After talking about it during a number of weeks and thinking, I decided to go to one of the
fish markets in Beijing and find out if there could be some nice seafood to buy and to cook
for friends.
As can be seen from the picture, I did find some nice seafood, indeed. Crabs and crayfish,
and plenty and to a very cheap price. I argued with the dealer about the crayfish and hold up
1 RMB and 1 crayfish, but he gave me the sign for 6 RMB. Finally I had to buy and go back and
prepare, so I told him to put the crayfish in a black plastic bag I had brought with me. It
turned out that the price was not 6 RMB per each crayfish, but per kilo!! The crabs were more
expensive but very nice.
I went back to my apartment in the hotel and put all the crayfishes in one bath tube in one
restroom and than out again to buy other food like spices, bread butter, beer and wine.
When I came back about an hour later most of the management staff of the hotel was waiting
for me at the lobby. “What are you doing?” “Preparing for a seafood party in my apartment
tonight” was my answer. “Some time ago we hear a very large scream from the apartment and
rushed there to see what had happened!” It turned out that the maid had got scared when she
saw all the crayfishes in the bath tube!
That matter settled, I started the preparations and managed to have everything ready
in time before the guests arrived.
We had a very enjoyable evening with seafood, beer, white wine and a lot of nice talking.
