Exploring Xiamen's Signature Snacks

Adam: I ate a very strange snack yesterday but I don't know its name.

我昨天吃了一个非常奇怪的小吃，但不知道它的名字。

Li Mei: A strange snack?

一个奇怪的小吃？

Adam: It was a cold jelly dish and, when I asked what was inside, the waiter said I was eating worms.

是一个肉冻凉菜，当我问服务员时，他说是虫子。

Li Mei: Actually, I think I know what you ate but what did it taste like?

我想我知道是什么了。它味道如何？

Adam: The cool and smooth jelly had a rush of briny saltiness while the short worms were chewy. There was also some shredded and pickled radish as well as a bit of coriander.

凉滑的肉冻吃起来有海水的咸味，有嚼劲。这道菜的上面还放了一些碎腌萝卜和香菜。

Li Mei: Any sauce?

旁边有酱吗？

Adam: In fact, yes. There was some satay sauce. So what did I eat? Were they teasing me or did I really eat worms for the first time in my life?

有的，沙茶酱。我到底吃了什么？他们在骗我，还是我真的生平第一次吃到虫子了？

Li Mei: Yes, you ate tusun dong, which is in fact sandworm jelly in English. It is one of Xiamen's signature snacks.

是的，你吃的是土笋冻，也就是沙虫冻，这可是厦门一道著名小吃啊。

Adam: So are they really worms?

那些真是虫子吗？

Li Mei: Yes. They are a kind of marine worm, sipunculid is their scientific name. While you might be scared off if you saw them uncooked, they’re quite safe to eat. They're boiled to extract the gelatin from their bodies and then chilled into jelly.

是的，它们叫星虫，一种海底虫子。你可能看到它们就逃得远远的，事实上，吃这种虫子很安全。用开水煮开，虫子里的胶质会分解到水里，冷冻之后就变成了肉冻啦。

Adam: The jelly tasted better with satay sauce.

用沙茶酱拌着更好吃。

Li Mei: There are many sauces you can add, including horseradish sauce and sweet sauce.

你也可以加其他一些酱，比如山葵酱和甜酱。

Adam: It seems like seafood in Xiamen cuisine is often accompanied by various sauces.

厦门的海鲜大多会拌着酱吃。

Li Mei: You're right. Every coastal town brims with seafood but Xiamen's sauces really set it apart.

没错。沿海城市海鲜种类很多，但像厦门这样用酱拌着海鲜吃还是较少见。

Adam: What other dishes are eaten with sauces?

在厦门还有别的海鲜也是用酱拌着吃吗？

Li Mei: A popular one is hailijian, an oyster omelet. It is a fried mixture of oyster, sweet potato flour, egg and garlic. It's even better with satay sauce and chili.

受欢迎的当属海蛎煎。把海蛎、土豆淀粉和鸡蛋大蒜一起煎，拌着酱和辣椒更好吃。

Adam: My mouth is watering. Where can I try it?

我已经流口水了，哪里可以吃到？

Li Mei: You can try Zhongshan Road, Gulangyu's street stalls or Zengcuoan. But anywhere you go that has the best omelets will also have a long line, so be prepared to be patient.

中山路步行街，鼓浪屿街边小摊或者曾厝按。不过好的海蛎煎很可能要排队，要有耐心哦！

By Sun Shaowen