On display were dried bean threads, dried seaweed, dried squid, dried octopus, dried lotus root, dried birds-nests, lup up (dried duck), dried tangerine peel, canned fried spotty fish, pickled ginger, preserved turnips, braised bamboo tips, bean curd, tiger balm dried scallops, and preserved eggs, wrapped in a poultice of earth & herbs, & guaranteed to be at least a year old.
A few days later, the sign had been changed to "dried lotus seed".
"Lotus," the first part of this show, doubles the sameness quotient by including many variations of dried lotus leaves, with the sharp angles of the bent stalks echoed in their reflections on the still surface of the pond.
I went to the market and picked out a dozen clucking chickens and quacking ducks, which I later stuffed with a Chinese eight-treasure stuffing (glutinous rice, dried shrimps, lotus seeds) and roasted in the ovens of the university canteen.
WHAT WE LIKE -- Crispy chicken with honey and dried chilies, crispy lotus, vegetable Manchurian, grilled shrimp, manchow soup, tom yam soup, basil-garlic chicken, coriander-garlic chicken, lobster in black pepper sauce, Thai shrimp curry, eggplant, toffee bananas, fried bananas, cassata.
SENJED -- Dried fruit of the lotus tree, represents love.
For those who are genuinely flower-phobic, there is a host of alternatives to call upon, including dried fruits, succulents, mini lotus pods, wheat grass, kumquat plants and asclepias.
(Serves roughly 12 portions) daikon (Japanese mooli) 1 carrot ½ dried shiitake mushrooms 8-10 lotus root 100g fried tofu (Atsu-age) 100g dashi 50ml sesame seeds, roasted 120g rice vinegar 400-500ml mirin 100ml yuzu or lemon skin a sprinkle sugar 220g soy sauce salt Thinly slice the daikon and carrot 4-5 cm length, place in a big bowl, sprinkle with 1 teaspoon of salt and leave to sit for 3 hours.
senjed: dried fruit of the lotus tree, symbolizing love.
Fried rice, studded with barbecued pork and dried octopus, was served in a lotus leaf wrapper.
In the vegan pho, kelp, Chinese preserved vegetable, salted cabbage, lotus roots, leeks and dried shiitakes do their best to equal meat — and almost succeed.
