Susan ate this in Hangzhou (in the RADDISON Hotel)

Just a heads up, this post is content from about a year ago, when I was overseas last fall.   I didn't head to China yet this fall, so this is posted with a bit of nostalgia.  This dinner in Huangzhou was with the owner of one of the main mills we use. In what seems to me to be the Chinese way (though correct me if I'm wrong, please! Not complaining though, as someone suffering with decision fatigue by dinner time most nigra) Kirk pre ordered before anyone got there and each dish was a beatific surprise.

Starters included Jelly Fish, cucumber, and a dumpling.

Peiking duck, eaten with slivers of celery and brown sauce in moo-shoo pancakes. Should you be served this, take my advice and just eat the skin. I was teased mercilessly for taking a piece of the meat.... Apparently that's just wasted space in your belly.

Taro, maybe?

Kimchi, as our host said, to welcome our Korean friends (my fabric suppliers who I had visited the market worth before dinner).

An epic sashimi platter.

This..... Was... Balls of sweet potato, I believe with bits of meat in a sweet sticky sauce. It was incredible.

Gorgeous steamed fish

Sticky rice cakes (also in tribute to the Korean friends)

Giant soup dumpling, you slurp your soup out with a straw. But not until everyone else does, because you will in fact burn your mouth.

Closing the feast was a ... Most interesting chilled soup. Puréed papaya with birds nest. They swear to me that if you have enough of this you skin will practically age in reverse.