Bullfrog

Another Changsha delicacy that cannot go ignored is bullfrog (niuwa, which is literally bull and frog). Yes, yes, I agree, it sounds disgusting, because bullfrogs are disgusting. I also refused when I first heard of these dish, and so I told everyone not to tell me what it was so I could judge the dish objectively. It is surprisingly good, as it tastes just like chicken, but it's a bit disappointing at times because bullfrog doesn't have much meat on it. Bullfrog is also prepared in a pot of somesort, and put on top of a burner in front of you at restaurants. 

Bullfrog sizzling away

And some accompanying top dishes of the night..

Hugh's favorite dish of the night: pickled cucumber with slices of pork.

My favorite dish of the night, and one of my favorite Hunan dishes so far: fat green beans sizzled with pepper, spices and what I believe is pork as well.

Nightfood

Nightfood after an exciting Thursday night at Cafe Mescale, one of our favorite bars in Changsha (the owners are good friends with Heyman and Evan): crawfish extravaganza! 

Little do they know...

They usually come in a bowl of spicy delicious Hunan sauce, although non-spicy alternatives are also available. At this place, gloves were given, but proven ineffective. Eating procedure: rip off the tail, eat the tail meat, then suck on brains. Mmmm

Uyghur Restaurant

Our stomachs and taste buds have been extremely pleased for our first three weeks in Changsha. However, much to our dismay, both of our cameras remained broken due to previous unfortunate incidents, and we have not been able to blog. But September rolled along and I finally bought a camera I'd been meaning to buy for a long, long time. So here is an inaugural post of a Uyghur restaurant about five minutes away from Yali Middle School. This place is one of Heyman's favorites, and is quickly becoming one of ours too.

kao bao zi - roasted dumplings, also known as "the best things in the world" by Heyman. Toasted/baked, and filled with lamb meat, vermicelli. They are even tastier because they are limited, and are not always available since the restaurant only makes a certain number per day.


a famous chinese dish called liang pianr. wide, clear cold noodles with spongey tofu. sauce is spicy, with a seemingly Xinjiang/Hunan edge to it.

Fat, juicy lamb meat on a stick known as yang rou chuanr. A classic Uyghur snack, often eaten with big pieces of bread.

Broccoli in garlic and spicy sauce.

Fried potato pieces that crispy on the outside, soft on the inside. Sprinkled with spices.