully and you won't go wrong. A slow walker is faster than someone who walks fast but always has to stop and rest. Persistence is important in learning or doing anything.

To explain a little more in depth, read this quote from The Challenge of Trekking in China by Kyle Acierno:

"I recently underwent the most thorny, intricate, and demanding trek of my life. China is no walk in the park. The county is extremely diverse, and with diversity comes complexity. There is no smooth road laid for backpackers and attempting to do anything or get anywhere can be incredibly arduous...I really needed a break and I didn't know where I would be next. I sat down to a plate of rice noodles and peanuts. A hardy meal for a hardy man. A giant of a woman served me, but with her giant body came a giant heart. With a quick phrase that I have become accustomed to, she filled me with self-assurance that I needed for the rest of my trip. ?Man Zou!? she shouted with a big smile on her face. This literally translates to ?Walk Slow?. To me this means more then just ?be careful.? To me this means take the time to see the wonders of life. The power it gave me changed the rest of my trip. From then on everything went smoothly...I learned a lot from this Trek. I learned the beauty that exists just off the beaten track. I learned that anything amazing takes time. I learned just how much you could learn from people without even using language...By taking the time to notice all the small things in life you can really appreciate who, where, and what you are. Patience, persistence, and practice makes perfect."