December 2014 xianease 1

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1 December 2014 xianease 1

2 2 xianease December 2014

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4 xianease.com xianease Web, Print, Events, and More December 2014 Editorial 5 Letter From The Editor Dec calendar 6 What s going on in Xi an Reviews Man 八百万堂慢食馆 10 Vcake Top 12 Candy Kisses Café 蜜吻餐吧 14 桂 Mototo Liquor Store Featured 16 Ma Wei Yi - A Taste of Shannxi Food 22 Pan Fried King Prawn with Garlic, Chilly and Parsley Over Charbroiled Crouton 煎大虾 23 Caramelized Xi an (Fushi) Red Apple Over Green Apple Coulis and Vanilla Ice Cream 焦糖苹果 Community 24 At Home in England 32 Kitty s Corner Part Three: Perspective 34 Lacquer Artist -Ren Xiao Dong 任晓东 36 Tidbits From Xi an Xi an Scene 39 King OR Queen of the Table 39 Hash Run 40 Pub Quiz 42 Photos of The Xi an Scene 46 City Wall Marathon 4 xianease December Listings 36 BARS 50 HEALTH 52 CLUBS 50 Spas 52 RESTAURANTS 50 EDUCATION 52 SHOPPING 51 Medical 53 Expats services 53

5 Volume 53 Editor In Chief Patrick Antony English Editor Joe Gleeson Designer /Editor Dylan Art Director Super Jing Chinese Business Manager Zhao Xi Fashion Writer Kristen Zhou Cuisine Writers Jorge Cartaya and Estíbaliz Puerta Naomi and Javier Nightlife Writers Jack Marshall and Tracy Wayner Edens and Becca This month s contributors Benjamin Greuter the_scop_x@yahoo.com Carolyn carolyn@xianease.com Darcy Littler d.lit@live.co.uk A Xianease Publication Advertising sales@xianease.com General Enquiries info@xianease.com Editorial editorial@xianease.com Operations Xi an (Head Office) No. 1 Xihuamen, Xi an Letter from the Editor: All, Usually I write this after taking a bit of time to think about an aspect of my life from the past month that was impactful. Not all events that make me think are large, and sometimes it s the smallness, the almost missed event that gets me thinking the most. This month however was a bit of different. I had focused on a larger event that I and the Xianease team are attempting this month. I actually had an entirely different letter written until last night, when a small Weixin message set the gears turning and a revelation inside myself that put into perspective this past month s events and spoke to a larger picture for all of us. A friend of mine, new to Xi an, was walking home and happened upon an artist attempting to sell a painting. It was an attractive piece but the first question asked wasn t about price or the subject, it was, can you teach me to paint like that? Such a simple question, but I d bet that if you put 100 people in the exact some situation very few would ever stop to ask that, myself included. Inquisitiveness is something that as I get older or as I stay in one place longer drops off precipitously. When I was first in Xi an everything was new and exciting and I wanted to know the WHY behind everything. As the new becomes ordinary and the exciting turns mundane I become more of an observer in my surroundings not interacting but simply watching in one dimension. To look at a painting and not want to possess it through either cash (price) or knowledge (explain the meaning) but to see it as an opportunity, a window or door through which to not only better yourself but to interact with your surroundings is something that I am sorry to say I have lost along the way. This message sent to me so off handedly that not even the sender was aware was a great gift that peeled away the film that had been covering my vision for years. To walk down the streets again anew, to see your world as it always has been but in a new light, that is to live. Asking the questions not often asked and interacting with your environment at every available opportunity is not just an experiment it s quite possibly the secret to daily happiness. All of us build up a callous to our everyday life, we all forget the innocence and wide-eyed wonder in our daily existence. But that loss isn t permanent. We can start now, right now to stop observing and start interacting. XIANEASE TEAM PUB Quiz December 17th Time: 9:30pm Place: The Belgian Bar Sincerely, Patrick Antony Editor-in-Chief Discover YOUR Xi an - Let us help Patrick.antony@xianease.com Discover YOUR Xi an and join us on Weixin! Pub Quiz and crossword Caption: This month winter hit and the heat went on, usually that means folks seal their doors and start the long hibernation until spring...usually. The November pub quiz was a break from the norm however with the packed Belgian Bar sporting new and old teams ready to take on Trivia Master Phil as he expounded up a full 1980 s quiz laden with the best cultural, historical and political facts that could be dredged up from the Awkward Generation. A big surprise this month was the replacement of the reigning champs with Los Pepilepticos taking the top spot with 23 correct, beating out the rest by one slim radiated point. December is looking to be a 90 s themed quiz so get better acquainted with your childhood and head on down to the Belgian Bar and see if you take the title and get the three liters of awesome! December 17 Tel: 南门顺城南路中段 69 号 Wedesday #69 shun cheng nan lu Fax: December 2014 xianease 5

6 xi an calendar - December 2014 Dec 14 Creative Production l Art Without Artista Exhibition Workshop Lecture Forum Preview: December 7 th -14 th, 2014 Duration: December 14 th -30 th, 2014 Opening: 4:00pm, December 14 th, 2014 Venue: Art Center, EAAD Art and Design School, Xi an Eurasia University Dec 22 INVITATION Winter Solstice Party 冬至パーティー冬 (dōng) 至 (zhì) 茶 (chá) 话 (huà) 会 (huì) Goodbye 2014, Hello 2015 Reminisce about 2014 Resolutions for 2015 Talk about your plans for the winter vacation Link up with travel partners Make dumplings by yourselves Time: 5:00pm Location: #174 Yannan 1st Road, Building 1, Room 605, Hanlinshijia, Yanta District Tel: / Dec 24 Jane s Garden Christmas Eve Party Time: 6:00pm 12:00pm Location: 8th Floor of Feng Run International Bld.,near Vivo City. Tel: xianease December 2014 Movie Night December 21st < Psycho > Location: Lao Mei Cafe ( 老美咖啡 ) Inside Wenchao Gate to the right 6 Xiamaling Lu ( 文昌门里下马陵六号 ) Movie Start Time: 7:30pm Belgian Bar - Secret Santa December 14th Everyone brings a pre-wrapped RMB gift to exchange randomly. Old Chris Cringle will be on hand giving out X-mas shots and an amazing Happy Hour of any 2 drafts get one free all night long. - Vedett Night December 28th Last Sunday of the Month Happy Hour from: 6:00pm - 2:30am 20% off all Vedett Draft Free drawing for a limited 1.5L Duvel Near Wall Bar Location: West of Shun Cheng Nan Lu (south street) 顺城南路西段 ( 湘子门青年旅社 ) December Happy Hour Monday Thursday 6:00pm - 9:30pm RMB for tall draft. Christmas Party December 25th 6:00pm - 10:00pm Happy Hour Christmas Punch All Night Secret Santa (Bring an RMB present for exchange) New Years Party December 31st 6:00pm - 10:00pm Happy Hour Shot Specials All Night Free Champagne Toast at midnight for all customers Xiao Hua Salsa Christmas Salsa Party December 25th Place: Mexico Bar Time: 9:30pm For more info: Tango Events Mexico Bar ( 墨西哥餐吧 ) Address: No.21, Tian Pin Xi An Bar Street Inside of Huan Cheng Xi Yuan Park ( 天品西岸酒吧街 21 号 ) The 2nd and 4th Wednesday night of every month ( 每月第二和第四个周三晚上 ) Beginner lesson from 7:00pm-8:00pm (7 点至 8 点入门级课程 ) Intermediate lesson from 8:00pm-9:00pm (8 点至 9 点中级课程 ) C est La Vie Restaurant & Bar ( 塞拉维 ) Address: B-2F Lu Di SOHO Lian Meng, Zhang Ba Yi Lu ( 丈八一路绿地 soho 联盟 B 座二楼塞拉维餐厅 ) The 1st, 3rd and 5th Saturday night of the month ( 每月第一, 第三和第五个周六晚上 ) Beginner lesson from 8:30pm - 9:30pm and practice until 10:30pm (8:30 至 9:30 入门课程,9:30 至 10:30 练习时间 ) Lao Mei Café ( 老美咖啡 ) Address: Inside Wenchao Gate to the right 6 Xiamaling Lu ( 文昌门里下马陵六号 ) The 2nd and 4th Saturday of every month ( 每月第二和第四个周六晚上 ) Lesson from 7:00pm - 8:30pm, with practice after (7 点至 8:30 上课时间,8:30 后练习时间 ) Ultimate Frisbee Match: 3:00pm - 7:00pm (every Sunday) Location: Xi an Jiao Tong University of Finance and Economics ( 西安交通大学财经学院 ), just next to the 纬二街 (Wei Er Jie) bus stop. After the match we have dinner and sometimes go out to KTV For more information contact: 张超 (Chao), at or 胡纪峰 (Feng) at If you re shy you could also me at wuyikai123@qq.com

7 Toastmasters Dec 5, 12, 19, 26 Every Friday in December! Time: 7:30pm - 9:30pm Location: Hengzhi Education 10th Floor of the SAGA (Saige) Shopping Mall Chang an Middle Rd Get all the information at: Pub Quiz Dec 17 Beer and Trivia What more could you ask for? Time: 9:30pm Location: Belgian Bar Dec 20, 22 Hash House Harriers Saturday December 20 th and Monday December 22 nd Time: Both are at 3:00pm Start point/meeting place: Outside Hanguang Men ( 含光门外 ) Get all the information at: /hhh For all the info scan the QR code Dec 21 Dec 23 Queen OR King of the Table Pool Tourney Time: Starting at 8:00pm Location: Yuan Shun Pool Bunker (Southwest corner of the Shaanxi Stadium - 碑林区长安北路 14 号省体育场 ) xi an calendar - December 2014 Wednesday Sunday Urban Sketchers: Xi an 3rd Sunday of every month at 3pm Do you like art, exploring new places around the city, and meeting new people? Whether you re a professional artist or haven t drawn since you were a child, come join us to give sketching a try. All you need is some paper and a pencil/pen. Meeting place: The North entrance of Defu Alley (near Frank s Hot Dog Restaurant). Contact Naomi for details: naomi.trego@gmail.com Tuesday December 2014 xianease 7

8 Reviews Restaurant Reviews Reviews 800 Man 八百万堂慢食馆 Article By Naomi and Javier There was no sign outside the building but we entered anyways. We rode the elevator to the 12th floor and looked around the dimly lit apartment hall for the door marked We knocked on the apartment door timidly, afraid we d be met by questioning eyes or worse. Our friend had recommended we go see the 800 Man, but had he sent us to this random apartment building to die or dine?!? He told us they had home cooking, but would we be the ones who got home cooked? (In the building near the lit up pedestrian bridge with the Hair Design salon, there is a small sign on the apartment door that says 800 Man) As soon as the door opened, we knew we were at the right place. We entered the apartment and felt like we were dinner guests at a friend s house. This relatively new apartment-turned-restaurant serves home cooked meals with no menu. They make what they think you ll like. We sat at a table on the main floor, although upstairs and couch seating were also available. Just like, at a home, we were surrounded by books, magazines, art supplies, flowers, and cats. The staff speaks some English, but not much language is needed here. Just show up and eat! Going to a restaurant with no menu may seem disorienting, but after our last restaurant visit when we spent 30 minutes just trying to choose a few dishes, it was a welcomed change. Within minutes, the first dish arrived. Several more dishes soon arrived and we were told to let them know if we were still hungry and they d make more dishes. They gave us a choice for our additional dishes to choose vegetables or meat, but other than that, they chose what we ate. Unlike most restaurant reviews where we say, be sure to order the, all we can say is go with an open mind! The food is delicious and simple, focused on flavors of the ingredients themselves without much additional salt or spice. We enjoyed Japanese-style hotpot, bacon/egg/squash scramble, potatoes with fresh oregano, saucy beef, a mixed veggie/ tofu dish, cheesecake, and homemade fruity cocktails. Pro: The no-menu style lets you try new delicious foods and the anticipation of wondering what you ll eat next makes for a fun dinner 8 xianease December 2014

9 Reviews Con: Well, you can t choose your food, but that s the whole point! Recommendation: The owner s creative no-menu concept, made-with-love food, and comfy atmosphere has already become quite popular in its first year open. This creative apartment restaurant will make you feel right at home. 八百万堂慢食馆 Reviews 老板娘是插画师, 曾举办过三次个人画展, 店里的画都是她的作品 小店位于一栋商住楼内, 复式结构, 环境温馨小情调 店内没有菜单无需点菜, 大部分都是老板娘原创, 属于口味清淡的融合菜系, 根据到店人数和忌口情况配菜 一般会搭配到招牌菜和当天采购到的新鲜时令蔬菜, 会比到店人数多一道菜, 如果不够吃可以临时加菜 提倡低盐少油的健康饮食理念, 烹炒用的是橄榄油, 米饭则采用秋田小町大米, 所有食材力求新鲜突出本味 老板娘亲自掌勺, 不定期上新, 如遇节日会推出节日特供餐, 提前一天预约会帮您留位, 店里有四只猫咪负责卖萌, 希望到店的客人能慢下来享受美食, 享受生活 人均大约 70 元, 二楼可容纳 10 人左右, 适合小型派对聚餐 Average Price per person/ 人均消费 : 70 RMB Address / 地址 : Room11211, 12 Floor, Block A, Ling Xian Xin Cheng, Ling Xiang Time Square, #86, Gaoxin Road, Yanta District. ( 雁塔区高新路 86 号领先时代广场, 领先心城 A 座 12 楼 ) Tel / 电话 : (Must make reservations one day in advance) Hours / 时间 : 11:30am-10:00pm Naomi Trego and Javier Munguia are partners in non-criminal activity traveling the world teaching English. You can reach them at teacher.trego@gmail.com December 2014 xianease 9

10 Reviews Reviews Vcake Top Article By Jorge Cartaya and Estíbaliz Puerta Located in the Ginwa Mall just outside South Gate on the East corner, this cozy café has a lot of delicious treats to offer if you need a snack, a pick-me-up or just a place to take a break from shopping. We had tried some of their cakes before, since they do pretty good birthday cakes that can be delivered to you with utensils and everything. However, we admit that Chinese imitations of western pastries are usually terrible, and even though V Cake has the right idea when it comes to pleasing our western taste buds, some of the items could do with a bit of improvement. In the drinks department, the café certainly knows how to brew great-tasting beverages. The cappuccino is lovely, and we recommend you try the red date tea, which has a rich taste and aroma, and is incredibly nutritious as well. They also have all the coffee varieties that we expect from a café, with competitive prices. Being Puerto Rican, we are quite demanding when it comes to the flavor and temperature of coffee, so the fact that we were well satisfied by their beverages says a lot. The pastries however, can be hit-or-miss. China is not known for having great chocolate, and the flavor of their brownie and chocolate mousse reflect that fact. Though sweet and rich enough in texture, there is always something slightly off and acidic about chocolate-themed pastries here. However, V Cake s chocolate pastries are definitely better than what you can get in many other similar establishments, even if they are still not perfect. Their other pastries were really good though! We stayed away from Chinese-style pastries like the green tea flavor cake (who the hell came up with that blasphemy of a pastry anyway?), but the rest were surprisingly good. We especially liked the cranberry cheesecake, which was soft, rich, and creamy, though don t expect restaurant-quality flavor. Their coconut dream cake was delicious as well, though by that point we could hardly stomach any more sweets. As the place carries no salty snacks, its capacity to cater to different tastes suffers too much, especially when their neighboring competitors do carry sandwiches and the like. Basically, it s good for taking a break and warming up with a nice coffee or tea, but to those with not much of a sweet tooth, it doesn t offer much else. 10 xianease December 2014

11 Reviews Reviews Pros: Great quality beverages, and tasty treats for those who have a massive sweet tooth Cons: Not much else to offer, and the location limits its accessibility unless you spend a lot of time in malls Average Price per person/ 人均消费 : RMB Address / 地址 : 2F Ginwa Time Square outside of South Gate. ( 南门外世纪金花时代广场 2 楼南连廊 ) Tel / 电话 : Hours / 时间 : 10:00am - 9:30pm They also deliver anywhere in the city. Order online and pay COD Order: vcake_cn@163.com Order Online: Vcake Top 简介 Vcake 蛋糕专注于欧式 法式甜点 配方蛋糕的传承与创新 拥有从业 20 多年资深五星级酒店饼房厨师长 国际航空配餐业 (IFCA) 食品生产管理团队, 借助电子商务营销模式 呼叫中心系统 自有专业物流配送队伍实施点对点服务 Jorge & Estíbaliz are two Puerto Rican islanders who like nothing more than relaxing and enjoying life. They currently teach ESL and live the dream in Xi an. You can reach them at reviews@xianease.com 食品安全的责任让我们一直坚持对原材料近乎苛刻的挑剔, 努力为喜欢甜点的人们提供 : 绿色 健康 安全的品质美味! 只需动动手指, 当天现做, 全程冷链免费为您送货到府! 一 选用最顶级原料我们郑重承诺, 绝不添加色素 香精 防腐剂, 所有食材选用世界顶级原料, 全部使用天然乳脂奶油, 绝不使用植物氢化奶油 二 生产零库存经深入考察与严苛选址, 无菌全封闭生产车间, 当天生产配送, 绝不隔夜冷藏, 每个蛋糕只有唯一一次出售机会 三 保证品质乳脂奶油易塌陷 难塑形, 打发与成型 时间至上, 成型过程对温度 环境 水分要求严苛, 蛋糕师必须把握最佳口味与美感 四 全程冷链免费送达 Vcake 采用至少提前 4 小时电话 官网 微信 邮箱下单, 当日生产配送 争分夺秒, 蛋糕从诞生到配送不到 4 小时, 卫生 安全 新鲜 December 2014 xianease 11

12 Reviews Bar Reviews Reviews Candy Kisses Café 蜜吻餐吧 Article By Jack Marshall and Tracy C andy Kisses Café right. was my first reaction when a friend suggested this homey cafe hidden away just off Jiefang road in Wanda Plaza. As I m always on the hunt for great coffee, I jumped in a cab with my fiancé, Tracy, and set off. After braving the rain and cold we were warmly welcomed by the owner, LüNan, as if we were old friends. Candy Kisses Café was opened nine months ago by LüNan for his girlfriend s love of cooking which really shines through on the menu. Her culinary passions range from pasta and pizza to a quality 200g beef fillet steak for only 68RMB. Despite the steak being my choice of meal, the electronic menu holds a wide variety of western food as well as one of the best cheese cakes and chocolate waffles we have had the pleasure of eating in Xi an. The menu changes every two weeks, while customer favourites remain a staple. Food is served between 2pm and 9pm. We placed our order and sat back to admire all the café had to offer. From the quirky light bulb vases holding fresh flowers to the different pieces of retro art decorating the walls, the café had a home sweet home feel. The second floor (non-smoking) set out as a family room is the perfect place to escape the streets and enjoy a movie, or sporting event on the big screen. The third floor is still in the works and will open after New Year. Our order arrived and while sipping on a fine Americano we went over the drinks list. Candy Kisses Café has a full bar menu and the prices match those of similar establishments. The menu includes: everyone s favourite Belgium beers (including LüNan s), foreign wine and spirits by the bottle. What we found unique, was the cocktail menu. Whatever your fix, be sure to pop in Friday to Sunday around 9pm for live music, a drink or two and great company. All in all, it was the perfect way to cap off a long Saturday, and worth a visit. You haven t seen the last of me, Waffles! 12 xianease December 2014

13 Reviews Reviews Pros: Being able to find a spot in the café based on your mood. Be it a coffee and a slice of cake or a few drinks and live music with friends, this café has it all Cons: The menu is in chinese, however there are pictures to get by with and the owner can help with the translation Average Price per person/ 人均消费 : RMB Address / 地址 : 10122#, Wan Da Pedestrian Street, Min Le Yuan. ( 民乐园万达步行街 号商铺 ( 近万达广场 4 号门 ) ) Tel / 电话 : Hours / 时间 : 12 noon - 11:00pm Jack Marshall is from Durban in South Africa, he s been teaching in Xi an for the past year and a half. He loves finding new places so if you know a place let him know at nightlife@xianease.com December 2014 xianease 13

14 Reviews Reviews 桂 Mototo Liquor Store Article By Wayner Edens and Becca Finding that little taste of home here in Xi an can be a bit of a challenge. With my limited Chinese it s a case of relying on google and/or via word of mouth and it s the latter that directed me to try Mo Toto Liquor Store. And not having to travel too far was just an added bonus. So, the other half and I took a leisurely stroll inside the city wall along Shuncheng South Road until we came across Mo Toto and stopped for a drink. As you stand at the entrance you look down upon its patrons enjoying the atmosphere whilst having conversations with friends and lovers through the large glass doors. It certainly looked busy, so we ventured on inside. The bar was small with a number of tables and chairs dotted around the place and a rather cool serving hatch style holes in the wall that also acted as tables. Once inside we were greeted by a Xiao Mi, the store manager, who pointed the large fridges stocked with beers, ales and soft drinks galore and showed us around the store. At this point I should tell you that this is not a bar or restaurant of the kind many of us frequent here in Xi an. It s predominantly a store for buying cheap imported beers. However, if the process of choosing from the large selection of beers, ales and ciders tires you out then you can sit and relax inside at one of the few tables situated around the place. No, this is something quite different and I loved it! It reminded me of the old spit and sawdust type bars back home; simple and effective with no franchise-style décor. A drinkers bar. A place that only locals frequent to unwind from the days stresses. A real gem of a find. One word that for me sums the place up is raw. What do they sell? I hear you ask. Mo Toto is stocked with European, Australian (VB), German, Dutch, Czech, Korean, Thai and US beers and Guinness! I haven t seen Guinness (other than in Metro) in any of the bars around here yet, so this was a real treat. And ciders! The selection goes from Corona, Vedette, Brew Dog, Guinness, 14 xianease December 2014

15 Reviews Chimay, Hoegarden to name but a few, and soft drinks such as Soda Shaq, popular with some of my American friends. With prices that range from 10 RMB up to 50 RMB, better than most of the supermarkets in town. Oh, and they don t do food. There are a few snacks for 20 RMB in sealed containers like the Hahajing Ducks wings and feet; lotus, potato and sausage but that s it. You come here to drink. Choose...buy... drink and enjoy the conversation of friends. The biggest problem you will face is choosing what to drink next. Reviews I chose a lovely bottle of Magners Apple cider and Becca decided to go for one of the Belgium peach beers and the red berry fruit beer. Just the ticket on a cold, wet Xi an evening. Roll on springtime when the outside tables extend across the road from the bar to the foot of the wall. WOW! Pro: Great raw local place with great people Con: When I find one I ll let you know Recommendation: Try it. Go there, sample their wares and stumble home. Give thanks and enjoy the choice! Average Price per person/ 人均消费 : RMB Address / 地址 : East of Shuncheng Xiang, Inside of Hanguang Men. ( 含光门里顺城巷东 ) Tel / 电话 : Hours / 时间 : 5:00pm - 3:00am Wayne is an English teacher from the UK that has lived in Xi an for about 18 months now. He can be contacted at welearningenglish32@gmail.com December 2014 xianease 15

16 Featured FEATURED Ma Wei Yi - A Taste of Shaanxi Article by XIANEASE Xianyang for most of us usually is spoken or written with the word airport attached at the end; and to be honest until we did a bit of research that s all it ever was to us as well. But that s why we do what we do, and so a few weeks ago we decided to see what else does Xi an s little brother has. It actually didn t take us much searching to find a pretty nifty little place nestled in West Xianyang called Ma Wei Yi. It s a recreated ancient village area with pretty interesting architecture, cool ambiance and amazing food. Located just off the Xi an - Baoji expressway about 40 minutes from the Xi an city center, Ma Wei Yi is a purpose built site covering over 10,000 square meters with restaurants, shops, galleries, museums and performance spaces all focused on ancient Shaanxi. Opened earlier this year the concept is one that has taken root in quite a few of the surrounding communities with both good and poor results. If press coverage or weekend attendance is any indication then Ma Wei Yi has got it right. It currently seems to be one of the hottest xianease December 2014

17 FEATURED What makes Ma Wei Yi so popular comes down to three things; Architecture: It s stylized ancient China meaning that it looks like a Chinese movie set but the size of the place combined with the flowing design let the visitors immerse themselves in the environment. While it would be over the top to say it feels authentic or you could lose yourself in the setting (mentally we mean; because it s actually quite easy to physically lose yourself in there), it can be said that the place doesn t feel cheap and the design is such that there are lots of pretty nifty photo opportunities to be had. Featured Ambiance: With red lanterns strung over the street, stall sellers calling their wares and Shaanxi opera wafting on the breeze; the setting, like the architecture, is a big plus in the suspension of disbelief which is really what you re looking for when visiting these fake historic towns. We all know it s not real, granted, but when you visit a place like this it s always nice if they have gone the extra mile in creating the scene, and Ma Wei Yi has done this in spades. Food: With any place like this all of the five senses should be stimulated to make the best of the experience. While similar places tend to gouge on the food prices these guys went the other way and set up tons of food stalls with most prices below 10 RMB per dish. Once we arrived and found out about the prices we decided to do a bit of a challenge. December 2014 xianease 17

18 FEATURED Featured Since Ma Wei Yi features just about every Shaanxi dish there is plus a few more, and the prices are so reasonable the four of us decided to set a total budget of 130 RMB for us all to eat and drink. What started as a bit of a fun challenge actually turned into a great day as we ended up copying the now legendary TV show Bite of China. We walked up and down the streets stopping into every shop we were interested in and buying one serving for us all to try. We ate and drank our way through this recreated ancient town and by the end of our day we still had 27 RMB left! In other words the food there is amazingly well priced with the variety and taste that makes this place a great little day trip to not only get out of the city but to try lots of great provincial dishes. While any excursion around Xi an or Shaanxi is best done with a group of both local and foreign friends this is one place where taking your Shaanxi friends will quite possibly open up new experiences, not only will they be able to introduce new local foods but with it can also lead to amazing stories about your friends lives. To help get you started on your food journey we decided to go down the list of the food we ate to give you all a start on your culinary Shaanxi journey. 18 xianease December 2014 Zhu Rou Wan Zi Hui Cai ( 猪肉丸子烩菜 ) Ingredients ( 配料 ): Pork Meatballs ( 猪肉丸子 ), Tofu ( 豆腐 ), Fen Tiao ( 粉条 ), Fungus ( 木耳 ), Cabbage ( 白菜 ), Spring Onion ( 葱花 ) Cost ( 价格 ): 20 RMB (Large Bowl) This was the most expensive dish we had but was large enough for at least two people to slurp away and fill up. This soup based dish is usually served in winter and from the first bite you can see why. The freshly made deep fried meatballs and large portion of veggies gives means that every spoonful has an abundance of flavor. Not spicy at all, this large bowl of warmth is seasoned only with a touch of salt and is a real treat in color, aroma and taste. For an added bonus be sure to sit on one of the tables outside and let the soup warm you up from the inside. Lu Ti Mian ( 驴蹄面 ) Ingredients ( 配料 ): Flour Noodles ( 面 ), Egg ( 鸡蛋 ), Tomato ( 西红柿 ), Minced Pork ( 肉末 ), Leek ( 韭菜 ), Chinese Cabbage ( 青菜 ), Spicy Chili Oil ( 油泼辣子 ) Cost ( 价格 ): 10 RMB per bowl This standard lunch option isn t exactly difficult to find, though though they said the noodles are a bit diffrent here. However to the average noodle eater it is barely noticable. Be sure to mix the bowl before eating to get all the flavors mixed together and don t let the spicy chili oil scare you, these are not spicy noodles at all. If you want more of one ingredient or less of another just tell the staff and they can switch it around per your taste.

19 Featured FEATURED Zao Gao ( 枣糕 ) Ingredients ( 配料 ): Rice Flour ( 大米 ), Red Dates ( 红枣 ) Cost ( 价格 ): 5 RMB for one piece on a stick Chao Liang Fen ( 炒凉粉 ) Ingredients ( 配料 ): Rice Noodles ( 凉粉 ), Garlic Sprout ( 蒜苗 ), Chili ( 辣椒 ) Cost ( 价格 ): 5 RMB per cup Fen Tang Yang Xue ( 粉汤羊血 ) Ingredients ( 配料 ): Sheep Blood ( 羊血 ), Fen Tiao ( 粉条 ), Spring Onion ( 葱花 ), Coriander ( 香菜 ) Cost ( 价格 ): 15 RMB per bowl Yes, we can guess what you re Taking a break from savory One of those dishes found thinking and we can sympathize, we headed to sweet town and around Xi an that everyone but what is the point of living in picked up a few of these sticky wants to know what the jiggly China, traveling the world and guys. Made from two very basic jelly stuff is made from (rice experiencing a new culture if ingredients this steamed treat is flour) it has a thick garliclty flavor. you never step outside of your as filling as it is tasty. Not overly This used to be a standard countryside dish served to warm and motivate you just know that the comfort zone? Well if that didn t complicated the simple bite is served at room temperature, fill you up. It s the kind of stickto-your-ribs dish that fills you own. It simply takes on the great sheep blood has no flavor of its being outside they are a bit cool to the touch making this a great up fast allowing you to get back Mala flavor of the soup. Give it a compliment to the other warm to work in the field. Give it a try try, you are almost guaranteed to and spicy dishes. Give them a but keep in mind that one cup is make the huh, it s actually not try but don t overdo it, rice flour usually enough for everyone to that bad face and have a great has a way of sneaking up on you have at least one piece, which is story to tell your friends back and filling you up fast. enough. home. December 2014 xianease 19

20 FEATURED Hong Shu Wan Zi ( 红薯丸子 ) Ingredients ( 配料 ): Mashed Sweet Potato ( 红薯 ) Cost ( 价格 ): 5 RMB per cup Featured More of a snack than a meal, this deep fried and bite sized sweet potato nibble isn t a bad choice while you re exploring the other streets in the area. The cup will keep your hand warm and your mouth busy as you snap photos and make your way to the next discovery. Similar to the Chao Liang Fen one cup is enough for everyone to have a piece to try. Any more than one and you ll start to fill up and you want to make sure that you have room to keep trying more! To Fu Tang ( 豆腐汤 ) Ingredients ( 配料 ): Almond ( 杏仁 ), Dofu ( 豆腐 ), Chinese Cabbage ( 青菜 ), Fungus ( 木耳 ), Sesame Seeds ( 芝麻 ), Deep Fried Flour ( 馓子 ) Cost ( 价格 ): 6 RMB per bowl This sesame seed based soup with Tofu is served warm, the deep-fried flour bits provide the crispy contrast to the warm Tofu. The added almond bits and vegetables complete the dish to a tasty climax. Dou Hua Pao Mo ( 豆花泡馍 ) Ingredients ( 配料 ): Dofu ( 豆腐 ), Bread ( 馍 ), Chili Oil ( 辣椒油 ) Cost ( 价格 ): 8 RMB per wonderful wonderful bowl An absolutely wonderful dish that will fill you up and taste great while doing so, give it a go and you won t be disappointed. Be sure to get the tofu, bread and soup all in one spoonful and taste the wow-ness! 20 xianease December 2014

21 FEATURED Getting There: Car: Take the Xi an Baoji expressway and take the Xing Ping City exit ( 兴平市 ) Bus: Grab the Xing Ping ( 兴平 ) bus that departs from Western Bus Station ( 城西客运站 ) there is usually a bus every twenty minutes or so. Once at the Xing Ping bus station hop on either but 1 or 5 to Ma Wei Cai Shi Chang ( 马嵬菜市场 ). It s not the easiest but the trip is well worth it! Featured Liang Pi ( 凉皮 ) Ingredients ( 配料 ): Rice Noodles ( 凉皮 ), Bean Sprouts ( 豆芽 ), Chili Oil ( 辣椒油 ) Question or comments about activities around Xi an contact us at editorial@xianease.com. Cost ( 价格 ): 5 RMB per bowl If you ve been in Xi an for five minutes you ve probably already had Liangpi, but just in case you haven t the one on offer here isn t a bad option to try. This cold and mildly spiced dish goes great in winter and summer. That was our breakdown of food, plus a few others odds and ends to snack on for the ride home. All in all what at first started as an attempt to expand our knowledge of Xianyang ended up expanding our appreciation of local food and our stomachs! As we mentioned this place gets really busy on the weekends so if at all possible head there during a weekday as we did and you ll have the place to yourself or as much to yourself as is possible. If this small list we put together has put you onto the track of being a foodie as it has us, be sure to check out the video blog created by a foreign guy living in Xi an who is passionate about local street food. It s an amazing channel that really gets the ideas flowing when it comes to getting out there and trying the local fare for yourself! December 2014 xianease 21

22 Food FOOD Recipes Pan fried king prawn with garlic, chilly and parsley over charbroiled crouton 煎大虾 Article By Chef Andrea Serves 4 people 四人份 Ingredients 用料 : 16pc King Prawns ( 大虾 ) 16 Cloves Garlic ( 大蒜 ) 20g Chopped Parsley ( 香菜末 ) 4 Slices Country Bread ( 面包 ) Dry Chilly to Taste ( 干辣椒 ) Preparation 做法 : 1) Remove the shell the prawns, leaving the head and tail ( 把虾壳剥掉, 留下头部和尾部 ) 2) Peel and slice the garlic ( 大蒜薄皮切片 ) 3) In a sauté pan a generous amount of extra virgin olive oil ( 锅中倒入特级初榨橄榄油 ) 4) Add the garlic and toast it until it becomes golden-brown ( 大蒜下锅煎至金黄 ) 22 xianease December ) Add the chilly the palate ( 加入辣椒 ) 6) Add the prawns, season to taste and finish the cooking with low heat 味 ) ( 加入大虾文火煎制调 7) While the prawns are cooking toast the bread on the grill ( 与此同烤制面包 ) 8) Add the parsley and serve over the bread ( 出盘, 虾放在面包上, 撒香菜末 )

23 FOOD Caramelized Xi an (fushi) red apple over green apple coulis and vanilla ice cream 焦糖苹果 Serves 4 people 四人份 Ingredients 用料 : This is Apple Coulis Food 4 Xi an (Fushi) Apples ( 红富士苹果 ) 4 Green Apples ( 青苹果 ) 4 Scoops Vanilla Ice Cream ( 香草冰淇淋 ) 100g Butter ( 黄油 ) 6 tbs White Sugar ( 白糖 ) Cinnamon ( 肉桂 ) Chef Andrea is from Northern Italy and works in Sofilte Legend People s Grand Hotel Xi an. With 15 years of cooking expeience, Chef offers an authentic Italian cuisine in Dolce Vita Italian restaurant. pgh.kitchen@renminsquare.com Preparation 做法 : 1) Peel the Fushi red apple and cut them to wedges ( 红富士去皮切成月牙状 ) 2) Cut the green apples and process them in a juicer, save the coulis in the fridge ( 青苹果切块放入榨汁机中榨汁, 并将青苹果汁放入冰箱 ) 3) In a pan add butter and heat until it turns a golden brown color ( 锅中放入黄油直至金黄色泡沫状 ) 4) Add the Fushi apple wedges and dust with sugar ( 加入红富士撒上白糖 ) 5) When the apples reach a nice caramelized color turn them and cook the other side ( 一面煎至上色后翻面煎制另一面 ) 6) Pour the coulis in to a dish and place the Fushi apple wedged on top ( 青苹果汁倒入盘中, 摆入煎好的苹果 ) 7) Place the ice cream over the hot Fushi apples and grind some fresh cinnamon over the dish ( 香草冰淇淋放在苹果上方, 撒一些肉桂 ) 8) Garnish with fresh mint leaves ( 再放两片薄荷叶即可 ) December xianease december

24 COMMUNITY My conservatory looking out to sea on a calm day At Home in Community England Article by Carolyn If you have read in the past some of my At Home In China articles you may have wondered why they came to an end so abruptly. The reason is that in June my daughter and I left China and returned to England. My intention was to continue writing seamlessly but nothing has been quite as I had expected. Our journey home was certainly a joy. We spent two months travelling overland through Tibet, Nepal and India, before flying to London from Delhi. It s a fabulous route, particularly the far south western edge of Tibet where a Dawn by the Seven Sister s cliffs Cuckmere Haven 24 xianease December 2014 quiet, modest road winds right through the Himalayas and delivers you to the border with Nepal. I can still see the vision of all those waterfalls which seem to be cascading from heaven they fall from so high. We arrived home with hearts full of energy and enthusiasm. Now I don t want to sound ungrateful or miserable, we have a wonderful home, but returning is not proving easy. It was lovely to see our house again. Set in such an extraordinary landscape our old Coast Guard cottage looks charming even when bedraggled. My tenants, who were such good friends we hadn t bothered with a vulgar contract, had promised to maintain the cottage but for one good reason or another hadn t. The garden, the poor garden; our once productive vegetable plot and all our flowering beds seemed to have forgotten they d ever been cultivated. Our telephone line and internet link had been disconnected. The solar panel which used to produce piping hot water no longer worked. Paths were overgrown, fences had fallen, the house needed painting, putty had fallen out of window frames, the conservatory roof was leaking, the shower head was limed up and the toilet was black. But standing on the terrace looking out to sea breathing deep lungful s of fresh clean air seemed to make up for everything. We arrived home in early September so it was still warm and I swam in the sea every day, sometimes naked, very early in the morning before anyone was around. The warm waters of Asia are beguiling but there is something heady and delicious about cool water too. I rose with the sun and walked on the beach collecting stones and fossils and

25 COMMUNITY pieces of driftwood while oystercatchers trilled in the rock pools and curlew called as they came winging in from sea. When we went shopping my heart raced at the prices but I paid nevertheless and we gorged on cheese and chocolate, quality ice cream and oily fish and chips, we ate salads, roast potatoes and roast chicken, cupcakes and huge slices of lemon meringue pie. Then I started to get heartburn and tooth ache and my national health The local sheep farmers working dogs dentist said his patient lists were full and he could no longer see me.the only practice that had space was the one known locally as the torture chamber. Here the Polish dentist clattered her tools round my mouth and talked about feeling homesick before telling me she wanted to pull out my back teeth and give me false ones. To get a second opinion I ve had to book an appointment with a private clinic who charge for an initial consultation. The recession over here makes people mad for money. And yes the air is sweet and clear but it seems there s a pulse and energy that s missing. When we drive to our local seaside town my daughter asks, Where are the people? The streets are deserted, the pavements empty, doors are closed. And it s all so extraordinarily clean one imagines a giant vacuum cleaner roaming the highways and byways sucking and polishing all night long. And there are no old people sitting at tables in the street playing mahjong, instead they trail slowly through the shops and the supermarkets pushing their walkers, always alone. I smile at them and some smile back and strike up a conversation but mostly they look away, because contact with strangers in the west is classified as a threat. I greet the Chinese, Nepalese and Indians too, I can t help it, I long for the warmth and easy generosity of their company. After three years in Xi an where smiles come easy I miss my Chinese friends and neighbours. And seeing how I ve put on several pounds and have made myself thoroughly sick by eating too much French cheese and chocolate gateaux all I really want is a nice cheap dish of baozi and some wonton soup. Next month I ll tell you what my daughter makes of English school but now I d better get back to my DIY tasks and gardening before it starts raining again! If you have any questions or comments you can reach Carolyn at carolyn@xianease.com Community December 2014 xianease 25

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29 December 2014 xianease 29 Xi an International School 800 Man 八百万堂慢食馆 Faithful Language School 桂 Mototo Liquor Store Jia Xiang Kindergarten Xi an ischool Candy Kisses Café 蜜吻餐吧

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32 COMMUNITY Community Kitty s Corner Part Three: Perspective Article by Benjamin Greuter As writers, we are always trying to figure out what it is that we are writing, why we write, and what effect we want our work to have. But the most common pursuit among us is arguably the pursuit to create something valuable. So what is it that we have to offer the world that is of any significant value? Every artist, and especially every poet, has something absolutely unique to offer our readers. We have our perspectives. Kitty ed me a few weeks ago with a set of poems which she suggested I could pick from for this month s publication. I was curious what had so inspired her! And surely enough, I discovered that she d been applying yet another, third method for writing, used both intentionally and subconsciously. Simply put, our method is other art. Many a writer has found inspiration in the works of other artists. Similarly to how people feel inspired or moved by beautiful scenery, films, or music, Kitty has taken a fondness to using photos and paintings. This poem she wrote based on one of her favorite paintings as of late. Maybe you can guess what the painting depicts based on her words: In the Wind Autumn winds Angel wings Brings to life A butterfly. Around and over A spirit s shoulder We see a light on A butterfly. In the thinking wind Nature will send A message by A butterfly. The wings will carry Time of starry Into the night Of a butterfly. This ability to articulate one s own perspective of an experience, even if that experience is simply the sight of an inspirational painting, is a magical and insightful ability. Kitty shows us here some of the feelings and imaginative thoughts she has when she observes one of her favorite paintings. You can see how her experience of the natural, particularly of butterflies, blends beautifully with her concepts of spirit, light, angels, and the distant vacuum that one feels in the scene of starry nights. Such inklings are far too common a thread in the writings of poets all over the world to be taken lightly. Kitty may have proven that she has her own individual perspective of such things, but when we look to the poets throughout the ages, we find there is evidence of the connection that people find between the natural and the heavenly realms stretching back as far as writing itself. From the Ancient Greeks and their various gods (each representing aspects of nature) to the romantic period of literature, with poets like Shelley, Wordsworth, Colerige, and Lord Byron, all of whom draw distinct connections between nature and the Divine. I share these things with you to offer you this tidbit of literary understanding: each and every human perspective, once artistically rendered, enter into a longer conversation, a historical conversation, be that conversation literature, painting, or photography. When observed all together, each as an aspect of a larger picture, these varying perspectives seem to give way to some common direction, some overlying Truth. Truth has, after all, found itself held in so many different lights, that individually, its 32 xianease December 2014

33 COMMUNITY very difficult to distinguish without sharing in others perspectives. Kwame Anthony Appiah termed it most eloquently, however, in Cosmopolitanism, Ethics in a World of Strangers, when he explains the analogy of Truth as a mirror; we each hold a single shard of the total mirror that is Truth, and we could never understand the entire thing unless everyone shares their shard. That s what we must do as writers: share the Truth. Grasshoppers Look at us from up there. It s a strange little thing, our planet, so full of air and backyards, that we might crawl about to our tiny beating hearts self-seeking contents, in a blissful innocence that we end up selling for badges that say glory to God on the backs where should be Made in China. Such a painfully pleasant experience, our wandering around in the dirt, minds self-filled, mainly, pursuing our make-believe roles and quests. We are so invested in our games that we can pretend ourselves into tears and worse, like a fat grandchild weeping over the melted puddle beneath his cone, or a little girl sobbing over her Barbie s broken heart. That poor child, says the little girl s grandmother, her own tears dropping as short of God s as the earth is shorter than the heavens. Damn that treacherous Ken, anyways. Look at the photos in this magazine, surrounding each article, and see if any one of them seems to pop out at you, inspire a particular feeling or sentiment and write it! The next part of Kitty s Corner as it will appear in the January/February issue, will be the last part in some time, so for any further comments or questions you might have for me, or any of the contributors to Xianese, please visit our website at contactus or you can contact me directly, at the_scop_x@yahoo. com. Thanks; keep writing and keep reading! If you d like to discuss your work with someone for critique or advice, please feel free to me at the_ scop_x@yahoo.com, or send me a wechat message at benji9012. Community December 2014 xianease 33

34 COMMUNITY Lacquer Artist Article by Darcy Littler Community It was like entering an Aladdin s cave with all manner of things coated in a glowing symphony of colour. There were zithers hanging on the wall, paintings similar to Monet s, images of the Buddha, furniture, bowls and vases all coated in colourful lacquer. Hiding behind it all at a small tea table was Ren, a Chinese lacquer artist living here in Xi an. He had a big warm smile on his face. The kettle began to boil and it was time for tea. He started to introduce Chinese lacquer. Ren s care-free attitude and sense of humour began to shine through. This was immediately comforting. He was brimming with passion for this art form and wanted to let me know what it is all about. Lacquer art is an ancient Chinese art form which dates back thousands of years. Today however it seems to be more popular outside of the Chinese mainland, in places like Taiwan and Japan. It is a natural varnish made from sap produced by lacquer trees on the nearby mountains. It is formed by mixing tree sap with flour, ash and colour pigment. This produces an oily varnish which is applied in layers to various objects and then sanded down and polished to produce bursts of colour or intricate designs. This process and medium has been passed on for thousands of years and has taken on various forms throughout different dynasties. The Chinese have used lacquer to coat common utensils made of wood and pottery for thousands of years. In the 1970 s archaeologists unearthed a 7000 year old red lacquer wood bowl in Yuyao, Zhejiang province. Lacquer art enjoyed rapid development in the 34 xianease December 2014 Ren Xiao Dong 任晓东 Warring States Period ( BC) and lacquer trees were planted abundantly. The famous Chinese philosopher Zhuang zi is said to have worked as an official overseeing lacquer plantations for some time. It came into its golden age during the Han dynasty (206 BC- 220 AD) and the court, local nobilities and merchants regarded lacquer wares as symbols of fortune and wealth. To learn lacquer Ren had to follow a teacher for several years and cultivate patience because just one piece of art can take months and months to produce. Tens or even hundreds of thin layers are added one by one and need time in between to dry. The artwork is then placed into a small dark room resembling a sauna for several months to dry and solidify in strict conditions to prevent cracking. It is also messy business and can be difficult to wash off. Lacquer can be slightly toxic and when I visited Ren was suffering from an allergy brought on by the lacquer which manifested itself as rashes and itchy eyes. This is punishment from the tree spirits because I took away their sap, he said in a joking manner. Chinese folklore has it that the tree spirit which abides in the lacquer tree did something worthy of punishment in the past and when sap is being drained from it, it is just like blood or tears are trickling down its trunk. These are the costs of this art form, at times quite tragic he said. Ren has students of his own and is keeping the tradition alive, they too have to bear the hardships of such an art form, but worth it they say as when the final piece is ready it gives a feeling of great satisfaction. Bitterness alternates to sweetness. Peering out of the window you can

35 COMMUNITY Not so many people are willing to work with this art form today because it is demanding and extremely slow. Lacquer was very common in China up until fifty years ago when plastics began to replace it. Perhaps the nature of this craft can t catch up with the demands for convenience in the modern world. see the Zhongnan Mountains famous perhaps for its other worldliness and home throughout history to saints, sages and recluses. Buddhist monks living in grass houses and Taoist immortals sipping pine needle tea as they ponder rock formations. Ren s way of quieting and cultivating his heart is through this art form. Each step of the process requires unremitting concentration and when producing art Ren forgets the world and becomes quietly immersed. This is cultivation, a way to quiet my heart he said. This is the spirit of Chinese lacquer. For the past six years he has been drawn to producing Buddhist imagery since being inspired during a visit to The Yungang Grottos at Wuzhou mountain, an area of 53 caves dating back over 1500 years. The caves contain huge statues of the Buddha carved out of stone. Ren recalls one quiet morning I went to visit the caves when there were few people around, it was very quiet and the grandness of the statues left a deep impression on me, awe inspiring. Ren has been reproducing images of the Buddhist statues in his work and said at times I want to create something new but I just produce another Buddha. Each time I polish the image the Buddha gradually shines through, just like the path to enlightenment a gradual polishing. When I asked him how much he sells his work for, he said that he doesn t sell his art. I don t think many people would accept the price. They would think it s too expensive, even though the work itself is very time consuming and requires a lot of effort. But I don t do this to make money; I do it to follow my own passion. I am fortunate enough to have a teaching job at a university which provides me with what I need and I have a lacquer studio so that I and my friends can explore this art form. I put a great deal of effort and heart into my artwork. Selling one piece means having one piece less. So why would I want to sell them? He laughed, and said, I think my current situation is rather ideal for an artist because I can concentrate on just creating in a simple and pure way. I wondered whether this art form would eventually become extinct and felt that Ren carries a big responsibility to pass it on. He told me he would love to spread lacquer art to people. But I don t worry about the future of lacquer art. When it returns, it will return, valuable culture never completely vanishes. When the time is right for lacquer s return, I m sure there will be many people willing to share it. Darcy teaches English at a university in Xi an. He came to Xi an three years ago to study Taoism, Buddhism, Confucianism and traditional Chinese culture. He can be contacted at d.lit@live.co.uk or added on wechat: Darcylit Community December 2014 xianease 35