Robert: So, I’m going to ask you a weird question now, are you ready?
Girl in Chinese Takeaway: I get boss.
Boss: How can I help you?
Robert: I have a friend who tells me that the food cooked in Chinese Takeaways is not the same as that cooked in China. Is it possible for you to cook me a meal that is like one a Chinese person would eat.
Boss: No.
Robert: Oh, okay. I’ll have vegetables in a curry sauce, vegetable rice and some spring rolls then.
Boss: Six pounds fifty, please.
Robert: Ta.
Robert C Day 
HAHAHAHA! *let me finish laughing first*
The boss just said no?? Discrimination against gwailo! 😉
I just finished reading Girl in Translation, by the way … it blew me away.
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No, he actually explained, very nicely, about the difference between English Chinese food and Chinese Chinese food – the sauce, the vegetables, the … something else. And also – China is a big place and there are many different styles. He was a really nice guy. I think, at the end of the day, it’s just habit. They started cooking it like that in the 1950’s (he says) and just carried on doing it like that because the English got used to it. I mean – I can’t imagine they would have any difficulty finding the ingredients and modifying the sauce if they thought there would be a market for it. Perhaps there is a gap in the market – genuine Chinese food.
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Yes, China is humongous, with so many VB types of regional cuisine. There’s plenty of genuine Chinese food in London and southeast UK, as there’s a sizeable market for it. Sounds like you had quite an interesting conversation with the Boss. Did you enjoy your dinner?
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No, didn’t enjoy the food really. Too much … some kind of spice like cinnamon or cloves. The spring rolls were nice, though.
I should visit London then.
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I have a favourite dim-sum restaurant there. Gonna look it up.
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Let me know the name.
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London Jade Garden (I think that’s the new name). (My colleague came in and talked my ear off for the last fifteen minutes. He’s a known chatterbox. 😉)
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Lord deliver us from chatterboxes! 😀
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😄
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Oops, it’s now called Old Town 97. Change of management and menu – too bad.
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Ah – that’s not a good omen.
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I agree. The pictures of the menu items look anglicised. I’m sure there are still plenty of other authentic Chinese restaurants in Soho, though. After all, there’s still a notable Chinese population to cater to.
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Ah well …
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Ha, found the restaurant in my phone (saved the address while still living in the UK). Looks like the name has changed since I was there last. Address: 19 Wardour St, London W1D 6PL. Not that you’d really go there. 😉 It’s in Soho.
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Soho used to be the rude part of London, but it’s a lot more ‘gentrified’ these days. It’s all about the food and theatre these days. 🙂
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Ah, the theatre … I miss it. I saw lots of plays in London.
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They don’t do plays where you live now?
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Yes, but the selection is dismal. There’s a decent theatre downtown, which I’ve gone to once.
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More, better, stronger, faster … 😉
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Yeah! You read my mind. 😁
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🙂
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Even Chinese food here is Indian. It is nothing like real Chinese. Actually, the Chinese people cook without much spices and stuff and their food is not that tasty. We just have taken the tradition and made it our own way.
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It’s just one big melting pot of a world. Gotta love it! 🙂
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Yep. Love the blended Chinese
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I ate real Chinese food in Florida and I couldn’t stand the smell of raw non veg. But what we get here in India is more Indian than Chinese.we got a huge Chinese community here, btw.
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It’s funny, isn’t it – we just want what we want, and people just follow our desires. The Chinese there speak Hindi?
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Yup , they do.
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Lol that was funny:)
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Thanks, Joyce. Hope you’re having a great day. 🙂
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Wait – they don’t eat egg fried rice and sweet and sour chicken for every meal? They’ve been having me on for years
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I know! Right!! 🙂
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