liuzhou

It ain't necessarily so. Anyone with a UK public library card gets free access and many educational institutions offer it free on site to those who have access.

This story is spreading. It just came up on Chinese news. Yes they grow here, too. Although native to Europe, they have been introduced widely.

Once again, authorities are warning against foraging for mushrooms unless you really know what you're doing. 21 people in California have been poisoned by Amanita phalloides, death cap mushrooms, leading to one death and the others with severe liver damage possibly requiring liver transplants. These are the same mushrooms used in the recent 'mushroom murders' in Australia. Amanita phalloides, death cap mushrooms. Photograph: Vladyslav Siaber/Alamy How many times do people have to be told? California officials warn foragers after person dies from poison mushroom | California | The Guardian

There's a take out place near my home which only sells what they call 'wraps' in Chinese, but are identical to burritos but with Chinese fillings. They are larger and fat and come with a large variety of filings, of which my favourite is the the Sichuan chicken and vegetables. I don't know how many they must wrap each day. I've eaten dozens of them (usually about one every week or two). Only once had whose wrapper had split. I ended up eating it with chopsticks.

Yeah. 鸡内金 (jī nèi jīn) is another of the ludicrous things that are used in Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) for various complaints, with no scientific basis. No culinary value and no medicinal value either.

To answer in reverse order, I am lucky that I live in one of China's few provinces with a coast line, namely the Tonkin Gulf beside our border with Vietnam. This means we have an excellent supply of seafood. Few people, if any, cook the scallops at home, though. It's seen as a street food treat. I prefer them simply seared but cooked through. I find the garlic here too aggressive which overpowers their delicate taste.

Scallops are very popular here. Known as 扇贝 (shàn bèi), literally, ‘fan shell’. They are usually only found at evening street markets and grilled with garlic and scallions. Not how I prefer them. They are also much smaller than those I ate in Scotland.

One favourite I forgot to post. Another gift, perhaps in recognition of my Taurean nature.

Some no particular name soupy rice noodles with vegetables, pork and a fried egg. Fridge clearance noodles, perhaps

A few years ago, for some reason friends started giving me mugs. I'm not sure how it started but I ended up with about 30. Two years ago, I moved house and left most behind. Deliberately, only retaining some few favourites. Here are a few of those.

I couldn't disagree more. PDO classification is more than that. It is a guarantee that what you get is what you expect. A specific product made from specified ingredients in a specified manner in a specified place. Without it, it could be anything. I don't know what Champaigne (sic) is. I prefer Champagne.

I bought this in the James Joyce museum in Dublin which is located in the Martello tower which is the location of the opening of his masterpiece, Ulysses. "Yes" is the final word of the novel.

四季豆炒土猪肉 (sì jì dòu chǎo tǔ zhū ròu), Green bean and organic pork with red and green space chillies. Served with rice.

I never use the things. I don't see the point. They're just another thing to wash later. Anyway, I like the the look of wood.

Having salmon for dinner? You might want to read this first. ‘Those who eat Chilean salmon cannot imagine how much human blood it carries with it’ | Chile | The Guardian