An ode to street meat

Within this post I am going to try not to simply gush over my two latest Chinese culinary faves; street sandwiches.

The Sketchy Wrap

I had my first experience with the SW way back in October. Jen and Gini took Lizzie and myself to a very large indoor market that sold anything and everything. Outside the market the streets are lined with vendors selling bags, cleaning supplies, bedding, and other such trinkets. There are also vendors selling different varieties of street "delicacies". Jen and Gini being veterans knew the ideal vendor to stop at for a wrap. Had we not been with Jen and Gini I would never would have guessed that something like a sandwich or wrap was made at these stands. They look like the rusted, dirty, grimy, China version of Dickie Dee stands, though bigger and situated, with no fun little jingle to get you excited. There is a case full of veggies on sticks; eggplant, peppers (hot and sweet), tofu, lettuce, cabbage, bok choy, mushrooms, green onion etc. Beneath the case is a vat of boiling oil, a small table with a cutting board, and two bowls of sauce (one hot, and one peanut). You have the option of either chicken or sausage. You make your choices, the “chef” adds everything to the oil and uses scissors to chop it all up. It takes mere minutes to make. Everything is thrown into a large tortilla style wrap, sauce is added and you’re good to go.

Trying street meat, street anything in China is nerve wracking. The cleanliness is questionable. In fact, saying that it is questionable at all is really just to comfort myself. It is fact that it is not clean in any way. Everything is made so quickly so there is a chance that unwelcome bacteria will take over your body at any moment, and you’re day will be over with you on the toilet. This all being said, though, the SW is really, really good. AND cheap cheap! Only 7 yuan, and it’s a hefty portion. I’ve realized now that there are wrap stands just about everywhere. I suppose I just never knew what they were before. A couple months ago Greg and I found one right outside the main grocery store in Fangzi. win.


Street Sandwich (formerly referred to as Seth’s Sandwich)

In town there is a small stand (much more credible than the  Sketchy Wrap stand) that sells snacks, gum, drinks etc. We had noticed that it also advertised some weird, unappetizing looking sandwich. Seth was the first to try to the sandwich on his own in town one day and shared his discovery with us. Amazingly delicious, and only 4 yuan for one. The picture does not make the sandwich look tasty or inviting at all. So, I put off trying it for awhile until out of poorness Greg and I needed to take the plunge and get our hands on these warlocks. Possibly one of the best food discoveries in Weifang. This ridiculously good, flavorful sandwich is overstuffed with chicken chunks, topped with lettuce and marinated in some scrumptious brown sauce and hot sauce all in the nice package of a deep fried flat bun. Ohmygod makes my mouth water just thinking about it. When the guys came to visit we ate our fair share these sandwiches.

And, to make our lives of street sandwich love that much more exciting is, there is a stand near the grocery store in Fangzi. These sandwiches are only 3 yuan, and not as delicious as the originals in town. But, they are still good.
I enjoy that eating in China is affordable, and delicious. Especially when you least expect it.

 I’m hungry.