Marvelously Stinky Tofu

Ah, how the glorious aroma of stinky tofu rises among the crowds! Fermented to a stench, fried to perfection, loaded with hot sauce, and sold at an affordable price, this traditional snack of the Chinese is sure to either make you plug your nose in disgust or rush for the counter for a mouth watering adventure!

My first introduction to the infamous appetizer was in Taiwan in the summer of 2002, where the scent of the snack wafts through the air tempting and taunting unwary passerby. It wasn’t until my second visit to the beautiful island in 2003 that I asked a Chinese friend if he would take me to try some. Although the stench was offensively attacking my nostrils, I loaded a bite with spicy white cabbage and clamped down on my first chopsticks-full. Surprisingly, it was like love at first bite, and I’ve been craving the stuff ever since.

In 2005, I was here in Beijing for several months studying Chinese, and when some friends took me out to dinner one night, they ordered some of the odorous bean curd. It certainly wasn’t as good as the tasty entrée in Taiwan, but it was enough to hold me over for the year. While I was in Taiwan this last summer, I regret not having a chance to devour some of my favorite snack there, but I knew I would have a chance in the future.

Then yesterday, unexpectedly, while I was at a Chinese New Year celebration at one of Beijing’s many parks, my senses were overwhelmed with the discovery of stinky tofu shops around the fair. The first stand I saw selling it caught my interest, but the way they made it didn’t quite satisfy my picky tastes. They didn’t put the right spicy sauce on as a topper, and I wasn’t going to set up my taste buds for disappointment. Then, I had almost forgotten about my desired little snack when I ran upon another shop on the other side of the fair. It was like a dream come true! Stinky tofu made just the way I like it! I eagerly ordered a bowl, and quickly began to devour each and every bite! Mmmmmm! Ah, stinky tofu… What would China be without it?