D: Which do you want for dinner, the taco looking thing with shredded meat or the stir-fry.
J: Hmmmmm, both look good.
D: Maybe lets start with the taco and then we can get something else after.
J: Good idea
Walk to the guy making as he takes out a pig’s foot, shreds some meat off of one end, and adds it to his skillet, then puts the foot back in the container it came from.
J: That was a pig’s foot.
D: I can see that.
J: Let’s try the stir fry.
D: What is all the meat sitting on inside the bowl, I can’t see.
J: Those are noodles, see the dough being pulled over there?
We walk over and do our usual pointing and charades before sitting down. Eventually a plate of stir-fry filled with dark meat, peppers, onions, and ‘noodles’ appear in front of us. As we begin eating Jill gives me a lesson in the use of chopsticks.
J: You’re doing really well with the chopsticks.
D: Yeah, forks are superior…why haven’t these people switched yet?
J: You can stab the meat like a fork if its easier.
D: Then maybe I should just use a fork?
J: Why is the meat so dark?
D: I don’t know, I was thinking the same thing. It must be a marinade because it doesn’t taste anything like that (heart we ate in Peru.)
Jill continues to ‘examine’ the food in front of us as Danny continues to practice on his chopstick usage. She holds up a ‘bumpy’ noodle.
J: What’s this?
D: You said that was a noodle.
Danny continues eating ‘noodle’ as Jill keeps ‘examining’ the meat in front of us. We are both realizing that this is organ meat of some kind.
J: I think this is intestine.
D: You said that was a noodle.
J: I think this is intestine.
D: But, you said that was a noodle.
J: Look, it has weird bumps on it. Noodles don’t have that.
D: Why are you freaking me out continues eating to show some kind of asinine strength you said it was a noodle!
J: Let’s ask.
Jill motions for the lady to come over. She does and we first point to the ‘noodle’ and then鈥攔ather instinctively 鈥攚e point at our bellies and while air-writing squiggly lines. The waitress says something unknown to us and then shakes her head yes and walks away. We are both dumbfounded.
D: You told me it was a noodle.
J: I didn’t know, aren’t you glad I told you now.
D: No, I was eating just fine before that realization.
J: I can’t eat anymore of this.
D: I already ate the intestine. Now it’s your turn.
J: No you didn’t.
D: Oh yes I did…with a great big helping of organ and onion.
J: You’re saying I have to too.
D: Damn straight…you said it was a noodle.
J: No, you didn’t eat any.
D: Yes I did, it was chewy. You said it was a noodle, so I ate it. Now it’s your turn.
J: Well then I’m eating it with organ and onion too.
D: Be my guest.
Jillian scoops some up and tosses it down the hatch. Chewing feverishly as the stuff just won’t go down. Her eyes begin to water.
D: Are you going to cry?
J: No eyes continue to swell.
D: Yes you are. You’re crying over the intestines.
J: Shut up. There I did it. Wipes her eyes.
D: Haha, you cried over the intestine. It’s your fault, you said it was a noodle.
That was China, day 2.
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Mark Kennet says
Repeat after me: Eat vegetarian when traveling! LOL.
Jess says
lol
Danny says
@ Mark –
Ever since this meal, with the exception of Kung Pow Chicken and meat sticks….I think we are vegetarian. I’ve had more tofu in China than in my entire previous life
Ponch says
Hahaha…I can hear this story going down.
Can’t wait to eat some yummy veggie meals with you guys in Thailand/India!
Catherine says
Matt and I had some delicious pig’s ear and “ding dong frog” last night in Flushing. If there had been squiggly intestines on the menu, I’m sure he would have ordered those too:)
Danny says
hmmmmm…. ding dong frog? They sell that in Wal Mart here 馃槈
Alyson says
Sooo funny… In that, I’m really glad it wasn’t me, sort of way!
Grandma Alma says
Unfortunately I will be unable to try all these delicacies right now, but they sound so absolutely mind boggling that I can’t wait for my next trip Droolingly yours, Grandma Alma
Jillian says
@Grandma Alma- Trust me, you want to avoid the stir fried intestine!
Grandma Alma says
When Elly and I were in South Africa, we were assured by our very competent guide that we would be eating a very well known worm that is essentially a very important part of our trip. We replied “no way”.
The last night of our trip in we were treated to a wonderful party with lots of drumming and singing. A huge serving platter was placed on our table filled with sizzling fragrant appetizers. I took one and poked Elly and said eat one — they are gribenes which are pieces of chicken fat rendered and delicious and succulent which I remember from my childhood. Of course no one knew what I was talking about. And by now you have guessed it. They were the worms previously referred to the guide and for which we each were presented by a certificate that proved that we passed the test and had in fact eaten the famous WORM.
Maybe in light of this experience, I might have eaten the stir fried intestine and had a soul stirring experience. Grandma Alma