1984 - May/June - Chinese food in China

Whilst rummaging through her cooking recipes, Kit found a 1984 dinner menu from a Kwangchow Snake Restaurant;  this prompted me to go through the 600 photos we had of our 1984 trip to China, and to extract from them those that are related to food.

http://picasaweb.google.com/103888485910436380638/1984MayJuneChineseFoodInChina#

The Kwangchow (now spelt Guangzhou) Snake Restaurant was a well-known restaurant, and we had dinner there, but we did not eat any snake as it was summer; snakes are eaten mainly in winter as it is “yang” or “heaty” and is good for the colder months of the year.

At Guangzhou, we also had dinner at the DaiSunYuen (Big Three Dollar) Restaurant, another well known restaurant in Kwangchow.  Their speciality was Cantonese roasted meat, like roast duck, roast pork, etc.

For breakfast in Guangzhou, we went to the Bei Yuan Restaurant in Guangzhou.  It was typical Cantonese Dim Sum, and we sat along the veranda facing the garden, eating the delicacies and drinking Chinese tea, what was and still is known as “yam cha”.

When we were in Beijing, we went to the Peking Roast Duck Restaurant for the world renowned Beijing roast duck.  Back in 1984, unlike today, the style and sophistication was not there, but the substance was.  We thoroughly enjoyed the duck, not too oily and extremely fragrant; and Kit was in the kitchen area where they did the carving of the duck.

In Beijing, we also went to the Listen Oriole Restaurant in the Imperial Gardens inside the Summer Palace.  In 1984,   the Restaurant was not well refurbished, but original; and the guests were mainly overseas visitors and the price was reasonable and we had a marvellous ten course meal.

http://daddytravel.blogspot.com/2008/08/1984-2001-beijing-china.html

When we were at Tien An Men Square, and after visiting Mao’s mausoleum, we were thirsty.  By the side of the Square, there were tea stalls, catering to the thirsty visitors.  A big bowl, yes, bowl, of tea, more than adequate for two, was to be had for 2 cents.  We had to try it.

At Yangzhou, a historical and cultural town not far from Shanghai, we had a very memorable time with a University Professor as a “stand-in” guide.  We also had a memorable meal in the Government’s West Garden Rest House, where we stayed.  The dinner comprised 15 dishes, and I took photos of the first two dishes, because the meal was memorable.

I also took photos of the Suzhou (another historical town not far from Shanghai) street food scenes: one of street noodles and another of street breakfasts.  We did not try the noodles, but the breakfasts of steamed buns and fried dough fritters were hot and delicious.

In Hangzhou (yes, another historical town not far from Shanghai), we had a 15 course Chinese dinner.  All I have of this meal is the menu, but I am sure it was delicious too, looking at the menu.

http://daddytravel.blogspot.com/2010/02/1984-june-shanghai-and-surrounding.html

We flew into Guilin (Kweilin, as it was known) to sail 50 miles down the Li River to YangShou.  With the opening of the economy in 1984, individual farmer was allowed to sell his fruits in the “free” market, and we bought some.

As we sailed down the Li River, the lunch was prepared in the open kitchen in the aft of the boat.  Supplies of shrimps and fishes were from passing fishermen.  We even bought a turtle which the chef cooked for us at tea time.  The Li River was not only scenic but authentic back in 1984.

Kit has also kept another menu from our 1984 China trip.  This menu has 19 dishes (8 side dishes) but we do not remember which city it was from; all we know is that, in China, more was, and still is, great.

In 1984, the way into PRC was to fly into Hongkong and then take the Kowloon to Guangzhou express train.  On our return from PRC, we took the train into HongKong, then a British colony, to eat at the then Jumbo Restaurant before flying back to Singapore.