Category: Food Adventures

Moving to Germany: Ich Komme Aus Amerika

“Steph! STEPH! I NEED A NEW TOWEL!!” Mark’s voice jarred me awake. Groggy, I peeked into the bathroom. “There was a BAT in my TOWEL!” Wide awake now, I leaned over the tub, and, sure enough, there was a small black little body on the floor of the tub about the size of my palm. I ran out to put my glasses on and fetch Mark a new towel. Apparently during the night, our winged friend decided to roost in Mark’s bathsheet that was hanging by the bathroom window that was cracked open to luft.

While I rummaged, Mark had tried to wrap the bat in toilet paper to toss the carcass out the window. Only, it wasn’t a carcass. It was very much still alive – it was probably sleeping and fell, stunned, when Mark grabbed his towel. The bat flew away, and we gained a new worry about life in Germany.

Crayfish (小龙虾) in China: A Popular Dish with a Corpse-Eating Past?

Everywhere I went, it seemed as if people of all ages were waiting in agonizingly long lines outside popup crayfish-themed restaurants. Advertisements claiming “exclusive new innovative fresh” crayfish dishes plastered shop windows. Limited edition crayfish-flavored snacks replaced the regular Lays, Pretz, and Pringles chips at my grocery store, and even KFC was jumping on the bandwagon with their own roasted chicken and crayfish creations! Why was everyone suddenly so crayfish crazy? I had to know more.

It was while researching crayfish in China that I stumbled upon a surprising truth: what I had been eating is invasive species from the USA! No wonder they seemed so familiar. Yet, how did Louisiana crayfish invade China? How did China become the world’s largest producer of crayfish? Is there a connection between crayfish in China and the dead?!

My post seeks to answer these questions and more! So, let’s grab a beer, put on some cheap disposable gloves, and delve into the saucy, steaming bucket of crayfish history!

A Look Back at 2023

It’s been quite a while since I’ve posted an update. To be honest, I hadn’t felt much like writing since losing both my cousin and grandpa. I wasn’t sure about keeping this blog, yet, with life much more stable after a new job and move, I am hoping it’ll help me to pick up writing again. I figure a quick recap of this past year is as good a start as any!

Bayberries (杨梅): An Intriguing Sweet and Sour Fruit

Chinese bayberries are fascinating. Striking the perfect balance between sweet and tart, these berries have long been an inspiration for ancient Chinese poems and legends.

To commemorate bayberry season, I have taken a closer look at this refreshing summertime fruit, including its origins and fun facts, and the hysterical story of the Bayberry Swindler.

Happy Mid-Autumn Festival! 中秋节快乐！

I often liken the Mid-Autumn Festival to Thanksgiving in the USA, but Mid-Autumn festival has more similar counterparts in Korea and Japan (with the Chuseok and Tsukimi holidays). During this holiday in China, family members will cook and eat traditional foods, watch tv together, and enjoy the full moon.

Chengdu 成都: The “Special Flavor” of Sichuan food

Sichuan spice is no joke. Sichuan peppercorns are known for their mouth-numbing properties, while a plethora of other spicy ingredients can have sweat and tears running down your face. Thankfully, not all Sichuan-style dishes are so volatile, though! For those with lighter palates, Sichuan food can also be sweet, savory and refreshing.

Songyang 松阳: Damunshan Tea Fields and Old Street

Songyang is one of Lishui’s nine counties in Zhejiang and focuses most of its industry in producing high-quality teas. Over 7,500 hectares (about 29 square miles) of the county is devoted solely to the cultivation of tea fields, with more being created every day. A group of friends and I went on an excursion into Zhejiang’s rural countryside in search of these famous tea plantations to experience the hype for ourselves.

It’s Mulberry Season!

Long rows of short, crowded mulberry trees stretched far beneath covered canopies of mesh wire fencing and plastic tarps. We’d driven a bit further out of the main area of town, near the old abandoned west bus station where I’d first taken a trip out with my 8th graders two years ago. The heat was sweltering, and I regretted not putting on more sunscreen as I pulled my hair up out of my eyes. Armed with my little blue basket, I followed my student and his parents into the dense branches of berries…