Now…you’re probably saying to yourself….why were Rita and McC shopping for pets while they were in Hong Kong??? I thought the same thing…until I found out we were shopping for DINNER. Aaahhhhh! The custom here is to eat seafood so fresh that it was alive before you came along. Aaahhhhhh! The workers stand around in galoshes and you point out which fish/shrimps/clams would look better on a plate. [We’ll take Nemo with a side of lemon?]
Where did I think the seafood came from? Costco. I don’t expect to be involved in its execution.
After we imposed our death sentence, we went inside to the full-service restaurant [I’m going to need a beer after that]. Once again our hosts got creative in their ordering and a plate of sliced 1,000 year-old eggs arrived at the table. [I’ll take another beer.] I don’t think it’s really 1,000 years old…but the fact it could pass for it was worrisome enough. This particular delicacy looks like an Easter egg prep gone horribly awry. The egg “white” is actually a gelatinous forest green and the yolk a deep purple. [I think Dr. Seuss made the appetizer. The incredible, indelible egg?] And you top it off by dipping it in sugar. [Just sugar? Do you have any ketchup?]
This is where Rita decided the “you-should-just-try-it” rule had its limits…but failed to let me in on the dispensation before I tried the psychedelic treat. [I got the “good sport” award that day – not worth it.]
Then Nemo got plunked down on the table and our server started scooping out filets of our recently departed fish. Given my 1,000-year-old-egg street cred, our server singled me out for the fish cheek…”the best part of the fish”. Great – I win the fish lottery. Except my fish cheek also came with a bonus…the little fishy’s eye ball! Aaaahhhhhh! I tried to push it to the side, but it just kept rolling around my plate. Aaaahhhhhh!
I am suddenly less judgmental of those Americans who come all the way to Asia and then eat at pizza hut.
3 comments:
I enjoyed your article - would like to know more about the kind of food you are discovering. I recently went to a many course (so many I couldn't count) Chinese dinner. Was amazing lots of different textures and flavours. Keep up the great tasting and blogging! Lx
And this is one of the many reasons I do not eat sea food!
Your blog just reminds me of my past trips to Hong Kong - it's where my parents are originally from.
Food is served VERY fresh in Hong Kong as you described, and although I have never been to such a restaurant I appreciate you sharing this.
I haven't been there since 1999 and I long to go back to see how it has changed...
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