Now having visited a handful of cities and tourist destinations in China, I have begun noticing common street foods. I think it's so interesting what turns out to be a "quick snack" for people in different cultures.
In New York, it's sweet, roasted nuts, pretzels and hotdogs. In China, it's charcoal-roasted chestnuts, sugary crab apples, and all kinds of things on a stick.
One of the more popular ones I have seen is corn on the cob on a stick. Usually, the corn has been pre-boiled, impaled on a stick, and then kept warm in a rice-maker that perches precariously on a chair, wagon or rock. It doesn't seem to take much to sell these items -- I see people walking around munching them all the time.
What I did find funny was the image chosen by this particular vendor to advertise his wares. Why, it's U.S. president George W. Bush munching on corn on the cob!
Well, the vendor had no customers. And given what I've heard from the Chinese (they hate Bush -- they think he's an idiot), I think this is a pretty dumb sales strategy indeed.
Posted by Astrid at October 23, 2004 07:55 AM