So, before leaving for China, I was warned over and over again about "travelers sickness." In fact, at the airport in Seoul, Korea, a nice Korean man told me, "to be careful, because I will get diarrhea." Thanks? Don't worry, this isn't a post where I discuss such an experience.
But instead, I am reporting my mythically strong spirit and stomach which got through some street meat. I know, sooo impressive. My brother had me eating this in my first week so I could experience "real China" (cruel?). Granted, my street meat was served to me while seated outside, but still technically from the streets...so it had TONS of cred.
And it was good. Fire + meat usually works out to that answer in my experience so it's not some shocking revelation. However, I will say that it was my first time with dried fish-on-a-stick (see pictures on right) and I really liked it.
As Yantai is a sea-side town, we had some clams as well. I'm not a big fan of shellfish, but I'm really trying to fall in love with them because they are everywhere. I'm just not sure that they're in love with me. I mean, if they REALLY loved me, they would work out that whole texture issue. But at least they're beautiful to look at.
Now, in an interesting "the more you know" moment, a week later I was at an outdoor shopping plaza with Se Ah. I saw some young guys sitting around at some dirty, public, picnic tables putting raw meat, a pile of which was lying on the table, on sticks with their bare, dirty hands. Yep, my meat was probably prepared in the same way. Delicious, delicious e coli.
But, before any readers think America doesn't have this scenario, they should take a minute to consider nearly every hot dog, like the NYC street dog and baseball game dogs.
Comments