Hot Beancurd Preserved
When I attended a food-tasting event with a friend recently, she did something that had me looking at her in sympathy and, well, amusement because I’m just a twisted friend like that.
She’d put a forkful of a mysterious something—we didn’t know what a lot of the samples were, as we were pulling a grab-and-go-and-taste kind of action plan because of the large crowd size—into her mouth and then immediately began to look around frantically for a napkin.
The mystery had been solved. It was the dreaded mushroom that topped the artichoke mousse. I stood to the side and relished the taste combination, being a Friend of the Fungus, as I watched my friend spit her mouthful of misery into a napkin. Such a lady, that one.
In hindsight, maybe I should have been more sympathetic. Then perhaps karma wouldn’t have bit me in the you-know-where with this item.
Oh, if looks could fool…
Don’t get distracted by what’s on top of the jar. Or else you may open it.
The plate of thousands of homes and restaurants.
I opened the jar. I get distracted easily, what can I say.
Innocuous-looking cubes of Hot Beancurd Preserved…
topped with chili paste. If you still don’t know where this post is going, have you not read Stephen King? Horror awaits.
I pulled a Food Moaner. Yes, that’s one of my nicknames for my friend. (You would think her moaning while eating in public would embarrass me, but I find it rather endearing. Twisted friend, remember?)
I spit my morsel of misfortune into the sink because I could, and looked around desperately for something to erase the taste from my mouth—where was that other stick of the Kinder Bueno? WHERE WAS IT?
Thank Pocky I found it, and got rid of the spicy and extremely salty taste of the creamy preserved beancurd. And the smell? Wine, which was one of the ingredients, but stinky wine.
Never again.
…
…
…
So…the above photo and last two words would have been a great way to end the post, right? Well, yeah, if I was sane.
I have another confession to make in this post, besides telling you I am a twisted friend. I am also a bad photographer. I take many, many, many bad photos. (If you wonder why I don’t post more often, it’s probably because I’m busy sorting through those many, many, many bad photos in hopes of finding a few good ones.)
A part of me, the part that likes to line cans and jars and anything else with a label facing forward—mental health professionals, please don’t analyze me too closely; I used to work in a grocery store—was really bothered by the stray bit of sauce circled in red. I still am. And oh, I never claimed to be an artist.
Wait a minute, I retract that statement about not being an artist.
Clearly, I am gifted. What, can you not tell why?
Like many real artists, I’d created an accidental work of art. You knowww, a mutant dinobird.
* If you’re so inclined to share with me your brand of artistry, what do you see when you look at the second-to-last photo?
My parents love to eat this stuff. I hate it! I see a duck, quack quack quack!
well if i tilt my head to the side, and squint my eyes really hard … i can kind of make out someone singing into a microphone …
You’re only supposed to eat a TINY TINY bit at a time! When my parents eat this, they only have a tiny little lump (think half-inch cube) with congee. THAT’S how much you’re supposed to eat! (I think.)
Wei-Wei
Oh yeah, and I actually see a shirt. With one long sleeve and one short. (And I’ve never tried this stuff, either.)
Yeah, I don’t think that you’re supposed to eat it straight out of the jar. My parents use it to cook with and/or congee. I like it. LOL!
haha not gunna lie–i love eating it with rice. it’s def. one of those things that I eat when I know I won’t be in contact with the human world for a couple of hours LOL
Like the above poster said, you’re only supposed to eat a little nibble at a time and “chase” it with lots of congee. My mom used to force feed me this stuff as a kid, not so much for the nutritional value, but because she was convinced this stuff tasted great. I can sympathize with my mom now, as I force my friends to eat stuff that I like, even if it’s not to their tastes! I’ve also grown to be fond of this flavor, and you’re making me really hungry right now
Tee: My parents didn’t eat this beancurd at home…but it still caught up with me!
Allison: “well if i tilt my head to the side, and squint my eyes really hard … i can kind of make out someone singing into a microphone …” You are also obviously an artistic genius. Love it! (That’s the one and only time I’ll ever quote Paris Hilton.)
Wei-Wei, Slammie, My, and Me: Oh, sure, now you guys tell me.
My sampling comprised a half-cube. Such a dodo, I am. As well as a drama blogger. I may be willing to try this beancurd again, but only if it’s mixed with something else.
And thanks for telling me so politely that I don’t know what the heck I’m talking about.
Keep on blogging about new foods! I love your adventurous spirit
I love this stuff! But I do agree that it can be quite salty. I usually mix a tiny bit with a bowl of fried rice. It’s delicious!
Eileen: All right!
That’s 4 for, including you.
2 undecided (I’m putting myself in this category because I’d be willing to try it again, and Wei-Wei).
1 adamant “I hate it!”
Oh, I tried this once at a restaurant when I saw that all the adults were eating it. I haaated it! Blegchk! I don’t know. Maybe, maaaybe if I tried it again the proper way (mixed with something else) I might change my mind about it. But I have no desire to! Haha
My grandmother loved this! She would eat it ALMOST EVERYDAY with a bowl of hot congee. I have a jar in my fridge too! It reminds me of my grandmother. She passed away 10 years ago
But I still eat this with congee + some sweetened soya sauce + boiled egg + fresh shallots. TASTES SO GOOD! You should give it another try! 
Lian and Lind: I’m likely going to try this again, mixed with something. Too many readers like it for me to not give it another chance. There are plenty of things I didn’t like the taste of at first before it grew on me, like durian.
Oh? The taste of Durian grew on you? What form of Durian? Popsicle? Wafer? I’ve seen the popsicle version but have never dared to get it. Maybe only if there are enough other people around to help me eat them in case I don’t like them.
Lian: I was converted by eating fresh durian; it has a creamy custard/almond taste. I’d encourage you to start with something like the popsicle or wafer, and if you like it, to work your way up to the fresh version.