China, Spring 2010, Part 8 – Really Big Gummi Worms

Now that I’ve got your attention, this post is not really about gummi worms, but probably just as interesting. 

Background 

Our friends X and D, mentioned in a prior post, really try to take care of us when we visit.  X likes to eat and will try to give us a different experience each time we visit.  On a past trip, X ordered rattlesnake which included a shot of liquor with one of the snake’s organs and a salad made with the snake-skin.  At the end of the meal, the restaurant offered the rattle which they boxed.  On another trip, escargot was the trend in Shanghai.  X made sure to order it when he and D took us out (X really likes escargot). 

Sea Cucumbers 

This time, sea cucumbers seem to be the big thing.  The first time they took us to dinner, X ordered a single cucumber. 

Braised Sea Cucumber on Shanghai Cabbage

In person, the sea cucumber kind of looks like a giant gummi worm.  Here’s the detailed picture. 

Braised Sea Cucumber, Detail

The texture is like eating stiff Jello.  The sea cucumber itself doesn’t have a lot of taste, the gravy was a variation of the Shanghai “brown sauce”.  D said that there is an art in preparing the sea cucumber.  She’s tried it at home with results that are less than when ordered at a restaurant.  This sea cucumber was kind of smooth as far as sea cucumbers go (not much character). 

About a week later, X and D took us out for dinner again.  This time it was D’s birthday.  In the middle of the dinner, the waitress added a fork and knife to each place setting.  I had not seen a fork and knife since we got to China (duh).  So this was curious.  X ordered a sea cucumber for each of the guests. 

Braised Sea Cucumber

This time, the gravy had more of a “western” taste like maybe beef or pork stock instead of the Shanghai “brown sauce”.  X liked the gravy so much that he ordered rice to soak up the gravy.  Compared with the first time, my sea cucumber had a little more “character” (more bumps and surface texture).  If it were a different color, it would really look like a gummi worm.  Here’s the picture of the sea cucumber sliced. 

Braised Sea Cucumber, Sliced

X and D have never failed to provide us with new and different eating experiences. 

The Mouse battled a sea monster and won, yum. 🙂