Gongmao (工贸大厦), the state-owned department store in the city centre recently re-opened its basement “boutique supermarket” after an extensive makeover. It still sells the same overpriced stuff as before. It is however good on breakfast cereals and there is the occasional surprise. Their import beer selection is worth a look, but they are in extreme […]
Not for the first time, I find myself baffled. I read that Azerbaijan has opened a trade office here in Liuzhou. The Trade House of Azerbaijan has opened in China’s Liuzhou, the Ministry of Economy of Azerbaijan said in a statement Sept. 29. It seems that their intent is to promote Azerbaijan food products. Why […]
Over the weekend, some animal protection type people outside Bubugao shopping hell have been urging people not to eat! I’m guessing they mean dogs and cats. While over the last few years, the new middle classes’ desire for status symbol pets has increased exponentially and the consumption of “pet meat” has declined, they seem to […]
Friday food is a weekly article about one of the more unusual food items to be found in Liuzhou that week. This week, we are getting sour. China has been brewing vinegar for thousands of years and the choice in the supermarkets and other stores can be bewildering. There are three basic types, defined by […]
I’ve resisted. Not that there was much temptation. I have thought the whole idea ridiculous from the beginning. But some weeks ago, I was given a large box of them and they have been sitting in the corner annoying me. Bags of “instant” luosifen (螺蛳粉). Please don’t misunderstand. I like luosifen. A lot. When it’s […]
Random Picture No. 96 is one in a series of pictures, taken in Liuzhou, which amuse, baffle or otherwise interest me. A recent comment on this post made me remember this. The brief discussion was about foul-tasting alcoholic beverages in China and elsewhere. Twenty years ago, there was a brewery here in Liuzhou which made […]
Don’t worry. I haven’t slipped into some flaw in the space-time theory. I was walking with a friend yesterday evening along the city centre pedestrian street and we were discussing China’s many different regional cuisines. I mentioned that my favourite is Hunan food. I also said that there was a good Hunan restaurant just nearby. […]
I’ve muttered about this before, but it’s getting worse. Here I give you but two examples from a local supermarket. It could have been from any Liuzhou supermarket. Exhibit A 270 g of Granulated Chicken Bouillon at Â¥21.30. Seems reasonable. Â¥0.08 per gram. Exhibit B Right next to the above, on the same shelf, […]