Turkey Time in Chongqing

(the aftermath)

Though there was no turkey. And I was the only (half) American present. It was a good Thanksgiving. Our first in Chongqing, and our first dinner party in the new apartment. Menu was : 2 roasted organic herbed lemon chickens, creamy carrots, truffle mashed potatoes, big green beautiful salad, and mushrooms sauteed in butter, garlic, and fresh oregano (I miss my Cuban oregano plant in Chicago). Before dinner there were appetizers (deviled eggs, cheese(s), salami, olives, nuts, aperitifs), and our new friends were all lovely and so sweet with their first Thanksgiving experience. We stayed up til' midnight and the food was gobbled up so all in all = a spectacular evening! It feels good to be making friends and settling in here. We both missed everyone in the U.S. - both friends and family, terribly. I don't think either of us realized how much we love Thanksgiving until we were no longer in a place where it is celebrated to eat too much, make a big fuss, drink good wine with good people, and all the other fun bits that go with this holiday. S missed deep frying the turkey. I can't bake (and he didn't have time) so there was no pumpkin pie or pecan pie, but our friend did make a delicious key lime pie! All the missing aside and in the spirit of what it is supposed to mean, we were thankful for our new friends and this amazing opportunity and experience we are having here in China.

More Nibbles...

(Mock bacon at the Buddhist Temple vegetarian restaurant, we've been exploring the extensive vegetarian cuisine here as of late)

We moved into our new apartment last weekend, thank god no more hotels! However, the next day after moving in we had to go back to Shanghai once again to deal with some final paperwork to get our sea shipment cleared, stayed in a hotel (again), ate some (lots) more, and visited the YongFoo Elite Club (former British consulate in the French concession district now turned into a private club/bar/restaurant). We're back in Chongqing now, both of us are loving it. I would not want to be anywhere else in fact. The grey and damp weather is even appealing somehow! There are so many nooks and crannies to explore here and every day brings a new experience whether it's with food, people, or something about the city.

(Mock beef in spicy sauce, another vegetarian restaurant!)

(Funny menu at Chongqing airport snack bar, sorry I have no idea how to make it upright, you'll have to twist your head to read it)

(Steamed dumplings filled with chewy yummy rice, street stall, Shanghai)

(YongFoo Elite Club, Shanghai, beautiful entry way)

(YongFoo Elite Club, Shanghai, sprawling lazy gorgeous Colonial style gardens from the 1920's, everything was reminiscent of the '20's including the music playing softly in the background)

Hot Pot and Another Taxi Ride

It took us almost 30 mins. to find a taxi the other night, running around like chickens with our heads lopped off from one spot to the other thinking each one would be slightly more strategic. Finally, when we found one (a taxi), and opened the door, it looked as if someone had possibly gone to the loo (nicest way to put it) on the seat. Nonetheless, in we got, and squished real close to the right far away from the suspicious stain. When you gotta be somewhere, you get in and that's it. The picture above is probably doing a disservice to the next part of this post which is to do with our first official Chongqing hot pot (or huo guo) meal, but that's how things have been going here. One moment you experience something kinda on the ick side and the next you are so happy to be here you could burst...

S was also very adventurous and had his first duck blood cakes, which you cook in the hot pot and then dip into your sauce bowl. We also had an array of delicious vegetables, shrimp balls, thin sliced beef and lamb, and a selection of tofu in different shapes and forms. The ma-la (numb-spicy) flavor is to the left and the pork bone broth is to the right. Good way to end our Sunday.