Okay -- we know that we are here in China to experience the local culture and food. But once in a while you need to take refuge in the familiar, and to celebrate the end of the first "week" of school (no school for the next 2 days for teacher training) we decided to do a scientific study to see how pizza translates in China. One of the 3 Pizza Hut outlets in Xiamen is on the 24th floor of a building overlooking the harbor, so naturally we headed there. The place was full of young couples and lots of babies and toddlers, all of whom had to come over and check out Sophia. One of our first sights was the Parmesan cheese on each table -- we have been searching for some ever since the spaghetti and sauce turned up
. Ann debated (only for a moment) the possibility of slipping some into her purse in the spirit of Grandma Millie (who used to keep stocked up on jelly that way). Instead we took a photo - almost pop art actually-- to show around town.
Needless to say, we all enjoyed ourselves and Michael and Ann ventured off the beaten path for seafood pizza, which included squid and shrimp with pineapple and was quite good. Pizza Hut itself was scrupulously clean, not something you take for granted in a restaurant in China. The pizza tasted just like Pizza Hut at home, only fresher and hotter. The restaurant was rather upscale with a full menu of other entrees, beer and ice cream for dessert. They sat us by the door and everyone who came in gave us a glance as if to say "the food must be authentic -- look there are Americans eating here". Tired but happy we caught a bus in the rain and headed back home.
. Ann debated (only for a moment) the possibility of slipping some into her purse in the spirit of Grandma Millie (who used to keep stocked up on jelly that way). Instead we took a photo - almost pop art actually-- to show around town.
Needless to say, we all enjoyed ourselves and Michael and Ann ventured off the beaten path for seafood pizza, which included squid and shrimp with pineapple and was quite good. Pizza Hut itself was scrupulously clean, not something you take for granted in a restaurant in China. The pizza tasted just like Pizza Hut at home, only fresher and hotter. The restaurant was rather upscale with a full menu of other entrees, beer and ice cream for dessert. They sat us by the door and everyone who came in gave us a glance as if to say "the food must be authentic -- look there are Americans eating here". Tired but happy we caught a bus in the rain and headed back home.
3 comments:
That's funny -- Americans there makes it authentic! That's just what we do at "ethnic" restaurants in the U.S., isn't it? If "real Chinese" people or "real Indian" people are eating at the local Chinese or Indian restaurants, we know we're in the right place!
I won't tease you TOO much for eating at Pizza Hit and shopping at Wal Mart!
;-)
from Tanya
Having spend a year or two abroad, I have to say one of my best times was eating at MacDo with my friend Diane. Poor students as we were, we usually just bought a sundae, and sat there for hours talking. No harm in experiencing fast food in another country. It always translates differently.
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