Home-Cooked Goodness

Friends, I love home-cooked food. Even the best five star restaurants often pale in comparison to the culinary delights churned out by a loved one – such as your mom or girlfriend. Unfortunately, stopping by your mom’s house or girlfriend’s crib to feel the love might sometimes be a bit problematic (being on the other side of the planet from them is one good reason, for example) so you have to opt for the next best thing – like a weathered Chinese fisherman with a bulging belly and strange sense of humor. Myself and 12 other Hutong Schoolers decided to do just that.

When asked how the program managed to unearth a native Beijinger willing to cook and cater to a group of 13 wai guo ren (foreigners) out of his own home, I was told that he was found through “A friend of a friend.” Yet another proof that knowing people is (perhaps the only) way to get anything done in China – take note, young grasshoppers, you will this networking-related material again.

The area we were dining in is situated around Xihai lake, and is a popular local destination for bars, restaurants, clubs - and fishing the day away. Those with a more romantic inclination can rent a paddle boat and explore – quite lovely given the nighttime reflection of lights from all the fine party establishments ringing the water. You may even escape the cigarette fumes if you pedal fast enough.

The gentleman appropriated a premier clump of lakefront real-estate and set up tables for us, providing a fine vantage point on the water. He then proceeded to exclaim that there were three beers per person but any other beverages would be hard to come by. Especially since it was looking more and more like rain, good luck trying to stay dry in this environment. Coke and orange juice did make an eventual appearance.


Stacey, our lovely event coordinator, describing the dishes and their significance as jiachangcai (Beijing style home-cooked meals) while making our mouths water. Next to her are another Hutong employee and our awesome host. Enough with the banter, bring on the red-braised pork!


Don't let the packaging fool you, at only 3% alcohol, these babies are more bottled water than the brew us Westerners traditionally partake in.


Clockwise from left to right, starting at the top: lychees and cherries in cream, boiled shrimp with cucumber, chicken wings in soy sauce, cucumber salad, fried fish, and red-braised pork. Deliciousness!


Our host/chef with the group - the dinner was a great sample of traditional Peking that could have only been experienced through our taste buds. The lake atmosphere was enchanting, the beer cold, and the fried fish particularly good. This is one place we'd all love to come back to.