The Finnish Chinese Urban Legend

You know, when I was a kid back in Finland, I was told that in Chinese culture dropping food on the table cloth was considered a compliment to the chef. I can't remember who told me that, but I think it came from several sources, possibly from school, and was one of those amusing anecdotes about "how people around the world have funny customs". I haven't thought of that story in years, but while having dim sum today for lunch with my Chinese friends and Christine was embarrassed when she dropped some hoi-sin sauce on the table I remembered it again. So I asked about it from her, and the blank stare on her face must have resembled the look on my face when people ask me about the Finnish delicacy of reindeer noses. Then someone around the table suggested that it's probably something they tell white people, although they'd never heard of it personally. Yeah, sounds about right.

I was feeling pretty white anyway - there were six of us, with me and Gino being the only white people, and having Don speaking in Cantonese with the waiter ordering us dim sum made me smile. We just nodded and ate everything that was put in front of us, drinking pu-er tea. Henry is constantly praising me for my use of chopsticks which makes me happy, he asked me how I learned to use them and I always say that my mom taught me when I was a kid - must be pretty much the same how Chinese kids learn it too. But I apparently hold them right, and ok I couldn't get one particularly slippery ball of shrimp dumpling out of the steamer because it was slightly stuck... but the Chinese themselves are actually not that much better with them either in situations like that. I always wondered how I could improve my technique, but it may not be an issue after all.

Food was absolutely gorgeous, of course. That deep fried spicy squid is to die for.