Street Food

Street food!!! Mmmmmm. The very term conjures images of both scrumptious delights and intestinal nightmares. People often warn when you go to developing nations not to eat from street vendors. But I would say unto you, "Go and seek out such delights. For those that do so will be richly rewarded."

When I was a student in Beijing (a long time ago), I used to live off street food. My favorite was a local fare called a jiang bing. It was basically a plain crepe cooked up on a cart with a cast iron griddle powered by a gas tank. The 'chef' cracks an egg on the crepe and spreads it around, then flips the crepe over and spreads on plum sauce & chili sauce - if you like it hot! The filling is then added: a crispy wafer, some lettuce, a sliced hotdog and green onion. Voila! When its finished it looks like a big burrito...but tastes much different. Tammy spotted a jiang bing vendor the other day and after a fifteen year sabbatical, I was able to once again devour one of these unique Chinese delicacies. I realized that the depressing changes to the body's metabolism from a 23 year old student to a wise old man of 41 mean I won't be able "live off them" anymore (or at least if I desire to reach 42) - but they will serve as an occasional treat :)

On the subject of street food. We had some street Bar-B-Q the other day with some of the other teachers from the school. Sitting around a cheap folding table on plastic stools we were treated to a buffet of skewered lamb, pork, vegetables, and bread covered in a delectible blend of spices and cooked on an open flame. It is a fun atmosphere and the whole street is lined with little vendor / restaurants covered in criss-crossed twinkle lights. Everyone is sitting outside enjoying the aromatic breeze from the grills. Wonderful!! And the fringe benefit is the price: 7 adults and 3 children, eating their fill, as well as beer and soft drinks came to a grand total of $22 USD.

Of course, you realize after your second bathroom trip later that evening that there was an additional surcharge. :)