Guangzhou Food Trip Part 2

Perhaps the biggest challenge faced by tourists is navigating through unchartered territory where the English-speaking population is close to nil and the places to see are too dispersed to visit by foot. While travelling may be considered less of a test of courage and resourcefulness in the United States or in Europe, getting around China (and not the more foreigner-friendly areas of Beijing or Shanghai) is definitely one for the create-your-own-adventure books.

We were very fortunate to be accompanied by someone whose passport has so many China stamps that she should probably already be eligible to participate in the PRC’s elections, so commuting, shopping, dining and sightseeing was no problem at all. And because of our tour guide’s frequency in this city, we were armed with a shortlist of Guangzhou’s must-try restaurants and dishes to order.

Roast Pork & Lemon Grass Tofu

Guangzhou Food Trip Part 1

They say that when in Rome, do as the Romans do. And while we would like to do the same during our entire stay here in China, we could not resist the appeal of the good old, tried and tested international food chain. Besides, there is no better way to truly experience a foreign culture than by trying something different and distinctly local in a place that is already familiar and reminiscent of home.

If the Philippines is the only place in the world where McDonald’s serves McSpaghetti and Burger Mcdo, we figured McDonald’s China has got to have its own set of one-of-a-kind offerings in its menu. Sure enough, the fast food chain in this end of the orient serves not only the standard Big Mac, but also spicy wings, spicy chicken sandwich and desserts like chocolate pie and some quintessentially Chinese red bean concoction. The spicy wings are definitely not for the faint of heart, for an order of four pieces has the same effect on one’s sweat glands as an hour on the treadmill. And since our taste buds tend to enjoy this level of heat, the spicy wings have become a mid-afternoon munchies favorite.

Butch & Bob's breakfast at McChina

We have to admit though, Big Breakfast is better in Mcdo than in McChina. We reckon it’s because the Filipino palate favors slightly charred and subtly sweet sausage over the pale version in China. And everyone knows that the Filipino breakfast of champions is incomplete without a cup of rice.