THE BIRTHDAY CAKE

It was her birthday, but nobody came. In previous years a few of her school friends, as well as cousins of the same age, had come over and helped her celebrate, and they had all had a great time. This year, she understood that they couldn't be there; the disease. And they had called to congratulate her, but she was still sad.

She really wanted to see them.

She wandered around the apartment pretending she was happy. Her mom had given her a new dress, which was very pretty, dark green with sparkles! Her dad gave her an atlas of the world, and showed her things in it. "See, here is Canton, in the south; your grandpa and granma came from there. And this is Hong Kong, where your mom and Auntie Ning are from. And this is the capital region, far to the North, where Taaipakchoi was originally grown, which white people think comes from Napa." It was all very interesting. Her dad thought that in ten years she'd go to Berkeley. But she had really hoped to see her classmates and cousins!

She smiled, so that her parents would not be disappointed. But still.

It would have been SO nice if she could've seen her friends and cousins, and shown off her pretty new dress!

That evening they had a festive meal and some cake. It was very good cake. And she loved soy sauce splattered chicken (豉油雞 'si yau gai') with scallions. Which is a simple dish, just poach a whole chicken in its marinade, then chop, serve with minced scallion strewn over.

She wore the dress during dinner, then fell asleep in front of the teevee.
Her dad carried her to her room.

She was still wearing the dress and clutching the new atlas when there was a tapping at the window.

She opened the curtains, and looked outside.
Six glittery blue eyes looked back.

She knew him!


Quickly she opened the window, and a giant spider holding a cake came inside. It was uncle from Eight Legs Cafe (好發足餅家 'hou faat juk bing kaa'). And he had brought her a lovely cake!

For the next hour she and uncle leafed through the atlas, reading the entries and wondering over the photos accompanying the maps. He had never been to China, his folks had left eight generations ago, he had often though about the country. It always sounded so wonderful. Endless emerald rice paddies, tall leafy incense trees, ancient bridges arching over the Grand Canal ...... silk.

He admired the dress. Green really was her colour!

And the cake was delicious.


Best birthday EVER!



豉油雞 
SOY SAUCE CHICKEN

Marinade
2½ cups soy sauce.
½ cup Shaoxing wine or sherry.
Four TBS dark soy sauce, for depth.
Four tablespoons sesame oil.
One cup brown sugar.
3 to 5 slices ginger.
3 to 5 cloves garlic, smashed.
5 green onions.
3 cloves.
1 or 2 star anise pods.
1 small cinnamon stick.

And a chicken.

Cut the scallions into large sections. Put everything in a saucepan, bring to a light boil while stirring. When the sugar has dissolved take it off the flame and let it cool down. Then use it to "marinate" a young freshly killed chicken overnight on the bottom shelf of the fridge. A food grade plastic bag is excellent for this, and if properly "wedged" will allow the liquid to touch all of the bird.

The next day take it out and place the bird inside a pot, pour the marinade in, and add some water to cover. Bring to a boil, and turn the heat low. After less than five minutes simmer, turn off the heat and let it sit for an hour or so.

Take the bird out of its liquid and chop into chunks.
Strew some minced scallion over to serve.

Good with rice and hot sauce.




==========================================================================
NOTE: Readers may contact me directly:
LETTER BOX.
All correspondence will be kept in confidence.
==========================================================================