[First published Nov 24, 2014. Since I published this, Zibo BBQ has become famous throughout China and Zibo is a tourist destination for BBQ.] Summer is but a memory and I still haven't written a good explanation of Chinese BBQ and how it differs from Canadian BBQ. For one thing, because only the "1 percent" in China have backyards, people don't BBQ at home in the city. They might have a portable BBQ for picnics, but to eat BBQ they go to a restaurant.
BBQ restaurants are al fresco affairs. The tables are low to the ground and the patrons sit on teeny-weeny folding stools set up every night and which for months I was afraid to even try sitting on. And I may be able to sit on them now, but that doesn't mean I'm going to show you a picture of me sitting on a little folding stool. Here instead is Ross with some students, last spring's English speech contest participants, that Ross and I treated to a reunion dinner.
This is at our favorite BBQ place near the school. We're on a brick patio, under the trees, with ropes of lights strung between the trees (pic below right) Unfortunately we just can't get a photograph at night that does it justice. The tables are made of metal so that the restaurant owner can place a little portable BBQ filled with charcoal on it. We patrons order the meat and veg we want and it's brought to the table partially cooked.
BBQ restaurants are al fresco affairs. The tables are low to the ground and the patrons sit on teeny-weeny folding stools set up every night and which for months I was afraid to even try sitting on. And I may be able to sit on them now, but that doesn't mean I'm going to show you a picture of me sitting on a little folding stool. Here instead is Ross with some students, last spring's English speech contest participants, that Ross and I treated to a reunion dinner.
This is at our favorite BBQ place near the school. We're on a brick patio, under the trees, with ropes of lights strung between the trees (pic below right) Unfortunately we just can't get a photograph at night that does it justice. The tables are made of metal so that the restaurant owner can place a little portable BBQ filled with charcoal on it. We patrons order the meat and veg we want and it's brought to the table partially cooked.
At some restaurants, the BBQ is brought to you fully cooked, but the do-it-yourself ones are more fun. We also sometimes went to a place in downtown Zibo where the cooks preside over a long trough filled with charcoal. A chimney and a fan helps pull the smoke away from street level. Again, because it's night time, the pictures aren't very good.
The meat is seasoned -- in this area, mostly with cumin but I can't speak for other parts of China. You can also get cabbage, mushrooms, squid, chicken wings, variety meats, and tofu. The meat is cut into small pieces and threaded on narrow metal skewers. The tiny pieces cook very quickly.
The meat is seasoned -- in this area, mostly with cumin but I can't speak for other parts of China. You can also get cabbage, mushrooms, squid, chicken wings, variety meats, and tofu. The meat is cut into small pieces and threaded on narrow metal skewers. The tiny pieces cook very quickly.
Then you are brought a bottle of hot sauce, a plate of thin pancake-like things and a plate of spring onions. Once the meat is cooked, you can eat it off the skewer or assemble a little roll-up, like so:
And the perfect accompaniment is a bottle of Tsingtao beer, you betcha. We keep the bottle on the ground so it doesn't get warmed by the portable BBQ.
A great leisurely dinner on a warm summer night!
And the perfect accompaniment is a bottle of Tsingtao beer, you betcha. We keep the bottle on the ground so it doesn't get warmed by the portable BBQ.
A great leisurely dinner on a warm summer night!
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