New-York tribune., 1899-06-11
"CHOU" OF NAVY KINDS.
THE FOOD SHOW AT THE CHI
NESE FAIR
NESE FAIR


An uncanny fascination fingers about the
Celestial food show which is of the prin-
ciraI exhibits at the Chinese Fair. now being
held in the Grand Central Palace. More than
q hundred specimens Of dried fruits vegetables.
fish preserves and other "delcacies." each OF
which has been thoughtfuuy labelled for the
instruction Of the American visitor. are ar
ranged upon large stand in the centre Of the
main room Few Of the articles have any re-
semb.anc- % anything that a Caucasian has
ever eaten and this makes them the more in
terestng. though the appearance Of most of
them is not such 10 inspire any great degree
of enthusiasm about adding them to ones bill
of fare. The Inscriptions accompanying the
specimens are given here literally. just as they
were copied and it will be admitted that they
show an earnest endeavor to inform the public
correctly regarding the various kinds Of food.
For example. upon a can Of what many people
would call Ii Chez nuts-for they have already
found favor outside of the Chinese quarters
this information. evidently intended to correct
a popular mistake:
Ii Chee is not nuts. but a juicy fruits that
grow big tree. Its meat Is white, juicy and
full Of hayours
Frishly canned
sticky. dark-coored little dab Of something
on a saucer is marked
Spiced orange peel
Use as luxurious
similar portion in another dish is said to
be spiced crab-apple. and the same direction is
given regarding its Here and there among
the other articles of food are occasional dishes
which are also to be employed as luxurious"
A dish of decrepit-looking yellow mushrooms
bears that name and below it the explanation:
"Souping and Chop Suey stuff" Plenty more
ftif' iS "a md in lpCt
notably a big bunch Of seaweed. matted to-
gether and black a hat. 1t is presumed that
another tangled mass which resem bles black.
cured hcrsehaIr is also TO be made into soup.
il is difficult to see how it could be swallowed
in any other form. 1t is labelled:
Coons Hair rock moss
Grow top Of Rock upon high mountain.
There Soup cakes made from teaberries
and rice shells" KUN Kwat fruit" and Pre-
served Wong Pee" the latter two possessing at
least the merit Of attractive, mysterious sound
ing titles Among the many kinds OF tea. that
known as Soy Sen is described as Tea that
grow upon peck of the mountain that perpetual
covered with fog"
On large plate are four or five black objects
that look precisely like potatoes which have
been roasted in the ashes of wood fire They
are, however, according to the label. Picked
Ducks Eggs. salted and covered with rice straw
ashes" More peculiar looking still the
Ducks pads" which also appear 70 have been
picked and dried. Fish, favorite diet with
the Chinese is represented by a variety OF
specimens big eel, rough spiny sharks
fin. and sea shrimp Of numerous sizes and col
ors are all dried but not wholly divested Of
their odor which keeps observers at respectful
distance.
These only a few Of the articles taken at
random from the table collection. but in the
Chinese restaurant connected with the Far
there is an extensive menu. from which visitors
NAV select almost any of the dishes popular In
Chinatown The best known Of the various
kinds Of chow" food offered is. Of course
"chop suey" a stew Of duck and chicken glib
lets young bean shoots celery, and sometimes
mushrooms. Then there IS "kai tong or roast
chicken; tain ping" or egg omelet, and no
tope" or dried oyster soup. Some OF the less
cs,o,ao- dishes are mo ku pOk op"-pigeon
with ruushrooms-and "chu kOek no chee -
nigs feet with oyster sauce. Two Of the most
exnensive orders that be given are for yen
uD" or birds nest soup, 81 30 a plate, and
-rai see ye chee" soup Of chicken and sharks
g.. ubicb never costs iess and sometimes more
tban 60 a plate One Of the cheapest dishes or
the list Is "chu yok meen,' a name "hlch
has been Americanized TO "Yakuman ana
-Yockaman." in which forms 1t is more famiiiar.