First of all I would like to have kept the pictures a little smaller to make the content easier to read/see but I have no idea how to do this.
The last few weeks have been spent in Shenyang which is in North China approximately 600 klms north of Beijing. It has a total population of around 8,000,000.
Shenyang - Wikipedia
We have an apartment there and most of the last two weeks have been spent relaxing while we prepare for the next part of our trip. We usually do a few side trips to other regions in China or neighbouring countries and will probably do so when we return in mid June.
I find the food here to be a highlight and the variety, taste and presentation continues to amaze me despite spending many months in total in the city.
Just a few of the various meals/dishes eaten in the last few weeks.
Local dumplings. The dish in the foreground consists of silkworm larvae crisply fried in a Sichuan style with lots of dried chili. While I am quite an adventurous eater I mostly draw the line at bug type things but I must admit these cooked in this style are really tasty. They are now one of my favourite local dishes.
On the local May Day holiday we were invited to a country resort about an hour outside the city. They use most of their own produce. Our hosts ordered a whole barbequed lamb and a lot of complimentary vegetable dishes. Plenty of drinking and eating as per local customs. I speak very little Mandarin and most conversation is translated by Mrs woodyren.
Fish stew cooked at the table.
One of the top local seafood restaurants. King crab legs.
Sashimi at the same restaurant.
These had prawns inside in a sweetish sauce.
Whole fish in a light soy sauce.
More sashimi from another night.
Although we are very fortunate to enjoy fine dining and great wine it's also true that you can have a great meal with cold beers for vey little $$$ at the multitude of small hole in the wall places that line almost every inner city street.
We fly to Bangkok in the morning. TBC