The Lambertville press. [volume] (Lambertville, N.J.) 1858-1???, 1860-07-04
A Chinese Feast in California.

Monday night last, All Ching,
wealthy Chinese merchant Of this city,
and for seven years Director of the
Canton Company's affairs, and now
Chief of the Board Of Administrators,
gave dinner to Judge McAllister,
Judge Freedom, Mr.. Henry Hentsch,
Hr B. Davidson, Mr.. Selim Wood
worth, Mr.. Frederick Woodwork,
and Mr. Thomas ". Cary. Mr.. Car
valho, the Chinese Interpreter, did the
honors Of the table, All Ching occu-
plying a seat next to Judge McAllis.
ter. For the information Of those Of
our readers who have never been pres
ent at a regular Chinese dinner, we
give the following description The
table was laid with figured porcelain,
and ornamented along the center with
large porcelain vases, containing bana-
mas, oranges and apples, all very fine
and of superior favor.
Beside each plate stood a saucer
containing the tinisst of cups, and q
large porcelain spoon upon each, the
latter for soup. The first thing served
up was the tiny cup full Of a species
of Chinese liquor, by way of an appe-
tizer. 1t had a favor soneW hat re-
sembling orange peel, and was proba-
bly, an extract from that substance.
This was followed by a glass Of fine
brown Cantegnac claret, which vas
also absorbed before any eatahles were
placed on board, Then came the
soup, composed of chickens flesh cut
into strips like narrow rib bones, and
preserved by drying in open air, and
isinglass 1t was quite palatable =
This course was followed by pigeon
steWed with delicate green beans,
spring onions and other condiments.
Following this came another dish Of
pigeons cooked in different style
This was succeeded by Chinese orto-
lans, or other small birds. The c0ur-
ses followed each other in regular sue
cession, until ten had been gone thro'
with, washed down at short intervals
with Cliquot champagne and fine clar-
ct.
The eleventh course consisted of
the famed bird nests worth their
weight in gold in China. These nests
ara built by species Of swallow found
in the India seas, particularly the is
land Of Sumatra. The nest is the
shape of a common swallows nest, and
is about the size Of goose's egg, and
has the appearance Of flbrous, imper-
fectly concocted isinglass. The sub
stance of which it is composed is not
known, but it is supposed to he the
spawn of fishes, gathered by the bird,
or a secretion elaborated from the
body Of the swallow. The finest are
those gathered before the young swal-
lows are Matched at which time they
are pure and white. These nests are
found in caverns and almost inaccessi-
BILE places, rendering it impossible fol
any one to collect them who has not
been regularly brought up to the bus
mess. After the bird nests dish oil
sharks fins, great delicasy with the
Chinese was placed npon the table. -
1t has rank, musty favor by no
means palatable to outside barbarians.
Another course of some Chinese prep
arations, and the last one, consisting
of steWed duck, wound up the meats,
making fourteen courses in all.
Then came the desert, consisting Of
Chinese cakes, jeilies and pastes o.
different kinds, all Of which were
served up at one time The bread
consisted of two kinds, one in small
sized loaves, about as large and look
ing Just like a moderate sized, fresh
peeled mushroom. They were exquis-
itely white and light. The other sort
of bread was in loaves of the same
shape, but about four times larger. -