Chinese 9 Course Dinner

The following recipes form the most popular items in a nine-course dinner program:

BIRD’S NEST SOUP

Soak one pound bird’s nest in cold water overnight.  Drain the cold water and cook in boiling water. Drain again.  Do this twice. Clean the bird’s nest. Be sure to take out all feathers and loose particles.

Put the bird’s nest into a pot, cover with water and make a soup. Chop one-half pound of pork into a hash and add to bird’s nest. Cook over slow fire for two hours. Add one tablespoon Chinese sauce and dash of salt. Pour into bowl, garnish with shredded chicken and cooked ham, and green Chinese parsley.

 

STEAMED CHICKEN

Clean a chicken, cover with water, and boil until tender. This makes a soup which is generally used as stock for other courses. Remove chicken. Chop up, bones and all, into slices, which are heaped into a bowl. Garnish with slices of ham, black mushrooms cooked in soup stock, and green  parsley.

WHOLE DUCK

Clean a duck. Cut an opening below neck and remove bones and all. Make this mixture: one-half pound pork, one-fourth pound ham, one cup white chesnuts, one cup chestnuts, one cup water chestnuts, one-half cup mushrooms. Chop all fine, and add salt and pepper. Stuff duck with this mixture, place in a pan and steam for two hours. Serve duck in bowl, pour a little chicken soup over it, garnish with green parsley.

FRIED PIGEON

Clean pigeons; it will require three to make one bowl. Wipe dry. Cook the bird in boiling oil. Place lettuce on bottom of bowl before you place the cooked bird in it. Garnish with won-tun chips. This dish tastes best when eaten with a special Chinese salt called wai-yim.  (wai-yim is MSG or monosodium glutamate)

WHITE MUSHROOM CHICKEN 

Clean chicken. Remove bones. Cut meat into pieces. Cover with a seasoning made of Chinese sauce, two tablespoons of sugar, and five tablespoons of cornstarch. Cover one can of white mushrooms with water in pot.  When soup comes to a boil, add the seasoned chicken.  Cook for one hour and a half, adding a little soup stock. Pour into serving bowl, garnish with cooked shredded ham and green parsley.

FRIED FROG LEGS

Cut two frogs in pieces, dip in a mixture of three eggs, three tablespoons cornstarch, four tablespoons Chinese sauce, and a little wine.  Fry the frogs’ legs in hot fat, dipping one piece at a time, as you would doughnuts. Serve garnished cauliflower, bamboo shoots, and Holland peas cooked in a little soup stock, and green parsley.

SHARK’S FINS

Soak sharks’ fins over night.  Clean out all the loose particles. Cover with water and boil for two hours, adding tow tablespoons Chinese sauce, one cup chicken soup stock, dash of salt, and one tablespoons cornstarch. Serve garnished with shredded chicken, already cooked, and green parsley.

OYSTER SPECIAL

Soak one-half pound dried oysters in hot water.  Remove and grind into hash, together with one-fourth pound fish cake (scraped raw fish), one-fourth pound ham, one cup water chestnuts, one cup white mushrooms, and a little bamboo shoots. Make thumb-size sausages of this hash, by enclosing each with the clinging fat of pork.  Dip each sausage into egg and then fry in hot fat. Serve garnished with green parsley.

DEEP SEA ABALONE 

Soak one and one half pounds Chinese dried abalone in water over night.  Drain and wash clean. Cover with water and boil for six hours, until abalone becomes fluffed and soft. Remove and slice.  Into the broth left place one cup of sliced water chestnuts.  Put in the slices of abalone.  Add two tablespoonfuls sugar, two tablespoonsful cornstarch, four tablespoonsfuls Chinese sauce. Simmer for half an hour. Serve garnished with parsley.

SEASONED PORK SLICES

Boil two and one-fourth pounds pork for half an hour.  Use the part of pork that is used for making bacon. Remove pork and drain.  Wipe dry.  Fill frying pan with peanut oil and cook the pork in it.  Remove and wash in cold water.  Wipe dry. Make a seasoning of narm-yai (red bean sauce) and Chinese sauce. Slice pork and saturate each slice with this sauce. Heap slices of pork in deep bowl over slices of cooked lotus. Place bowl in covered kettle and steam for one hour.

THE NINE-COURSE DINNER

Chinese dinners are given for all the usual occasions, a marriage, a birthday, to honor a friend or to celebrate success in some enterprise.  The guests receive invitations in the form of a folded red cardboard with the name inscribed on a loose leaf inside.  Written inside the folder in black characters are the time of the dinner, where it is to be given, the purpose of the celebration and the names of the hosts.

If you arrive at the place at the time set you are likely to find yourself the only one present.  The dinner may actually begin one to three hours after the time announced.

Gradually the other guests drift in.  You chat with them, getting hungrier all the time.  Most of the social diversion of a Chinese dinner party comes before the dinner itself is served.  Frequently the guests rise and do directly home from the table.  And there is little conversation during the dinner itself, the time at the table being devoted almost exclusively to enjoying the food.  Silence is not a breach of good manners; only the clatter of earthen spoons and the patter of chop sticks is heard.

The size of a dinner party is indicated b the number of tables.  Each table is round and ofa a size to accommodate just ten guests comfortably, no more nor no less.  A twelve-table dinner party therefore, is obviously a large and elaborate affair.  The guests sit on stools rather than on chairs.

The table is covered with a clean white cloth and there are no decorations in the center, as soon there will be no room for such a thing as flowers.  Ready on the table are small dishes of dried watermelon seeds, Chinese sugared fruits, dried cured chidken livers, cakes and fresh fruit.  There is also a typically shaped pitcher of soyu or Chinese sauce and perhaps a jug of light wine.

At each place is laid a pair of chopsticks, a china spoon, a plate about the size of a butter chip and another about the size of a saucer.  There is also a bowl about six inches in diameter.  All the food is eaten from this one bowl, portions from each large dish brought on being dipped into it as desired.

The small plate is used to hold soyu or Chinese sauce.  A morsel of food is picked up in the chopsticks, dipped into the sauce and then put into the mouth.  The saucer-sized plate is used to hold bits of bone or anything else discarded.

About half way through the dinner, bowls filled with plain boiled rice, are brought on.  This rice is eaten plain, no food or sauce being poured over it.  Almost at the end of the meal small tea bowls filled with steaming tea are brought on along with the teapot.  Several bowls of tea are usually sipped to conclude the meal, corresponding to the demi tasse.  The practice of serving tea in the beginning is a a western innovation.

The guests take their places at the tables, frequently the men being all together and the women likewise.  The sweets and water-melon seeds and other things on the table are nibbled until the first course appears.

The dinner is usually described as “nine course,” although this is not strictly adhered to.  Each main dish is counted as one course, although there may be special sauces or other accompaniments to increase the actual number of dishes served.  The large dishes are placed one by one in the middle of the table, at intervals so that there is time for each one to be sampled before the next one appears.  One can return for a second or third helping of any of the dishes which one particularly likes.

About the time the first dish is put on the table some one, acting as host if the host is elsewhere, pours wine from an earthen wine pot into tiny wine bowls, each holding about a large tablespoonful. All the guests drink together and thereafter the bowls are kept filled and sips are taken as desired.  Seldom are more than three or four of these tiny bowls emptied by an individual in the course of a meal.

The dinner reverse the western order, running from sweets to soup instead of the reverse.  The first course, served after the appetizers, is usually bird’s nest soup, which is more like a stew than a soup.  The courses that follow can be anything desired provided they have variety and contrast.  The final course is a thin soup and this is not accounted one of the nine.

(source: Chinese Cookery, Compiled by M. Sing Au – 1932 – Creart Publications, Honolulu, U.S.A.)

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VITRUVIUS

The Ten Books on Architecture

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Hudson Bay: Trappers, 1892. N’Talking Musquash.’ Fur Trappers Of The Hudson’S Bay Company Talking By A Fire. Engraving After A Drawing By Frederic Remington, 1892.

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IV.—Musquash.

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A CROCK OF SQUIRREL

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Fly Casting Instructions

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Some Notes on American Ship-Worms.

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The Crime of the Congo by Arthur Conan Doyle

 

Man looks at severed hand and foot….for refusing to climb a tree to cut rubber for King Leopold

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The Public Attitude Towards Speculation

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THE PUBLIC ATTITUDE TOWARD SPECULATION

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The Billesden Coplow Run

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BILLESDEN COPLOW POEM

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THE HATHA YOGA PRADIPIKA

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Panini Office, Allahabad [1914]

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Abingdon, Berkshire in the Year of 1880

St.Helen’s on the Thames, photo by Momit

 

From a Dictionary of the Thames from Oxford to the Nore. 1880 by Charles Dickens

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What is the Meaning of the Term Thorough-bred Fox-hound

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The Charge of the Light Brigade

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Chinese 9 Course Dinner

The following recipes form the most popular items in a nine-course dinner program:

BIRD’S NEST SOUP

Soak one pound bird’s nest in cold water overnight. Drain the cold water and cook in boiling water. Drain again. Do this twice. Clean the bird’s nest. Be sure [...] Read more →

Painting Plaster Work and the History of Terra Cotta

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The Stock Exchange Specialist

New York Stock Exchange Floor September 26,1963

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BOMBAY. MUSULMAN FANATICISM.

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CENTRAL INTELLIGENCE AGENCY

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Indian Mode of Hunting – Beaver

Jul. 30, 1898 Forest and Stream Pg. 87

Indian Mode of Hunting.

I.—Beaver.

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Cleaner for Gilt Picture Frames

Cleaner for Gilt Frames.

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Art Fraud

A la Russie, aux ânes et aux autres – by Chagall – 1911

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Cleaning Watch Chains

To Clean Watch Chains.

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Of the Room and Furniture

Crewe Hall Dining Room

 

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Furniture Polishing Cream

Furniture Polishing Cream.

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Method of Restoration for Ancient Bronzes and other Alloys

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How to Distinguish Fishes

 

Sept. 3, 1898. Forest and Stream Pg. 188-189

How to Distinguish Fishes.

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Catholic Religious Orders

Saint Francis of Assisi, founder of the mendicant Order of Friars Minor, as painted by El Greco.

Catholic religious order

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Texas Tarpon

Early Texas photo of Tarpon catch – Not necessarily the one mentioned below…

July 2, 1898. Forest and Stream Pg.10

Texas Tarpon.

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Naval Stores – Distilling Turpentine

Chipping a Turpentine Tree

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Chronological Catalog of Recorded Lunar Events

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Bess of Hardwick: Four Times a Lady

Bess of Harwick

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Watch Fraud on eBay

EBAY’S FRAUD PROBLEM IS GETTING WORSE

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Traditional JuJutsu Health, Strength and Combat Tricks

Jujitsu training 1920 in Japanese agricultural school.

CHAPTER V

THE VALUE OF EVEN TEMPER IN ATHLETICS—SOME OF THE FEATS THAT REQUIRE GOOD NATURE

In the writer’s opinion it becomes necessary to make at this point some suggestions relative to a very important part of the training in jiu-jitsu. [...] Read more →

The Basics of Painting in the Building Trade

PAINTER-WORK, in the building trade. When work is painted one or both of two distinct ends is achieved, namely the preservation and the coloration of the material painted. The compounds used for painting—taking the word as meaning a thin protective or decorative coat—are very numerous, including oil-paint of many kinds, distemper, whitewash, [...] Read more →

A Creative Approach to Saving Ye Olde Cassette Tapes

Quite possibly, the most agonizing decision being made by Baby Boomers across the nation these days is what to do with all that vintage Hi-fi equipment and boxes full of classic rock and roll cassettes and 8-Tracks.

I faced this dilemma head-on this past summer as I definitely wanted in [...] Read more →

Platform of the American Institute of Banking in 1919

Resolution adapted at the New Orleans Convention of the American Institute of Banking, October 9, 1919:

“Ours is an educational association organized for the benefit of the banking fraternity of the country and within our membership may be found on an equal basis both employees and employers; [...] Read more →

Pickled Eels

Vintage woodcut illustration of a Eel

 

This dish is a favorite in Northern Europe, from the British Isles to Sweden.

Clean and skin the eels and cut them into pieces about 3/4-inch thick. Wash and drain the pieces, then dredge in fine salt and allow to stand from 30 [...] Read more →

Fresh Water Angling – The Two Crappies

 

July 2, 1898 Forest and Stream,

Fresh-Water Angling. No. IX.—The Two Crappies. BY FRED MATHER.

Fishing In Tree Tops.

Here a short rod, say 8ft., is long enough, and the line should not be much longer than the rod. A reel is not [...] Read more →

Life Among the Thugee

The existence of large bodies of men having no other means of subsistence than those afforded by plunder, is, in all countries, too common to excite surprise; and, unhappily, organized bands of assassins are not peculiar to India! The associations of murderers known by the name of Thugs present, however, [...] Read more →

The Hunt Saboteur

The Hunt Saboteur is a national disgrace barking out loud, black mask on her face get those dogs off, get them off she did yell until a swift kick from me mare her voice it did quell and sent the Hunt Saboteur scurrying up vale to the full cry of hounds drowning out her [...] Read more →

Shooting in Wet Weather

 

Reprint from The Sportsman’s Cabinet and Town and Country Magazine, Vol I. Dec. 1832, Pg. 94-95

To the Editor of the Cabinet.

SIR,

Possessing that anxious feeling so common among shooters on the near approach of the 12th of August, I honestly confess I was not able [...] Read more →

The Preparation of Marketable Vinegar

It is unnecessary to point out that low-grade fruit may often be used to advantage in the preparation of vinegar. This has always been true in the case of apples and may be true with other fruit, especially grapes. The use of grapes for wine making is an outlet which [...] Read more →

Gout Remedies

Jan Verkolje Antonie van Leeuwenhoek was the first person to describe gout or uric acid crystals 1679.

For one suffering gout, the following vitamins, herbs, and extracts may be worth looking into:

Vitamin C Folic Acid – Folic Acid is a B vitamin and is also known as B9 – [Known food [...] Read more →

The Standard Navy Cutter and a Whale Boat Design

Dec. 24, 1898 Forest and Stream Pg. 513-514

The Standard Navy Boats.

Above we find,

The accompanying illustrations show further details of the standard navy boats, the lines of which appeared last week. In all of these boats, as stated previously, the quality of speed has been given [...] Read more →

Country Cabbage and Pea Soup

Add the following ingredients to a four or six quart crock pot, salt & pepper to taste keeping in mind that salt pork is just that, cover with water and cook on high till it boils, then cut back to low for four or five hours. A slow cooker works well, I [...] Read more →

How Long is Your Yacht?

Dominion, Royal St. Lawrence Yacht Club,Winner of Seawanhaka Cup, 1898.

The Tail Wags the Dog.

The following is a characteristic sample of those broad and liberal views on yachting which are the pride of the Boston Herald. Speaking of the coming races for the Seawanhaka international challenge cup, it says:

[...] Read more →

The First Christian Man Cremated in America

Laurens’ portrait as painted during his time spent imprisoned in the Tower of London, where he was kept for over a year after being captured at sea while serving as the United States minister to the Netherlands during the Revolutionary War.

The first Christian white man to be cremated in America was [...] Read more →

The Flying Saucers are Real by Donald Keyhoe

It was a strange assignment. I picked up the telegram from desk and read it a third time.

NEW YORK, N.Y., MAY 9, 1949

HAVE BEEN INVESTIGATING FLYING SAUCER MYSTERY. FIRST TIP HINTED GIGANTIC HOAX TO COVER UP OFFICIAL SECRET. BELIEVE IT MAY HAVE BEEN PLANTED TO HIDE [...] Read more →

The Kalmar War

Wojna Kalmarska – 1611

The Kalmar War

From The Historian’s History of the World (In 25 Volumes) by Henry Smith William L.L.D. – Vol. XVI.(Scandinavia) Pg. 308-310

The northern part of the Scandinavian peninsula, as already noticed, had been peopled from the remotest times by nomadic tribes called Finns or Cwenas by [...] Read more →

Books Condemned to be Burnt

BOOKS CONDEMNED TO BE BURNT.

By

JAMES ANSON FARRER,

LONDON

ELLIOT STOCK, 62, PATERNOSTER ROW

1892

———-

WHEN did books first come to be burnt in England by the common hangman, and what was [...] Read more →

A Cure for Distemper in Dogs

 

The following cure was found written on a front flyleaf in an 1811 3rd Ed. copy of The Sportsman’s Guide or Sportsman’s Companion: Containing Every Possible Instruction for the Juvenille Shooter, Together with Information Necessary for the Experienced Sportsman by B. Thomas.

 

Transcript:

Vaccinate your dogs when young [...] Read more →

Classic Restoration of a Spring Tied Upholstered Chair

?

This video by AT Restoration is the best hands on video I have run across on the basics of classic upholstery. Watch a master at work. Simply amazing.

Tools:

Round needles: https://amzn.to/2S9IhrP Double pointed hand needle: https://amzn.to/3bDmWPp Hand tools: https://amzn.to/2Rytirc Staple gun (for beginner): https://amzn.to/2JZs3x1 Compressor [...] Read more →

The Black Grouper or Jewfish.

 

Nov. 5. 1898 Forest and Stream Pg. 371-372

The Black Grouper or Jewfish.

New Smyrna, Fla., Oct. 21.—Editor Forest and Stream:

It is not generally known that the fish commonly called jewfish. warsaw and black grouper are frequently caught at the New Smyrna bridge [...] Read more →

King Arthur Legends, Myths, and Maidens

King Arthur, Legends, Myths & Maidens is a massive book of Arthurian legends. This limited edition paperback was just released on Barnes and Noble at a price of $139.00. Although is may seem a bit on the high side, it may prove to be well worth its price as there are only [...] Read more →

Historic authenticity of the Spanish SAN FELIPE of 1690

San Felipe Model

Reprinted from FineModelShips.com with the kind permission of Dr. Michael Czytko

The SAN FELIPE is one of the most favoured ships among the ship model builders. The model is elegant, very beautifully designed, and makes a decorative piece of art to be displayed at home or in the [...] Read more →

Carpet Cleaner Formulae

The Ardabil Carpet – Made in the town of Ardabil in north-west Iran, the burial place of Shaykh Safi al-Din Ardabili, who died in 1334. The Shaykh was a Sufi leader, ancestor of Shah Ismail, founder of the Safavid dynasty (1501-1722). While the exact origins of the carpet are unclear, it’s believed to have [...] Read more →

JP Morgan’s Digital Currency Patent Application

J.P. Morgan Patent #8,452,703

Method and system for processing internet payments using the electronic funds transfer network.

Abstract

Embodiments of the invention include a method and system for conducting financial transactions over a payment network. The method may include associating a payment address of an account [...] Read more →

Preserving Iron and Steel Surfaces with Paint

Painting the Brooklyn Bridge, Photo by Eugene de Salignac , 1914

 

Excerpt from: The Preservation of Iron and Steel Structures by F. Cosby-Jones, The Mechanical Engineer January 30, 1914

Painting.

This is the method of protection against corrosion that has the most extensive use, owing to the fact that [...] Read more →

The Human Seasons

John Keats

Four Seasons fill the measure of the year; There are four seasons in the mind of man: He has his lusty spring, when fancy clear Takes in all beauty with an easy span; He has his Summer, when luxuriously Spring’s honied cud of youthful thoughts he loves To ruminate, and by such [...] Read more →

Looking for a Gift for the Book Collector in the Family?

Buying a book for a serious collector with refined tastes can be a daunting task.

However, there is one company that publishes some of the finest reproduction books in the world, books that most collectors wouldn’t mind having in their collection no matter their general preference or specialty.

Audubon’s Art Method and Techniques

Audubon started to develop a special technique for drawing birds in 1806 a Mill Grove, Pennsylvania. He perfected it during the long river trip from Cincinnati to New Orleans and in New Orleans, 1821.

Home Top of [...] Read more →