Trying to get what you want at the canteen

One more day in Beijing with Max. And another visit to our favorite dumplings and noodles canteen was a must.

Things started off on a very high note. This wood ear fungus marinated in chilli oil was superb. I must start eating this fungus more regularly. Apparently, you buy it dry and then just soak it for an hour or more and, voila, crunchy and lovely fungus that makes a delightful appetizer.

The next dish was a miscommunication of a comical nature. We received this deep fried starch with garlic dipping sauce because we thought it was lightly pan-fried dumplings. When we arrived at the shop, the owner, who usually served us, was nowhere to be found. So Max worked with the waitress and some newly discovered photographs of food on the walls to make our selection. This photo was particularly grainy, looking very much like delicious dumplings. Instead, it was deep fried starch. Not awful, but nowhere close to a good dumpling.

And then our ordering fell on its face. More soupy beef noodles! I couldn't believe it. I am not sure what got lost in translation. The picture of noodles we pointed to was clearly plain noodles with peanut sauce on the side. How it turned into this, I will never know. It was paired with some nice boiled dumplings with pork and chives. There were perhaps other ingredients inside as well. Not bad ingredients, but still not the holy grail of lightly pan fried dumplings (especially when we knew they existed).