In sharing some of my experiences here in China, I posted earlier about "Getting Donkeyed." I shared my blog address with a friend of mine here in Baoding and he immediately sent me a text message extolling the virtues of donkey meat and his shock and outrage at my snap judgement for one of his favorite foods. He could not understand how I consider myself a Baodingian without having experienced donkey in its most delicious form....that of a donkey burger.
I have known for some time that the crowd that I run with here hold a special place in their hearts and stomachs for those long eared equines but have kept quiet when the conversation turns to how many donkey burgers does a meal make. They exchange high fives for a donkey burger day, (i.e. a day in which a donkey burger was eaten), talk about which of the many establisments here they went to, and offer general statements about the flavor, tenderness and the (pre-menu) cart pulling ability of the consumed animal. My friend shared my secret of not having eaten a donkey burger with these donkey lovin folks and they proceeded to gang up on me.
For every reason and justification I came up with for not wanting to, or for not having already eaten a donkey burger, there was a chorus of arguments to sway me. "A donkey is my friend, he pulls fruit and vegetables to me," I said, "he also keeps the city clean by eating the garbage on the side of the road." They replied with a long list of other meats that I have eaten (knowingly or unknowningly), their respective values to socitey and overall likeability. Having become exponentially more open to new foods, trusting their collective judgement, and wanting to count myself an official resident of Baoding, I caved...
Sorry Eeyore, but you are a tasty critter. You are just too delicious to miss my plate again.
