Joe and I recently received an invitation to brunch at the home of our friend Karen, a.k.a. Bing. (Her name is Karen. Her name is Bing. She has other names too, but I won’t get into that.)
This was no ordinary brunch invitation. Bing writes a very popular blog, the Story of Bing, and devotes an entire section of her blog to cooking. I’ve been drooling over her food photography for months. This was my chance to experience the real thing.
Bing, a fellow expat, is Singaporean of Chinese descent. She described our brunch as “a really really traditional lunch. It’s what my Mom would prepare every weekend for us.” This was my first time eating home-cooked Chinese food. And it happened in South Africa. Who would’ve guessed?
Bing finishes setting the table. Joe is visibly excited.
We dined on onion omelettes, minced chicken with French beans in a basil duck soy sauce, stir-fried cabbage with bacon, Chinese pickled lettuce, and pork floss, all eaten over traditional Teochew porridge meal.
Adding the finishing touches to the minced chicken.
The best cabbage and bacon you’ll ever taste.
My bowl. Minced chicken topped with pork floss (I’m not sure what pork floss is but it tastes way better than it sounds) and pickled lettuce. I used to be afraid of any pickled thing that isn’t an actual pickle. No more. Pickled lettuce is delectable.
I contributed an American dessert — the only dessert I know how to make. The brownies didn’t turn out as well as they should have because the recipe calls for unsweetened baking chocolate, which is impossible to find in South Africa. I used cocoa powder instead and it’s just not the same.
Bing also made a Western dessert: a yummy trifle-y thing made of whipped cream, lady fingers and fruit. (The other great thing about brunching with Bing is that she let me borrow her camera equipment. The dessert photos were taken with her nifty macro lens.)
We had an amazing time — not only eating, but chatting away about Singapore, China, South Africa, photography, food, blogging, and life as an expat.
One of the things I like most about being a Jozi expat is the people I get to meet. Jozi is filled with seriously fascinating people, locals and foreigners alike. Bing is one of them.
Brunching bloggers. (Photo courtesy of Joe.)
Thanks for brunch, Bing!
Joe and I are heading off into the wild blue yonder this weekend, on a road trip that will hopefully include blog-able adventures. I’ll post when I can. Don’t go away.
The food sounds amazing and looks that way too. But goodness, Heather, I have necklace envy! Yours is fabulous! Where did you get it?
Hope you have a great trip!
Kathy
Thanks! They are handmade paper beads — all the rage here in Africa. I got them in a small clothes shop here in Joburg. Actually my friend Tricia bought them for me while she was here, which was incredibly nice of her.
I think “pork floss” sounds fantastic. Sitting at my desk starving and jealous!
You are making me hungry!
Then I’ve succeeded in my mission 🙂
Brunch at Bing’s was one of the best meals I’ve ever had. And dinner there… let me just say that our family was spoiled. And I was seriously in panic when I returned the favor for dinner at our house, searching the recesses of my brain for good recipes that would even come close to approaching what we were treated to!
Hahaha! I’m not even gonna TRY to measure up when I return the favor.
That food looks fab. I also think pork floss sounds yummy – and quite intriguing – I need to go look it up….
It was really good! I think Bing gets pork floss from Chinatown in JHB.
OMG. What great pics and great-looking food!
Thanks!
Her mum made that for them every weekend? I wish I was in that family! 🙂
I came back to this post to read this again. This was such a good day for me. I’m glad you guys came over for brunch. =)
That was a really fun day. Thanks for reminding me to go back and read about it.