Shanghai'd

Still on my countdown. And this time counting food.

Last weekend we spent 10 (Tim - 13) meals in Penang, Malaysia, at least the rival food capital of Asia, if not the world. A mixture of Thai, Chinese, Indian, Malay with a sprinkling of British influence, to experience the food is why people go to Penang. Or to open a manufacturing facility. Last weekend, we got a chance to experience the former. Most of Penang's eateries are absolutely no-frills. We had Penang's famous laksa and Hoikken Mee in a tented open air eatery with clusters of stalls that sell hawker food from 10am till late at night. We sat on plastic chairs and ate incredibly fresh authentic Thai food off plastic plates in a dilapitated colonial mansion down a quiet lane. We had South Indian food served on Banana leaves where most of the diners scooped the spicy-sour curry into their rice with their (right) hand. A local expat explained that if an eatery opens and the food is no good, it is gone in a month. On the other end of the spectrum, breakfast at our hotel was past elaborate, and each morning I would load up my plate with fresh local fruit with a side of walnuts and goat cheese.

Just when it is time to go on a diet, Tim reminded me yesterday that we have 42 meals left in Shanghai. Although I have spent the better part of 3 years with a hankering for Matt's El Rancho's chili relleno, I am really going to miss the food of Shanghai. Not just the restaurant food, where we eat family style and always finish it with soup. But also the produce, especially the fruit, and the local seasonal eating we participate in. Yesterday lunch, Tim and I went to the Taiwanese restaurant across from the office and each had a huge bowl of noodles with flavorful broth. Last night I cooked, but made a stop at the local fruit stand and bought one of the fruits we are definitely going to miss: hamigua. It is a cross between a cantelope (sweet) and a honeydew (crisp) melon and is the shape of a large football. Today, I convinced my lunchtime girlfriends to go out for hotpot, and we spent an hour cooking lamb, mushrooms, tofu and all the veggies I can't get at home in a spicy, salty soup.

38 meals to go (I really shouldn't be counting breakfast, we always eat at home!)... For the meals out, I should take some pictures for you. :-)