A CHINESE BANQUET.

Shannon News, 11 May 1923, Page 3

A CHINESE BANQUET.

DELECTABLE DISHES.

One of the members of the Chinese Customs Service was invited, same time ago, to an official Chinese banquet, and gives the following account of it:— . The master of the house received the guests, and showed them into the dining room, which is only divided from the courtyard by a glass partition. In the middle of th e room was a large round table, and against the walls were chairs with a small table before each to put teacups on, tea being served immediately before dinner. The walls were covered with Chinese pictures, and numberless lamps and lanterns hung from the ceiling. After a short conversation in the Chinese language, the table was laid in the presence of the guests. When all was ready the host asked eacn guest to come to the table pointing out his seat, and handing him with many compliments a set of red lacquered chopsticks. When this ceremony was completed the company sat down to dinner. Rlc* win e was first brought up, togethei with ham, eggs and various cold vegetables.

The next course consisted of bird's nest soup, and 34 dishes followed, sijmong which were sharks’ fins, a soup mad e of diminutive snails of the size of small beans, which came from Lake Tahu, a ragout of ducks* tongues, fishes’ brains with brown sauce (a most disgusting dish to a European palate), and puddings baked in oil. Roast pork and ducks were also served: these were eatable, and the fisli was particularly well cooked, but in my opinion the simplest European dish is far preferable to the most elaborate delicacy of th® Chinese cuisine and after dinner I felt, as if I haa eaten boiled gutta percha. The best part of the entertainment was a dish of excellent fruit.

Champagne was served toward the end of the dinner; this is the only win e drunk by the Chinese and only the wealthy can afford to. buy it, as a case costs from 10 to 15 Mexican ducats.

Cigars were handed round £fter the soup, and it is the custom to go away directly after dinner. It is also remarkable that at a banquet of th).j kind the host only appears in official costume, the guests being all la mufti.