liuzhou

Well, it's here. The place is swarming with tigers. Actually nothing is swarming at all. No one has stepped put of their doors today, as is normal. Chinese New Year's Day is very much a stay at home day. China has closed down. All the shops are closed - it reminds me of a Sunday in Scotland 50 years ago, when everything closed - shops, pubs, restaurants, cinemas, everything; even the local parks were locked up. Tomorrow, they'll start creeping back. In the meantime, I was slightly taken to task for suggesting that 粽子 (zòng zi - sticky rice dumplings wrapped in bamboo leaves) are a New Year Food. Friends from Hunan, Xi'an, Beijing and Shanghai all told me that 粽子 are only for Mid-Autumn Festival and therefore I was wrong. No. I. Wasn't. True, they are not traditional in most of China, but here in Guangxi they are very popular at CNY among some of the ethic minorities, including the Dong, Yao and Miao peoples. They are also de rigeur in neighbouring Vietnam during Tết Nguyên Đán, the Vietnamese equivalent of CNY. So, instead of being surrounded by tigers I'm surrounded by discarded bamboo leaves which I can't throw out. One of the New Year customs is that no garbage can be disposed of and no sweeping can be done on the 1st day of the year, else you will sweep away all your year's good luck! Wouldn't want that, would we!

Thanks. I know elk and I know Yunnan but I also know there are no elk in Yunnan! Maybe in a zoo, but Chinese zoos are not where you want to hang out, never mind buy dinner! I guessed it was a recipe, but wasn't sure exactly. My comments on American grammar training are not suitable for a family-friendly site such as this! I just had some idiot insisting that "the" is an adjective!

I have ascertained that what is being sold here as 'sumac' seeds is 90% likely to be Toxicodendron vernicifluum, aka Rhus verniciflua. Also known as laquer tree seed . The sap of the trees is toxic and although the species is used in traditional medicine, it is NOT recommended for consumption, so I will be passing on it. I will not therefore be updating that post.

This is sort of turning into a story about my mom 'n pop store, but it's so cold I am not venturing much further lately. This morning I popped out among the red lanterns, which have appeared everywhere, to pick some vegetation to supplement some freezer meats. They only ever have a very limited choice but I found some nice spinach. In fact the choice was more limited than usual as tonight is New Years Eve and what they don't sell today, they'll have to eat themselves or bin. They won't be open tomorrow - maybe not for the next few days. With this in mind, I thought to grab myself a couple of 6-packs of beer. Pop suggested it would be better to take four 6-packs to tide me over the next few days! Damn good idea! They do look after me.

Yes, everywhere.

It transpires that certain types of sumac are poisonous, possibly including the one I find here. It is not used in a culinary manner here, but in TCM (Traditional Chinese Medicine). I have removed it until I can confirm its edibility or lack of such. With it being the start of the two-week long Chinese Spring Festival tonight, that process may take a while.

What is Yunnan elk, please?

Whatever his upbbringing, the comment still remains ridiculous.

红枣核桃糕 (hóng zǎo hé tao gāo), Jujube and walnut cake. Store bought.

I have removed this post while I double check some facts. A potential problem has been identiified. Sorry.

The mom and pop shop also usually has one or two ducks on sale; maybe a couple of chickens. Here is Mom herding her ducks on a normal day. When I passed today, she had slightly more ducks and had fashioned a cage. And she had a dozen chickens in this basket. All poultry is, of course, sold live but she will do the deed, if you insist. Few do.

Spotted these in the supermarket this morning. They are 红鱼 (hóng yú) which translate directly as 'red fish'. Well, we knew that, thanks! As far as I can make out they are some type of red snapper, but there's a lot of those.

His accent is downright strange, veering all over the place from vaguely British to vaguely Australian to vaguely American. He does rather hack that hake, too. His comment on English F&C consumption is idiotic, ignorant or both.

Continuing my pre-Chinese New Year clearance, tonight's dinner was a sort of leftover bánh mì or three. Made with homemade chicken liver pâté and roasted rabbit meat, plus the usual accompaniments. No pictures, sorry.

Leftover lunch Clearing out for the upcoming Chinese New Year. Freezer stock made from a Beijing Duck carcase and stray vegetables (discarded afterwards). Added leeks, garlic and carrots to the soup, then some some pre-cooked honey roasted duck breast (also from freezer). Added some Vietnamese fish sauce near the end to counteract the sweetness of the honey. Bowl 1 Bowl 2

There I was, about to sip on my first coffee, when my phone rang. "I'm downstairs! Bring a plastic bag!" My dearest friend J turned up with a car full of homemade 粽子 (zòng zi) zongzi (sticky rice dumplings)- two different types. She had 50 of each but I managed to limit her generosity to 5 of each. Sanjiang* style J style However, I wasn't getting away with just that. She also threw in some homemade 叉烧 (chā shāo) or char siu. By the time I got back up to my place, the coffee was stone cold, so I went back to bed! *Sanjiang is a county in Liuzhou prefecture, famous for its Dong minority inhabitants, architecture and food.

I doubt there is anyone in Sichuan knows what mahi mahi is! I'm not sure I know! 😂 But it sure sounds interesting. I have eaten double-cooked fish, but it was always freshwater fish. But then I love fish - cooked or not! I'd love to see your recipe.

Got myself a bargain today. These peanuts were on special offer. They are 龙脑桥麻辣花生 (lóng nǎo qiáo má là huā shēng), Longnao Bridge Mala Peanuts. Longnao Bridge is an ancient bridge (built between 1378 and 1389) in Luzhou, Sichuan (Not Liuzhou!) and Mala is the signature flavour of Sichuan - hot and numbing from chillis and Sichuan peppercorns. What the connection between the bridge and the nuts may be, I have no idea. They are actually made in Guangzhou in Guangdong province. Still, the taste is authentic. Beer food supreme.

Donkey is definitely my favourite red meat. If I had to compare it to another type, I'd have to say 'horse', but realise that is probably not over helpful. It is more like beef than anything else remaining. The meat is extremely tender, mildly gamey and slightly sweet. Great in burgers, sausages etc, but also great for stir fries or in noodle dishes.

Next Tuesday (Feb 2nd, 2022) is New Year's Day welcoming in the Year of the Tiger. All around me neighbours are making preparations for the 15 day celebrations. This includes smoking and drying your pork and sausages and preparing some special foods. About an hour ago, I popped out to pick up some necessities from the local mom and pop store. This includes smoking your pork and sausages. Mom and her friend was hiding in the back being busy while Pop was smoking meat out front and looking after the store. Mom (left) and friend preparing zongzi (sticky rice stuffed bamboo leaves) for steaming. Wrapped Zongzi. More to follow.

This, on the other hand is a mandoline. A small one. A few years back there was a craze for slapping thin slices of cucumber on women's faces (self-slapped, I should stress! I don't go around slapping women with cukes or anything else!) So they were selling these custom cucumber slicers on the streets. I bought one for a laugh. Never used it.

Here's my 'madeleine'. Pass a cucumber!

Is that the pickled variety at the front right of the last image - sort of bright yellow? I've never had it pickled, but when I see it fresh round here, I always buy it. It is sweet and sticky - wonderful stuff.

青椒驴肉片 (qīng jiāo lǘ ròu piàn), stir fried donkey meat with green and red chili peppers. Served with rice and stir fried spinach.