Last weekend I received a phone call from an old friend I hadn't seen for a couple of years. She informed me that she has married and has given birth to twin girls and wished to meet me to give me this:
It's an invitation to a baby's 100 day celebration, an important tradition in China. Family and friends will gather together, meet the child , drink to its health and wish for its longevity (100 days become 100 years is the thinking behind it) and then eat. On this occasion there were two babies, both of whom slept through most of the proceedings. There were around 150 people in attendance.
Here is the grub.
Cantonese Style White Cut Chicken (广式白切鸡 guǎng shì bái qiē jī)
扣肉 kòu ròu - Deep-fried Pork Belly is sliced and placed in alternative layers with sliced taro, placed in a bowl and steamed. The bowl is then inverted onto a plate to serve. Kou means upside down bowl. Rou is meat.
Braised Turtle
Steamed Shrimp
Squid with Chinese Celery and Chili.
Mixed Chinese Charcuterie
I'll let you guess what that is.
Steamed Fish
Spring Rolls and Pig Fat.
Shanghai Bok Choy (上海白菜 shàng hǎi bái cài) with Tofu
Water Melon
I recall there was also roast duck, which I seem not to have photographed.白酒 bái jiǔ (Chinese white spirits), beer and mango juice were on offer, too. As usual the restaurant delivered several bottles of coldish beer to each table and we had to drink it as quickly as possible before it got warm. It was around 30ºC outside. They never learn. Also, the only beer they stock is Pabst Blue Ribbon, which in my view barely counts as beer. They think it is sophisticated to sell foreign beer irrespective of quality or taste..
Anyway a good time if not good beer was had by all.
