Tourist in an Asian Market

As a finale to our China class we were taken to an Asian Market by Ms. Ting. They say this is the best Asian Market around and people travel distances to shop here.

Wow! The differences in culture and the foods we eat! It was very fascinating and a little disgusting to see everything.

I grew up about as "all American" as you can get. My dad was very much a "meat and potato's" type of guy. Since that's what he liked, that's what the family ate. The most "ethnic" we really got was homemade taco's and some Italian, like pizza and spaghetti, which we didn't even use a marinara sauce, mom made her own sauce with soup, 2 can's of tomato soup with a can of cream of mushroom soup (I think).

I honestly didn't eat a Taco Bell until high school, and in high school, mom started getting some Chicken Fried Rice at our local Dillions (Kg. Soopers) Chinese Kitchen. Not much diversity there. Although now, I enjoy many different types of food, Chinese being a favorite.

Back to our field trip...

I believe we were a group of 16, walking down each aisle to see and hear about the different things. There were a couple of us moms who had our cameras who had to catch this experience. It was the reversal of what we see portrayed in the movies. Instead of Asian tourists in America, there was a group of white "tourists" in an Asian environment. It was quite comical to see the stares from the employees and shoppers.

WARNING: This is not for someone with a weak stomach!

BUT, it's a boys' paradise of everything slimy, stinky, gross and plain o' disgusting!

The "Deli"

Their deli had Dim Sum, which is an appetizer style Chinese food from the southern regions, along with other things.

How about some cooked duck or even a chicken...

Ting explained to us that the Chinese feel like there is value in every part of the animal. They feel if they eat the eyes of a fish, it will help their eyes. Etc.

Or some brain...

Produce

This pretty much looks like a typical grocery store, just with some different fruits and veggies added.

As you can see, our group took up the whole aisle.

Refrigerated Section

All kinds of eggs. These are quail eggs but there were goose eggs and duck eggs also.

Tofu and Noodles

The Meat Market

This was the kids' favorite part!

The Living...

Lobster & Crab

Oysters?

Snails

Tilapia

The Non-Living (but "fresh")...

Lobster

Shrimp, with or without heads

All kinds of fish, even shark

We even got to see someone order fish and saw the "butcher" chop the fish up.

or you can just get Fish heads

(which I heard are good for broth.)

The "Spare Parts"...

If you click on picture, you'll be able to read what most are.

For those not labeled: Just to the right of the guys hand is Pig Ears, and the white "fluffy" stuff is intestine lining.

The Frozen Section

If you don't want your meat fresh, you can get it frozen.

Chicken with the feet...

...or whole fish...

Octopus, a tentacle or just some babies.

How about some beef tongue? (Compared to Jeff's arm.)

This was some type of fruit, that caused a few cuts on people's hands because it is very sharp and poky.

And, last but not least...

Bugs!

I don't know what these are exactly but they look like bugs to me.

Non-Perishables

Their form of "Ramen" noodles, in all different flavors and brands.

I don't remember what was in these jars, but it was definitely something different.

They like Nesquik!

We finished our trip by going to one of the family's home and trying some different foods like some different fruits and some dumplings and we even had an Indian bread that was fried with brown sugar spread on it. That was my favorite!