Page 55 - Mongolia & the Gobi Desert

On special occasions, meat is cooked over hot stones. Two stone-cooked dishes of note are
khorkhog, which is mutton cooked in a container or a can, and boodog, which is meat (usually
goat) cooked from the inside out. Yes, you read that correctly—the hot stones are inserted
inside the animal’s stomach cavity, and then left to cook the meat from the inside. Only an
experienced cook should try to prepare boodog, because if left too long, the steam from the hot
rocks can build up pressure and cause a goat explosion.

Along with meat, dairy products are also a mainstay of Mongolian cuisine. Butter and cheese is
made from many types of milk—cows’ milk, goats’ milk, sheep milk, yaks’ milk, and even the
milk of camels. Cheese may be in a form familiar to the West, or may be aaruul, dried curds.
Butter, or urum, is similar to clotted cream. It may be served in tea, or it may be caramelized
into khailmag. Milk even takes on an alcoholic edge with airag, which is fermented mare’s
milk, and arkhi, which is a milk-based liquor. (With about 2% alcohol by volume, airag is
closer to slightly spiked yogurt. Arkhi is stronger, usually about 10% ABV.)

Meals in China

Chinese food is one of the world’s great cuisines, and part of the joy of traveling to China is
a chance to sample the diversity of real Chinese food. Each region has its own specialties and
style, often taking advantage on local produce. (For example, in the wheat-growing North,
noodles and steamed bread are more common than rice, which is grown in the South.)

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But on some days a simple Chinese-style breakfast will be served instead.
• Lunch and dinner usually comprise of regional specialties served in local restaurants
and hotel dining rooms. Since there can be up to 13 dishes in a given sitting—some
meat, some vegetarian—there is usually something to please every palate! Most of our
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to at home.

• During included meals, included beverages are local soft drinks, beer, and bottled water.
Coca-Cola or other soft drinks cost approximately $1.50. When eating on your own,
western-style meals will cost about $20, and Chinese-style meals will be less. Sweets are
uncommon in China, where dessert is usually fruit. But chocolate, cookies, and candies
are available at all hotels, airports, and Friendship Stores.

• It is extremely common in China for meals to be served family-style—large platters
are brought out to the table, and placed on a central Lazy Susan. Each person then
helps themselves from the platter, putting what they want on their individual plate.
This means that when dining on your own, you may be ordering dishes for the table,
not individual a la carte meals. (You’ll know by the presence of a large Lazy Susan in
the middle of the table.) Because dining out is typically done with family or friends, the
restaurant many not automatically provide serving utensils; if you want some, just ask.

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