Phriday Phood Photos

Last night, we went out to eat at our favorite place here in our new hometown. They make the best jiaoza (pronounced jow-dza) in town! This is what jiaoza look like: They are dumplings filled with meat or veggies, chosen by you. They make them when you order them, however many you want, with whatever fillings you want. We ordered 10 chicken and onions jiaoza, & 10 beef and romaine lettuce jiaoza. The beef ones were incredibly good; Doug likened them to a hamburger... beef, bread, & lettuce all in one!

And these little wonders are called guotia (gwoa-deeuh):
They are bigger than jiaoza, and these are filled with lamb and pumpkin. I know, it probably sounds strange, but I'm not sure I've ever eaten a more rich and delicious food than this. We all love this dish... again, it's the all-in-one factor: carbs, protein, and veggies all in one delicious dumpling! These are boiled and then fried on one side so they're kind of crispy and crunchy and soft all at the same time.
Here's what the inside of them looks like: After writing so much about them, I think I'm craving them! Maybe we'll go again tonight. For 20 jiaoza, 20 guotia, 2 bowls of rice, one bottle water (I forgot to bring one) and a huge plate of eggs and tomatoes, the entire bill came out to 23 yuan, just under $3. What a cheap thrill!