Rice noodles and Wonton soup

Step into any mall in the states and a buffet of pre-cooked vats of fried rice can be scooped on a plate along with your choice of three sides for $7.99. Orange chicken anyone? Before entering China for the first time, my main introduction to chinese cuisine was Panda Express. Embarrassing to admit, but the American fast food chain providing Kung Pao chicken, sweet and sour pork and egg rolls warmed under heat lamps was how my american mind depicted "chinese food." However, my american mind and palate are developing. Chinese take-out in red and white boxes is no longer my idea of the cuisine that comes from china. I am living in a very small region of China, and every region has its own food specialty. Here in Yangshuo, Guilin rice noodles is the thing to eat! Long white rice noodles are steamed and placed in a metal bowls accompanied by slices of pork, cilantro, garlic, pickled something?? and finally a chicken broth is poured over the mixture. (Price of the meal is .75-$1.25.) I generally eat the hot soup in the mornings. But other breakfast dishes include rice porridge with pork or steamed dumplings filled with pork, veggies, bean paste or a mystery stuffing. (Price .25 each.)

When I choose one of the dumplings I am never quite sure what is going to be inside...it like putting a quarter into a toy dispenser-sometimes you get something really cool and sometimes it is a disgusting minced meat surprise!! It is always an adventure when meal time rolls around. I really need to learn how to say in chinese "no meat," but I figure they only cost a quarter and eating wierd things is all apart of the adventure. I am not at all an expert in chinese cuisine, but I do now that all the food is deliciously fresh all the time. You can almost hear the pig squealing when eating your food. At night one dollar stir-fry plates full of egg plant, tofu, carrots, potato and pretty much whatever veggie you want can be flung around in a wok. I know I am not going starving here and in fact I am probably more nourished here than in the states. Although the american inside me misses cheese!!! Somedays I could really go for a quesadilla.

Rice noodles and Wonton soup

Yangshuo, China