Chinese Mixed Vegetable Salad

I was very excited to go to an antique market in South-West London with my friend last Tuesday morning. It is called Sunbury Antiques Market.  It was really a very big market; there were over 700 inside and outside stalls.  The venue is called Kempton Park Racehorse.  The market opens twice a month.  On the second and last Tuesday of each month, the park turns into a treasure of vintage delights. A wide variety of antiques are to be sold there, including vintage clothing, fabulous antiques, Victorian jewellery, furniture, book, collectors’ items and much more.  It opens from 6:00 am to 2:00 pm. There is a direct train from Waterloo station and the market is next to the station. It provides free parking and free admission.

When we arrived at the park at around 8:00 a.m., it was crowded.  Most people were busy with finding gems and some were making bargains.  Since my friend had been there before, she reminded me bringing cash instead of cards.  I found most traders accept cash and welcome to make bargains with them.  I like the vintage dolls very much, especially teddy bears.  Although they looked very old, they are very cute.  As we stayed at a toy stall, a Japanese couple was looking for some vintage teddy bears for their wedding.  They were very happy when they found one gorgeous bear which they like most.  They were so sweet.

After wandering around the market for nearly three hours, we were very tired.  My friend bought a tin which was made in the early 19^th century and a vintage ring.  The ring was made in Italy in 1920s with precious shells to decorate as a flower.  It was quite pricey; luckily she got a 10% discount after making bargains with the trader.   I did not buy anything but it is a new and good experience to me.  When I was talking with the traders, I learnt a lot about the vintage items.  The traders are very friendly and knowledgeable.  They said the busiest time is around 6:30 to 7:30 a.m.  Many antique shop owners and collectors liked going there in the very early morning to get the best picks.  If I have time, I will go there once again. 

It is spring now.  I like some sweet and sour food as a starter.  I love Shanghai cuisine very much, such as xiaolongbao, “drunken” chicken, sweet and sour mandarin fish, hairy crabs, hongshao rou and starters.  It is easy to find some tasty starters in Shanghainese restaurants, like tapas in Spanish restaurants and bars.  I prepare this Chinese mixed vegetable salad as an appetizer for tonight’s dinner.    Hope all of you have a happy Friday.

Preparation time: 15 minutes

Cooking time: 10 minutes

Serve: 2

Ingredients:

-         20g red pepper (finely sliced)

-         20g yellow pepper (finely sliced)

-         20g green pepper (finely sliced)

-         30g Chinese white radish (unpeeled and finely sliced)

-         30g carrot (unpeeled and finely sliced)

-         6g dried black fungus strips (soaked in water for 15-20 minutes until tender)                                                                  

-         3 pieces of tofu puffs (finely sliced)

-         1 slice of celery (finely sliced)

-         1L water

-         ⅛ tsp table salt

-         ½ tbsp white sesame seeds

Seasoning sauce:

-         3 tbsp Zhenjiang vinegar

-         2 tbsp soy sauce

-         1 tbsp brown sugar

-         1 tbsp sesame oil

Method:

1.	Boil water in a saucepan over medium heat and add salt.  Then add mixed pepper, white radish, black fungus, celery and carrot in hot water for 1 minute over medium heat.  Remove it from heat.  Drain well and put them on a plate.
2.	Add the tofu puffs into the hot water for 30 seconds.  Remove it from heat.  Drain well and put them on the plate.
3.	In a mixing bowl, mix vinegar, soy sauce, brown sugar and sesame oil well.
4.	Sprinkle the sesame seeds on top.
5.	Toss in the sauce and mix it thoroughly with all veggie before serving.