China 1989: For The Love Of Meat 💚 Complete Story

All throughout South East Asia, meat seems to be butchered with a bone in every bite. Maybe butchery is a lost art, or maybe they never had it to lose. So often they take whatever it is they are about to prepare, grab a big cleaver, and start whacking it into bite-size bits from head to toe. China is no exception. But one morning as my brother Paul and I were walking through a funky little market in western China, I saw a wonderful sight, a glass display case full of long luscious white stripes of what had to be skinned and deboned chicken breast.  My mouth watered. Finally, meat I could sink my teeth into, and through! I walked up to the food stall pointed at the meat smiling from ear to ear. Not speaking any Chinese, I just kept grinning and walked behind the counter.

The cook, not knowing what I was doing, had a perplexed look on his face, but caught on fast as I pretended to grab chili, garlic, and other assorted items, from his makeshift kitchen, bring them to his chopping block, and pretend to chop and then stir fry the lot. The cook and the crowd gathering were all laughing before I finally took a bow and then a seat at what looked like a little kids table and chair set. Smells of garlic, chili and fish sauce filled the air. I had him put the chicken breasts in whole! Within minutes my masterpiece was on a plate next to a large pile of rice. With my chopsticks I picked up a large piece of meat, showing it to Paul. “I’m in heaven, Bro,” I told him. He just gave me a sheepish grin. I knew he was jealous. Slipping one end into my mouth I started to chew off a piece.

Aack!!! It’s chewing back! My brother, noticing the look on my face started to laugh. “What in hell, this is tough as shoe leather,” I cried. Paul was laughing so hard he couldn’t even talk. He just pointed to the glass case that held my prized “chicken breast”.

“I’d take a closer look,” he said. Now I knew why he was so hysterical. It was full of neatly stacked pig ears!