TAIWAN BEER-HOUSE WOKED CLAMS

[ezcol_1fifth] [/ezcol_1fifth] [ezcol_3fifth] IT WAS A CRADLE FOR UNDERAGE DRINKING AND SECOND-HAND SMOKE, AND WE LOVED IT LIKE MOTHER'S MILK [/ezcol_3fifth] [ezcol_1fifth_end] [/ezcol_1fifth_end] [ezcol_1half][/ezcol_1half] [ezcol_1half_end][/ezcol_1half_end] [ezcol_1half] TONIGHT is an event. I hear my parents, hastening by the front door, as I ready myself in my yellow-painted bedroom. There is festivity and jittering even in the motion of putting on my flower-printed socks. Somebody barges in and forces an extra jacket over my reluctant shoulder, my sweater itches, and my brother, as usual, looks as unapproachable as yesterday. But none of that dampens my excitement, because like I said, something big is going on tonight. I ride in a car pierced with noises which I realize later, are probably all of my own, but playing a game of fantasy Galaga with the blinking tail-lights from the front cars, is the only peaceful diplomatic relation I have with my temperamentally unpredictable sibling, which as usual, ends unfavourably for me shortly before destination

OLD BEIJING LAMB SKEWER

[ezcol_3quarter][/ezcol_3quarter][ezcol_1quarter_end] THERE are many virtues about Beijing, and as far as I'm concerned, they are all true.  The widely studied, highly evolved lung-capacity of its residence to withstand extremely volatile air molecules is among the most celebrated.  The profound unity and rewardless participation in the national sport of competitive spitting, for god and country, is none but true patriotism.  Then, perhaps the most famous although not as extraordinary as the former points, that it's true, these fine citizens do know how to roast a damn duck. Like actually actually. But the most extraordinary things are those that go unadvertised.  The best-kept secret, the silent do-er in this fine metropolis is tucked away in every unknown streets and corners, and I mean every streets and corners.  It's the most note-worthy and representative of Beijing street-food scene, and as far as I'm concerned, it is this word - 串. [/ezcol_1quarter_end] [ezcol_1quarter][/ezcol_1quarter][ezcol_1quarter][/ezcol_1quarter] [ezcol_1quarter][/ezcol_1quarter][ezcol_1quarter_end][/ezcol_1quarter_end] [ezcol_1half][/ezcol_1half][ezcol_1quarter] It's the most brilliant, most comprehensible character ever invented.  It looks exactly what it means - skewers. Mostly, lamb skewers. " 串 " Everyone loves this stuff, and for a good reason.  This is after all, the kingdom of the north, and they are not "meeeh~" about their lambs.  Infiltrated into every nooks and crannies of the city, there are casual restaurants called "skewer

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