That's where all the Chinese are!

Today, I stepped into Wing Yip, one of the big Asian supermarkets in London for the first time. And I have to say I am impressed. It is big with rows of Asian foodstuffs arranged neatly. Its brightly lit interior looks new, clean and professional. As a consumer, I felt assured that the products here would be fresh and safe, so in terms of presentation, they have definitely scored.

As I explored the place and walked down each aisle, I saw there is great variety in the products, so they scored well on choice as well. The fresh produce such as the vegetables and meats also look much fresher and greater in variety than the Asian shop in Milton Keynes.

For me, the whole experience was simply surreal. I felt like I had popped into one of those amazing lands in the Faraway Tree in Enid Blyton's Enchanted Forest series or Willy Wonka's amazing chocolate factory. It was like walking into a wonderland of goodies. Very suaku, I know :)

Then, we walked into the cafe next door to buy some roast meats. And that is a real good find, because I was told that they have roast pork, roast char siew and roast duck. The beef brisket and hor fun here also come with very good recommendations. In a corner, they have a little confectionery selling egg tarts, Bo lo pao etc. I am liking this shop more and more.

And there is more good news. Next door to the cafe is a dim sum restaurant. And the dim sum there is reputedly quite good. Already, in my mind, I was thinking that in future, we can make grocery shopping here a weekend outing and stay on for lunch.

And that's when it hits me. That's right, that's where all the Chinese are. As I looked about, there are indeed Chinese everywhere, especially in the restaurants. Undoubtedly, Chinese food is a Chinese-magnet.

There is something about food and culture. You can't divorce the two, even if cuisine appears to be only such a superficial physical manifestation of culture. Somehow, the tastes of food one has been familiar with since young evokes in one a great sense of assurance and wellbeing and you know you are "home". I find it difficult to go without rice or noodles for 2 days and honestly can only regard bread largely as a breakfast food item.

Overseas though, most Chinese one meets are Cantonese, speaking this melodious language. There is a lovely dim sum place in Milton Keynes that we like and frequent. But every time we go, I don't feel Chinese and definitely, don't feel being regarded as one. Clearly, the ability to speak Cantonese is the key to this exclusive club. You can tell, because with English-speaking people, the servers are just professional and polite and their eyes sort of gloss over and they just take your orders in their professional voices and leave. Now, if you speak Cantonese, they joke and chat with you while taking your orders. And more likely than not, recommend things not on the menu too!

When I stopped work, my former students and friends used to call me "the tai-tai". But I have always known that unless you speak Cantonese and are adept at mahjong, you are far from tai-tai-hood! Time to watch some Cantonese drama then and do some serious pong-ing again! :)

PS: Funnily, Wing Yip's tagline is "all the Chinese you need to know", which I thought is very funny, yet smart. Who needs to know so many Chinese when you can get to a large, friendly Asian supermarket to get your Asian fixes? Hahaha...