Got Hot Pot?

Tsingtao Beer

The other day I was reading something called a “book.” While reading this book, I stumbled across an interesting factoid. (All I have time for anymore-just the factoids, ma’am.) The author was of the opinion that Peking Man was the first hominid to use fire. We know this because we have his left molar in a box somewhere.

Which got me to thinking. If there is a Peking Man, shouldn’t there also be a Peking Woman? I wonder what kind of recipes she has to share? I’m pretty sure Peking Man was too busy at the hunting and gathering office to actually cook.

So I got a copy of the Chinese Telephone Book and started looking. It took a long time as you can well imagine. I did find a listing for Peking Tom, but the number was disconnected.

I searched and searched. But alas, could not find one single listing for Peking Woman. Dejected, I decided to take a walk. I guess I wasn’t really paying attention to where I was going and I got lost.

Now, my usual M.O. for when I get lost in China – not that it happens a lot, you understand – my usual M.O. is to hail the first cab I see and tell them my address. I’m getting pretty good at speaking Chinese. Okay, not that good. I have a piece of paper in my wallet with my address on it and I show the cab driver that. (more…)