If you are hungry, let's try 'husband and wife lung pieces'! It does sound weird, but don’t jump to conclusions. 'Husband and wife lung pieces' is an authentic Chinese dish made of thinly sliced beef and beef offal. It was recommended by Lin Xiujiang, a leading reporter with China Daily, when I asked him about unique Chinese cuisines. In Chinese, the dish is called 'fuqi feipian'. There are many other traditional Chinese dishes that might scare you away if you translate their name into English or Malayalam. There are no insects in 'Ants Climbing a Tree', a classic Chinese dish consisting of pieces of minced pork and glass noodles. Another food item recommended by Xiujiang that might put you off by its confusing, uninviting name is 'Lion's Head Meatballs'. They are tender and juicy homemade pork meatballs that are steamed or braised and served with vegetables.
Although Chinese restaurants can be spotted in every city and town back home, Indians might have butterflies in their stomach while venturing into an eatery in China. The reason is eating certain animals, such as snakes, dogs and insects like crickets, is part of traditional Chinese culture and cuisine. Understandably, most journalists from other countries covering the Asian Games choose to eat at the canteen adjacent to the media centre.
On my first day in Hangzhou, I played it safe by trying a Chinese dish comprising duck and mushroom. Another item I ordered was fresh shrimps deep-fried with tender green tea leaves.
Chinese are very particular about what they eat and their eating schedule. They normally eat their breakfast at 6 am and dinner at 6.30 pm. They close their kitchen by 8.30 pm and it is difficult to get food late in the evening. I was forced to skip my dinner for two days because of this 'exceptional punctuality'!