hedonist
Hello. Welcome to my page. If you'd like to know more about me, please read this interview:
Q: Who are you?
A: My name is Liam. I'm a
Q: What is a hedonist?
A: Someone who lives a life of hedonism. It's a way of life in which a person's pleasure or happiness is their primary goal. Basically, I try to find enjoyment in every aspect of life, regardless of what I am doing.
Q: What is your relationship to Beijing?
A: I lived there during 2008/2009 and I just returned. I traveled throughout China as well. I visited Shanghai, Chengdu, Yunnan province and Hong Kong. I actually lived outside of Beijing, in the countryside of Changping. There were virtually no other foreigners around there, which represented a stark contrast to the cosmopolitan urban environment of Beijing. The countryside was quiet, but I am looking forward to living in the city this time around.
Q: Let's talk about your culinary adventures in Beijing. Which local food(s) do you enjoy?
A: I'm interested in most street foods, particularly those from Xinjiang. Yang rou chuan and nang go quite well together. I am particularly fond of Sichuan ma la huo guo. Actually, I think that a new hybrid form of hot pot should be introduced. This hot pot would use an authentic soup or broth from the Sichuan style and then a peanut/sesame dipping sauce that is common with Beijing huo guo.
I also enjoy la zi ji ding, gong bao ji ding, jing jiang rou si, yu xiang rou si, zi ran yang rou, dan dan mian and pijiu ya.
Q: Do you have any Beijing restaurant recommendations?
A: Indeed I do. T-2 Hot Pot in Wudaokou is a Korean/Chinese hot pot fusion restaurant that I highly recommend. Their ingredients are very fresh, the service is brisk and the restaurant is clean. They have a garlic dipping sauce that I didn't see on the menu at any other hot pot restaurant. Yum.
Also in Wudaokou is a Yunnan restaurant on the south side of Chengfu Lu, just west of the D-22 rock music club. I don't know the name of this place, but the exterior resembles some kind of traditional minority building style. One excellent dish on the menu is Lao nai yangyu (老奶洋芋), which is sort of a spicy mashed potato dish with green onions. This serves as an excellent accompaniment to their spicy beef with red peppers, the name of which I've since forgotten.
Q: Jiao zi or bao zi?
A: That is a tough question. I prefer bao zi when I just want a snack and I prefer jiao zi when i am looking to eat a larger meal.
Q: Who would you like to meet in Beijing?
A: I would like to meet people who can have interesting conversations. People who can make witty observations about life. Artists, wannabe artists, non-conformists, free-thinkers, pseudo-intellectuals, whatever. One of my favorite authors explained this in his most famous novel:
"The only people for me are the mad ones, the ones who are mad to live, mad to talk, mad to be saved, desirous of everything at the same time, the ones who never yawn or say a commonplace thing, but burn, burn, burn like fabulous yellow roman candles exploding like spiders across the stars."
Q: Do you have any questions for Chinese people on this website?
A: Yes. Do you think all foreigners look alike? While I was living in China, I had numerous Chinese people tell me I look like George Clooney. Recently, someone told me I look like Clive Owen. This never happened in America.
Q: What is your favorite Chinese word?
A: Hao chi
Q: What is your least favorite Chinese word?
A: Mei you
Q: Do you have a message for people on this website?
A: Yes. Talk to me.
Q: Who are you?
A: My name is Liam. I'm a
Q: What is a hedonist?
A: Someone who lives a life of hedonism. It's a way of life in which a person's pleasure or happiness is their primary goal. Basically, I try to find enjoyment in every aspect of life, regardless of what I am doing.
Q: What is your relationship to Beijing?
A: I lived there during 2008/2009 and I just returned. I traveled throughout China as well. I visited Shanghai, Chengdu, Yunnan province and Hong Kong. I actually lived outside of Beijing, in the countryside of Changping. There were virtually no other foreigners around there, which represented a stark contrast to the cosmopolitan urban environment of Beijing. The countryside was quiet, but I am looking forward to living in the city this time around.
Q: Let's talk about your culinary adventures in Beijing. Which local food(s) do you enjoy?
A: I'm interested in most street foods, particularly those from Xinjiang. Yang rou chuan and nang go quite well together. I am particularly fond of Sichuan ma la huo guo. Actually, I think that a new hybrid form of hot pot should be introduced. This hot pot would use an authentic soup or broth from the Sichuan style and then a peanut/sesame dipping sauce that is common with Beijing huo guo.
I also enjoy la zi ji ding, gong bao ji ding, jing jiang rou si, yu xiang rou si, zi ran yang rou, dan dan mian and pijiu ya.
Q: Do you have any Beijing restaurant recommendations?
A: Indeed I do. T-2 Hot Pot in Wudaokou is a Korean/Chinese hot pot fusion restaurant that I highly recommend. Their ingredients are very fresh, the service is brisk and the restaurant is clean. They have a garlic dipping sauce that I didn't see on the menu at any other hot pot restaurant. Yum.
Also in Wudaokou is a Yunnan restaurant on the south side of Chengfu Lu, just west of the D-22 rock music club. I don't know the name of this place, but the exterior resembles some kind of traditional minority building style. One excellent dish on the menu is Lao nai yangyu (老奶洋芋), which is sort of a spicy mashed potato dish with green onions. This serves as an excellent accompaniment to their spicy beef with red peppers, the name of which I've since forgotten.
Q: Jiao zi or bao zi?
A: That is a tough question. I prefer bao zi when I just want a snack and I prefer jiao zi when i am looking to eat a larger meal.
Q: Who would you like to meet in Beijing?
A: I would like to meet people who can have interesting conversations. People who can make witty observations about life. Artists, wannabe artists, non-conformists, free-thinkers, pseudo-intellectuals, whatever. One of my favorite authors explained this in his most famous novel:
"The only people for me are the mad ones, the ones who are mad to live, mad to talk, mad to be saved, desirous of everything at the same time, the ones who never yawn or say a commonplace thing, but burn, burn, burn like fabulous yellow roman candles exploding like spiders across the stars."
Q: Do you have any questions for Chinese people on this website?
A: Yes. Do you think all foreigners look alike? While I was living in China, I had numerous Chinese people tell me I look like George Clooney. Recently, someone told me I look like Clive Owen. This never happened in America.
Q: What is your favorite Chinese word?
A: Hao chi
Q: What is your least favorite Chinese word?
A: Mei you
Q: Do you have a message for people on this website?
A: Yes. Talk to me.
