Things That Make You Go "..."

[tuftears]

Well, as some of you know, I have been clearing out an incredibly huge accumulation of detritus and memorabilia that my parents brought over and then never cleared out. I found one item that made me go "..."

Now I must share this with you!

The paper is titled 'Gaa Gow Ngok - Imitation Dog Meat Stew.'

I'll pause a moment to let that sink in.

For reference, my dad's from San Francisco and his parents were from China, and my mom's family is from mainland China. It's most likely that my mom or someone else transcribed this from my maternal grandparent's cooking.

Now, the recipe itself. Warning: I have not cooked this myself! I include it because if you've read this far, you want to know.

Gaa Gow Ngok
Imitation Dog Meat Stew

Bean curd skin
Beef
Garlic and fermented bean paste
Fermented bean cake
Dried red dates
Dried orange peel
Water

Braise beef in hot oil.
Add garlic and fermented bean paste and fermented bean cake in the beef.
Add water.
Add red date and orange peel.

Ahead of time: deep fry bean curd skin and wash out the oil.

Gentle readers, please don't take this as a cue to find a neighborhood dog and taste test its meat. I'm pretty sure the beef will taste better. Also, I apologize that the quantities, cooking time, etc. are not present here. I simply post this for the bafflement of my readers, just as it was written.

Comments

[anher.livejournal.com]

<.< >.> o.o O_o o_O

[tuftears.livejournal.com]

As written, it probably isn't a bad recipe, though I can tell that the fermented bean paste will be pretty spicy, and the red dates and orange peel probably give it the elements of sweetness and sourness as well. -_-

But... OMG my ancestors had recipes for dog meat! And they actually thought the recipes were worthy of faking when real dog meat became culturally inappropriate?

[merrycalliope.livejournal.com]

M is pretty sure he inadvertently sampled dog during his trip. Heck, small country villages probably still make due with what they can manage!

[tuftears.livejournal.com]

I dunno, I figure it'd be kind of a desperation meat - no one raises packs of dogs for eating! >_>

[merrycalliope.livejournal.com]

Oh, I'm sure it's a desperation meat. The meat of meat eaters is...pretty nasty. But people become accustomed to it in leaner times and it becomes sort of a nostalgic thing.

A more palatable example would be Welsh Rarebit which was, as it's said, invented to be, essentially, "pretend meat". But people still LOVE Welsh rarebit and it's often a treat when it's made! (It is really tasty though not particularly healthy). :D

[tuftears.livejournal.com]

Isn't Welsh rarebit cheese on toast?

Anyway, that would explain the use of fermented tofu in the recipe! That'd definitely add a pungent flavor.

[merrycalliope.livejournal.com]

A little more complex than that but basically, yeah, that's Welsh rarebit.

Now I want some. :9

[tuftears.livejournal.com]

Cheese on toast is good stuff. ^_^ Are you still on your no-carbs diet?

[okojosan.livejournal.com]

There are dog breeds who were created as a food dog, though. Chow chows for one example.

[tuftears.livejournal.com]

*tyckles*!

[jordangreywolf.livejournal.com]

Actually, they ARE raised specifically (as "food dogs") in dedicated breeding operations for eating in some places.

[tuftears.livejournal.com]

Goodness gracious!

...

What breeds?

[anher.livejournal.com]

Yeah, the recipe as written looks alright, but it is a bit disturbing for its roots/

[okojosan.livejournal.com]

Well, yes. When I went to Hong Kong the tour guide told us the Chinese people will eat anything but panda and human. *shrug* We avoided going to the food markets, which are big tourist draws.