Everything started at the lobby of the Hilton, where we were met by our Wok Wiz guides including Shirley Fong-Torres (evidently something of a local celebrity, and as mad as she looks in that photo). We were divided into three groups and followed our guide, Frank, along the streets and alleys of this 20-block section of the city.
The history of Chinatown is one of immigration, struggle, but above all commerce (this is America!) The first immigrants came in the gold rush of the 1850s, but finding that they weren't suited to mining took up the various service industries that the prospectors needed. After having to battle rediculously anti-Chinese laws, earthquakes, fire and real estate developers, the area is still a very strong community with its own identity in the larger city (and two more, newer Chinatowns elsewhere).
But enough history, the tour was all about the food. We went to a fortune cookie factory, had a tea tasting at the Red Blossom Tea Company and finished with an eight-course lunch at the Four Seas restaurant. Yum!
Badge of honour.
Our guide Frank in full flow outside a traditional Chinese apothecary.
Frank, still going, in a Buddhist/Taoist temple (they combined to make more money, according to him...)
Tea tasting, as Hannah is shown the different regions of production in China. Strangely the Typhoo region was not among them.
White with one, please. You shouldn't put milk in tea? What??
A spot of traditional music that included We Wish You a Merry Christmas.
Ready for dim sum!
