The Unique One

Cantonese style soup,  dim-sum, herbal tea and Cantonese style dessert all accompanied me when I was growing up. However,  the most nostalgic one for me is Cantonese style barbecue. Like a piece of my memory, the Cantonese style barbecue is the thing that I couldn’t live without in my life. When I was growing, I remember how much fun that I had from the barbecue. Unfortunately, this piece of memory is getting blurry in my mind. Since I came to the United States, my happiness from the Cantonese style barbecue has almost disappeared. I lost the way that I used to have a Cantonese style barbecue with my family and my friends. The Cantonese style barbecue has become a part of my homesickness in my U.S life.

   I come from Guangdong province in southern China. When I lived in my hometown, I used to have many activities surrounding Cantonese style barbecue many times during the whole year. That is the way that most Cantonese people hang out with their friends or family. During the day, everyone reunites together to ride the bicycles, sing karaoke and get some good food. When the sun goes down, our significant activity is ready, which is a Cantonese style barbecue. Everyone grabs their food and talks to each other. These things make me feel like I am living in my best life. Last month, my friends and I grilled and I had fun hanging out with them. However,  all of us are not from the same area. I think that was the reason why I felt weird when grilling. Maybe it was because that was not Cantonese style barbecue and not with my best friends. I couldn’t have the same response with my best friends in my hometown.

    Even though I still have had some chances to eat barbecue in my U.S. life. The taste is not as same that I had in my hometown. I still remember the first time I had an American style barbecue it was in my host family’s house. I was extremely excited about waiting for food to come out to the smoker. My host dad used a meat thermometer to measure the temperature of the meat. That was entirely different to Cantonese style grill. In China, the tools we use to measure the barbecue was cooked or not yet depend on our feeling and eyes. After I tried a bite of the ribs, the taste was scrumptious. Also, American style barbecue and Cantonese style barbecue have opposite tastes. American style barbecue tastes a bit sweet and smokey, but Cantonese style barbecue tastes salty and fresh. I think the taste is different because of the seasoning of the cured meat, and the way of grilling is different. Even though American style barbecue makes my meat lover's dream come true, I do miss the taste of Cantonese style barbecue, which also is my piece of memory in my body.

    Not only I have lost the same taste, but also I miss the fun times that I had preparing food with friends and the atmosphere when grilling. Someone washed the food, someone cut out the bone and someone finished the last step, which is to used bamboo sticks to string food. This is an indispensable step for Cantonese style barbecue. Usually, stringed food could be our game. Everyone bet who is the fastest one to finish. This was my favorite part because I was always the winner. When everything was ready, the grilling officially began.  Everyone chose their favourite food to spread flat on an iron net and waited for the charcoal fire to grill food for a few minutes. Then, our handheld the bottom of the bamboo stick to keep flipping our food until it was done. When everyone kept flipping their food, everyone talked to each other too. The smell of the barbecue and our laugh formed a fantastic atmosphere. In the U.S, I don’t have my old friends to have a Cantonese style barbecue with me. The way of preparing food and grilling are also different.

In the United States, I have met some interesting people, have had different kinds of good food that I never had before and experienced something new kinds of things. Honestly, I am blessed that I have had those experiences. Moreover, I would like to have more Cantonese style barbecues with my friends and my family. I think this is the path of growth. Despite accepting new things, I also miss the past.