liuzhou

I came across these yesterday for the first time. Known locally as 海棠果 (hǎi táng guǒ，literally 'sea cherry-apple fruit') or 鸡心果 (jī xīn guǒ, literally 'chicken heart fruit'), they are a type of wampee. Clausena lansium, native to China and SE and South Asia. I'm going with 'chicken heart fruit' as it fits the size and shape. Unlike chicken hearts, they are sweet and crisp.

I thought the butter wrap thing was universal, too. I've been doing for almost 70 years.

Find yourself in a restaurant in China with a teapot but no cup 🍵? Or with a bottle of beer 🍺 or wine 🍷 but no glass, a surprisingly common occurrence? Fear not. All you have to do is ask for a 杯子 (bēi zi). This is a catch-all word which means both cup or glass. But, as ever, watch that flat tone on the first syllable. If you're careless and use a falling tone, you'll say 被子 (bèi zi) and the server will think you are tired or feeling cold. You've asked for a quilt! This is probably more avoidable if you ask for a 茶杯 (chá bēi), teacup for your tea or in the case of a beer or wine etc ask for a 玻璃杯 (bō li bēi) or drinking glass. 🍷 🍷

I don't suppose many of you would order 鸡肠 (jī cháng) for dinner. You can see the flat tone then rising tone. But if you do, be careful. These are chicken interstines, surprisingly popular in hot pots and stews. Chicken Intestines Screw up and ask for 机场 (jī chǎng), flat tone then falling and rising tone, the wait staff will look at you pityingly and assume you are suffering from dementia and confused. You seem to think you're in a taxi. You've just asked for the airport! (I should point out that I'm only posting food related terms that can be confused. Almost all Chinese words are the same!)

Eating with friends, you may be asked what 主食 (zhǔ shí falling and rising tone, then neutral tone) you prefer. This expression means 'staple food' but really means 'rice or noodles', China's choices. Having learned this you may be tempted to use it yourself, next time. Be careful. Forget that first tone and accidentally say 猪食 (zhū shi), flat tone and you've just asked your friends what kind of pig swill they prefer!

I like spice. I like chicken. ∴ I like spicy chicken 🐔 . But I have to be careful. Spicy chicken is 辣鸡(là jī). Falling tone then high flat tone. If I mess up and use two high flat tones, I have ordered myself a plate of 垃圾 (lā jī) which means trash! A few restaurants can probably oblige!

100% real. I've eaten one similar to the first one; the seafood, although it was served shovel style rather than pail. The meal was a lot of fun; the food was delicious and very hygienic. Remember, most meals in Chinese homes and restaurants are served family style and communal eating is the norm. These images wouldn't appall anyone here.

Here are some images of the dump style serving. The Pail Style The Shovel Style

This fad is mostly over in China. Instead, this is now more common.

Why would a USA government agency be controlling anything in China? They have no jurisdiction outside the USA. If these were to be exported to the USA, then surely whoever is reselling them would be responsible for any legalities being complied with. Anyway, they are currently being aimed at China's domestic market.

Adding, "seafood mushrooms" shouldn't be eaten raw. They won't do you any harm, but are bitter. Cooking tames the bitterness completely.

Duh! It says above it's "impervious to water splashes". What is FCC?

My friend's younger daughter made her first meal for the family. Her mother is Chinese; her father American. She is bilingual like her sister. They live America.