Snacks

Bay area is not a bad place for Chinese. With Chinese groceries and restaurants around, you can get almost the same food as in Beijing with only one exception: snacks. Some snacks are available in Ranch 99, most of which are made in Hongkong and Taiwan. "True" Chinese snacks, Spicy Roast Beef, Stewed Bean Curd for instance, are mainly unavailable.

That's why I was thrilled to receive some home-made smoked fish from a Chinese friend two months ago and now packages of pickled-peppers flavored chicken feet from another. These snacks are not widely accepted by non-Chinese, but they're one of those easily reminding you of the "good old days." The small market share prevents them from mass production in the US, but also makes them a rare treat.

A friend of mine once told me about Chinese people's lives abroad: you may not mind taking two pieces of toasts with jam, or making a waffle with honey for breakfast, but your eyes only light up at Youtiao (a kind of deep-fried dough sticks) and porridge. I still love my cheesecakes and salmon, but can't say bye to stewed pork or fried beef. Similarly, returnees always list "food" as a top advantage of returning to China after living abroad for years. 

There are several explanations for the inertia of eating habit. People can change their minds but not their stomach, as we are always better at changing reasonable thinking, but not desires. If people are exposed to a new idea, they may want to analyze it first to see how comparable it goes with their previous knowledge and experiences. As people grow older, their minds can change all the time (just think of how you adore heroes as a child but believe more in "grey areas" now.) But once their irrational preference has been shaped after long growing-up years, it is hard to change. Although I know how unhealthy these snacks can be given their unclear ingredients, but they are just too good to say no.

Another explanation is that people may associate food with a certain lifestyle that they miss. Chinese snacks do remind me of my childhood and college life, when I snacked with my family and friends. Those days are gone, but the flavors, accompanied with happiness and joy are always remembered. With physical constraints, we need some imagination to live better lives.

Anyway, I'm very satisfied with this new packages of snacks from China. Happy Friday!