Bite-Sized China Update: Dorm Side Go-To's

This post is dedicated to the anon who left the comment about updating. I send you my love, chocolates, and maybe some flowers (if the postage is reasonable). I said I wouldn't be doing much updating during my time here, because I wanted to maximize my time on exploring Beijing, but at the moment we're somewhere between passed out from walking the Forbidden Palace all day, and prepping for Peking Duck tonight. Thus, here I am. : )

Just a small post on my go to's late at night when we don't want to step into a restaurant. These stalls are just outside my dorm room (the gate in the picture above), and make me ten types of happy.

Say hello to the 1kuai skewer stop. I have not been able to find a cheaper decent skewer anywhere else so far. For those that need a conversion, 6.5kuai = $1. Thus. a skewer here is about 15cents Canadian. The lady running the stall here was the first shopkeeper I attempted broken Chinese with, she holds a special place in my heart along with anon ; D.

You pick your skewers, give it to the person on the grill, they douse it in oil (oil and refined carbs. I think this is what China lives off of), cook it, slather it in some wonderful spicy sauce and seasoning, and then you devour them. Yus.

Top left hand corner to right bottom left: chives, breaded chicken and pork skin, spicy rice cake, mantou, rice cake, mushroom, cilantro wrapped in fried bean curd (not shown is enoki mushroom wrapped bean curd), squid (tentacles and body), chicken, pork, chicken wings, eggplant, green peppers.

My apologies for not taking a picture of the finished skewers myself, this picture is courtesy of my roommate, who is showing off the chicken, squid, eggplant, and enoki wrapped bean curd skewers. 15 CENTS. 60 CENTS TOTAL. FOR A LIGHT DINNER (okay. This highly varies for some people, but you can go and pick yourself up 50cent burger if you really want as well.)

As for how they taste, fresh and amazing. I can't comment on the sanitation (questionable at best), but as long as you ignore that, the sauce + the way they grill these up just can't be beat.

I'm sure most of you foodies are familiar with this sight already. Unappetizing stick of meat. But you can't deny that whenever they use this, it usually comes out tasting good. So what are they doing with the pork here?

Making asianized burgers for 3.50 kuai (54cents Canadian). A perfectly steamed, soft white bun reminiscent of the bun of a steamed cha siu bao, these have become my favourite quick lunch before heading off again and devouring more goodies.

It is filled with pork, lettuce and onions. They ask if you want a sweet sauce, soy sauce, and a spicy sesame sauce. Made quick and to order, the guys that work this station (beside the skewer shop), look like jerk-offs, but they have my affection as well anyways.

The bun is light and soft, the pork has that outer seared crust effect, but is tender in taste, and the sauce and bun in combination makes this better than any cha siu bao I have ever tasted. Not that this can be labeled a cha siu bao, but you get the idea.

My apologies for the less than amazing photo, but it's hard juggling so many things at the same time. If I get a better photo I'll do an edit.

Finally, because I've been having trouble finding something not doused in oil, or served with 90% white bread/carb/thing, carved pineapple, which is wonderfully popular here. I can't remember the price for this, but you can buy 1/4 of one on a skewer for 1-1.5kuai. It's great, refreshing, and with the coming heat, absolutely amazing.
And cute. Did I mention cute?
I called the pineapple cute, yes.

So my favourite 30second-walk food stalls : ) I'm hesitant to be putting out all the pictures I've been taking, because as we've been going along the trip, a friend of mine has been egging me on the time I take on these food photos.
I throw a quip in his face.

But I have been trying to take many pictures! From mall snacks, to more street vendors, to scorpions, expensive looking $7 dinners, dumplings 16 ways, and more! (allthisandmorecanbeyoursforsixpaymentsof$9.95..)

But really, I hope you'll find this post enjoyable. Another say. 3.5 weeks, and I'm back to rehashing restaurants in Vancouver. So. Does anyone have any requests while I'm here? Anything to yell at me for? Should I keep running my mouth?

Anyways, once again. Thank you to that individual out there for showing some love.