Last week I was flown to ZhengZhou in Henan province, China
as a reccy trip to see if Freestyle Tout in China could be a possibility.
The city of ZhengZhou (with a population of 8 million and surrounded by many many millions more)is a hive of activity with numerous new buildings popping up everywhere.
My hosts Mr Song and Ms Chen were very hospitable and fantastic at showing off their city to the fullest.
ZhengZhou is not like Shanghai or Beijing, there is still a lot of opportunity to be had here. So far Dairy Queen, KFC, Pizza Hut and Haagen Dazs have jumped into this hotspot.
For more info on ZhengZhou
http://www.chinatravelguide.com/ctgwiki/ZhengzhouCrowne Plaza ZhengZhouhttp://www.crowneplaza.com/zhengzhou-cp
View of city from room in Crowne Plaza ZhengZhou
Crowne Plaza room 525 Bathroom
Crowne Plaza ZhengZhou room
Staff getting a pep talk before service outside a restaurant...
I was somewhat surprised with the food in ZhengZhou. Let me tell you all was delish/tasty in every outlet we tried. Lots of heat with chilli, something you do not see with Chinese food here in Australia.
Hot Pot RestaurantThis was fun! A hot pot was in front of you on the table, inside was stock and bean curd and then you add food you like and pull out when cooked...
Minced prawn being placed in hot pot
and then some noodles please...
okay thinner thanks...
Spicy fish dish
Exotic mushrooms, spicy noodles, eggplant & 1000 year old eggs and green tea
and desserts...
yes this is dessert.. corn bound and sprinkled with sugar
Cibo Coffee, fudge Brownie with melon icecream
Haagen Dazs brownie
All the restaurants I went to had most of the floorspace taken up by private rooms where one can catch up with family, friends or do business in privacy.
Cibo private dining room
Cibo private dining room
Dio Coffee exterior
Dio Coffee interior
Yum ChaWe in Australia have taken on the name Yum Cha but in truth Yum Cha means drink tea
Dim sum or in Cantonese Dian Xin are divine both in China and Hong Kong eaten as breakfast or lunch
Two of my Favs
Har Gau - fresh prawn dumpling or Steamed Char sui buns - soft, fluffy, yummy. Pork or sweet bean paste.
Dim sum or Cantonese Dian Xin
And what's at the supermarket...
Mangosteens
Sugar and mung beans
Chinese Coke
Eggs
Frozen prawns
Frozen seafood
Hong Kong 
View from Golden Bull Vietnamese Restaurant
Young Coconut Juice
Crab & Avo salad
Spicy Pork & Rice Noodle
Chinatown Fortitude ValleyThe Chinese Moon Lantern Festival known as an important festival in the Asian Communities other than Lunar Chinese New Year, it usually falls on 15th of the 8th Chinese Lunar Calendar. During these times, people celebrate the Mid-Autumn festival to worship the moon as the moon become fullest and brightest. It attracts not only Chinese communities, but also the Vietnamese, Thai, Laotians, Cambodians, Koreans, Japanese, Indonesians, Malaysians and Singaporeans. It provides a real cultural experience and understanding of Asian tradition and belief through connection with Asian communities.
Location: Valley Chinatown Mall - Dixon Street, Fortitude Valley
Date: 18th September 2010, Saturday 12:00PM ~ 7:00PM
Fuchsia Dunlop's Book Sharks Fin & Sichuan Pepper is very inciteful and showcases Chinese Food, history and Chinese ways...
On 6th October Freestyle Book Club will be having a Chinese Feast with recipes from Fuchsia's book
http://www.freestyletout.com.au/bookclub
