QingDao: Dinner at Sixth Aunt's

Our day which started with breakfast at Pi Chai Yuan, the Wedding Banquet for lunch, was not quite done. After a visit at Fourth Aunt's son, the only boy cousin's very nice home, we arrived at Sixth Aunt's for dinner. While some of the younger members of the family got a well deserved break.

 
 Sixth Uncle, the artistic one, gave us a "tour" of sorts of his collection of various works. One of his many talents is woodworking, which is displayed through out the condo.

All of the ornamental lattice work, paneling, and doors had been created by his hands.

Barely having the ability to draw "stick figures" I admire hand crafted work of any kind. Sixth Uncle also has an eye for form and function, as he displayed with a rock he found and polished.

His keen eye discerned the resemblance to a traditional drinking vessel, so he carved a base, and mounted the stone. and there's the stone that looked like a drinking bottle......

Along with the article he helped research on the evolution of Chinese writing, those were two of the most impressive items I recalled.

It's no wonder that their daughter teaches art.......

One quick thing about hospitality in China. When you visit a home, there's always a good amount of food brought out to snack on. This is true everywhere....... even after a large dinner; if you were to visit a home, snacks would suddenly appear out of nowhere. It's just the proper thing to do......

 
By now the entire family understood my interest in food...... there are folks here in the states who find my interests strange. But here, it was accepted..... good local food is appreciated. There were more then a few times when the Missus was told that, "we feel bad that 柯克 cannot get good food like this in America!". Of course I snuck into the kitchen to see what was on the menu....

The razor clams really got my attention......

Soon enough, dinner started, and we gathered around the table.

One real change the Missus has noticed, is the amount of raw vegetables eaten nowadays. This was a nice plate of Daikon Sprouts with a nice black vinegar and sugar "dressing", which does well to complement the pungent sprouts.

Here's something interesting. We first had this at the Pig's Feet Banquet. I really enjoyed the herbaceous flavor, but had never figured out what it was.

 I thought it was some kind of purslane, but before doing this post, I the Missus sent out an email to Her Mom and Dad, and pretty soon the answers came pouring in. From Fifth Aunt, and Sixth Aunt's Daughter, I found out this is Tian Qi(田七)or Shan Qi(三七), also called Pseudo-Ginseng or Notoginseng. It is supposed to be an amazing blood remedy. In fact, while I was doing a bit of research,  read that during the Vietnam War, Vietnamese Soldiers carried the powder of this herb with them as a field treatment for gunshot wounds until they got real medical care. I'm not sure if that's true or not, but it does make for a great story.

It was also during this meal where we first encountered bittermelon that had been shaved. The bittermelon in China already seemed to be sweeter and less bitter than what we have in the states, and this was even less bitter. Here they served it with honey for dipping. But to be honest, I just loved it raw and plain.

The Missus had always claimed that the crab She grew up eating in QingDao were the sweetest She's ever had.....

You know, I have to agree.... The Missus, and cousin Long Hui were just in crab nirvana. The one I ate was especially good.... it was the only female with eggs..... which Sixth Aunt picked for me. Man, this was good..... good crab doesn't need anything else added to it, no sauces or condiments....... it's so sweet and delicate.

The one dish that really got to me, was the simple braised fish. It was just a basic soy sauce and ginger braise, but it really tugged at me. The reason being, it tasted like how my Mother made fish....so it took me home. And personally, I loved this more than any fish I had during any banquet in QingDao. This was comfort food to me......

Speaking of comfort food. Next up was a plate of perfect Xiang Chung Ya (salted shoots of the Chinese Toon Tree).

The Missus had two bowls of Green Bean and Rice Porridge, and most of two plates of the Xiang Chung Ya. For Her, this is real comfort food.....

Razor Clams....so sweet, so delicious.....

There was one last big surprise. At the end of the meal, a bottle of Laoshan Cola was broken out. This Missus let out an "ooohh", She had forgotten about Laoshan Cola. I had a taste, and well a bit more.... it was really good. Great flavor, much better than the NFCS Coke here in the states. In fact, made with mineral water with additional herbs, it was really good stuff, like a good boutique cola. Of course, with the packaging, I heard that there's an ongoing trademark dispute going on with Coca-Cola. 

We rolled out after dinner, and caught a cab back to our hotel.... full and happy. There's nothing like family and food.......

Comments

[Captain Jack]

Hey Kirk,
just caught up on all the China posts so far. They as educational as they are entertaining.

Cheers,
CJ

[Captain Jack]

*are as*

[kat]

love love these posts!

[ed (from Yuma)]

Great post. I feel bad that I can't get good food like that in the United States also.

I never realized how different Chinese razor clams are from the ones in the Pacific Northwest. Thanks!

[caninecologne]

hi kirk - as always, i enjoyed seeing your food pix, especially the razor clams which i've never even tasted before. keep those china posts coming!

[Kirk]

Hi CJ - Thanks for reading! I'm glad you're enjoying the post.

Thanks Kat!

Hi Ed - I hope you're on the mend!

Hi CC - These razor clams were very sweet.

[Sandy]

Holy cow - the banquet was *lunch*?

I've never seen razor clams - very interesting.

So was the Laoshan cola served with ice?

[Kirk]

Hi Sandy - Yes, the banquet was for lunch. The Laoshan Cola was served slightly chilled, many folks believe that serving drinks ice cold is not good for your health.

[AZ]

Still no rice? My mouth is watering, but the thought of all that lovely food without a big bowl of steaming hot rice is just STRANGE especially the fish, ya gotta have rice with fish :o) !

[bill]

Yum razor clams...

[Jason]

A couple things struck me as being humorously familiar in your post. The first one being using numbers to denote each aunt/uncle. Given my father was number 9 out of 9, aunts and uncles were referred to numerically as well. The second is the snacks that come out all the time. When we were visiting family in Chongqing, we'd return to the family home after a huge banquet and they'd immediately break out the buns/fruits/etc. On one hand I don't want to be rude, but on the other hand I'm stuffed!!

Those crabs look great, looks like a blue crab cousin. How do they compare to the Shanghai hairy crab?

[Mary]

Oh man those clams looks so tasty! Yum yum!

[Kirk]

Hi AZ - Well, the porridge was made with rice! ;o) LOL.... It;s mostly breads up North.

Hi Bill - Double yum!

Hi Jason - The numbers were the only way I could keep track of everyone! ;o) The snacks are a required display of hospitality.... as is the responsibility of being a good guest and consuming them!

Hi Mary - I really enjoy razor clams.

[J.tien]

Hey Kirk,

Jeff again. If you like Tian Qi, I've got that growing too, mostly for the medicinal roots, but the leaves sure are tasty as well. It grows really easy, if you want a root sprout, you can have one.

[Kirk]

Hi Jeff - Wow, you've got everything! That's a very considerate and generous offer.... I'm only worried that we(I) have a notorius "black thumb". I'll send you an email.