tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21879466.post855726725916674761..comments2024-02-18T03:21:27.028-05:00Comments on Dumneazu: Happy New Year 2009!dumneazuhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03595663581295671582noreply@blogger.comBlogger5125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21879466.post-59446539591855440642009-04-24T08:59:00.000-04:002009-04-24T08:59:00.000-04:00This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21879466.post-15671334267542201462009-03-02T18:56:00.000-05:002009-03-02T18:56:00.000-05:00Re pig snouts: I had Chinese New Year dinner in Ta...Re pig snouts: I had Chinese New Year dinner in Taiwan in 1983. I was invited by an English student who was a professional, but the host was the elder brother who stayed in the village and financed his younger brothers' educations.<BR/><BR/>Anyway, the menu included tendon and "something a female pig has that a male pig does not have."<BR/><BR/>I could take it or leave it, but this was served at the high point of the year by a member of a prosperous, successful family. <BR/><BR/>I have several overlapping theories. <BR/><BR/>1. This is ritual food reminding people of their roots, like lutefisk for Norwegians or canned seaweed for Japanese Americans. "Liking it" is not part of the equation.<BR/><BR/>2. Chinese people sometimes eat things out of sheer curiosity, love of adventure, and bravado. I heard someone say, admiringly, "I don't dare eat that" about some dish someone else had eaten.<BR/><BR/>3. Sometimes Chinese think of being able to eat something as an accomplishment or a skill. I've also heard "I don't know how to eat that". (Of course, #2 and #3 could be politnesses.)<BR/><BR/>4. Many foods are thought to have medical virtues which are often particular to certain seasons. I know that this is true (KC Chang, "Food in Chinese Culture" or something like that, recommended!, plus multiple personal communications and other sources. In general, China has no food taboos, but has lots of incentive to eat weird thing, including minerals for medical purposes.)<BR/><BR/>5. Sometimes Chinese eat things for variety that they don't eat at all often.<BR/><BR/>Anyway, the pig snouts are cool. In some kind of way, they're a special treat. (And remember, pork is a holy sacrificial food among, e.g. Chinese, as I've seen at such weighty ceremonials such as funerals. The bigger the pig, the more honor).John Emersonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12058849885222086640noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21879466.post-49557086930819010162009-01-16T13:21:00.000-05:002009-01-16T13:21:00.000-05:00I'm absolutely obsessed with your blogs. I am vis...I'm absolutely obsessed with your blogs. I am visiting Budapest this march (my second time, but first was only for one day and night) for 10 days and am thrilled to have your blog to help guide me a bit. Everything you eat and photograph is just making me jump for joy inside. I'll be taking time to read through your entries and help make my trip even better!BillyBobNhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12589024875146720423noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21879466.post-31103696782576613872009-01-06T13:30:00.000-05:002009-01-06T13:30:00.000-05:00Great to talk to you on Saturday evening. Next day...Great to talk to you on Saturday evening. Next day I came across an NYT article that describes my view on the issue better than I could myself. It is here: http://www.nytimes.com/2009/01/05/washington/05diplo.html<BR/><BR/>Hope to see you again soon. <BR/>Stephensztivingenevahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15437137194689634282noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21879466.post-29782568860894215292009-01-05T05:33:00.000-05:002009-01-05T05:33:00.000-05:00Happy Dim Sum to you too!Happy Dim Sum to you too!Daphne Wayne-Boughhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10581048408996935564noreply@blogger.com