Braised double bacteria in abalone sauce
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Tim Leonard sent in the following photograph of a curious menu item (via Reddit):
For Chinglish specialists, this one is easy to explain:
bàozhī shuāngjūn 鲍汁双菌 ("two kinds of mushrooms in abalone sauce")
jūn 菌 means "fungus, mushroom, mold"; "bacterium" is translated into Chinese as xìjūn 細菌 (lit., "fine fungus").
The confusion between bacteria and mushroom was earlier explained on Language Log in several posts:
"Bacteria, Arsenic, and Other Potentially Hazardous Delectables" (7/22/08)
"Tape bacteria, risotto cowboy, burning denim, and better to die" (8/21/12)
Cf. "Braised enterovirus, anyone?" (7/16/08)
At least our "braised double bacteria in abalone sauce" is somewhat less fantastical than many other "abalone sauce double bacteria" recipes available online, such as "drunk flame in abalone sauce double bacteria" (zuìyàn bàozhī shuāngjūn 醉焰鲍汁双菌), which I found in this long list of strange dishes.
Victor Mair said,
February 21, 2015 @ 4:10 pm
From Cecilia Segawa Seigle:
No matter how you explain it and correct it, after having read that English caption of "Braised double bacteria" I wouldn't want to order the dish.
FJ - groaning said,
February 21, 2015 @ 6:40 pm
Swipe of mouse over pic shows box "Click to embiggen". Glad I didn't, as I like my bacteria small.
Gregory Kusnick said,
February 21, 2015 @ 8:07 pm
Braised bacteria, or something like it, might well be what astronauts will have for lunch on Mars missions.
richardelguru said,
February 23, 2015 @ 7:36 am
At least it's not Soylent Green!
Bill W said,
February 23, 2015 @ 6:44 pm
I've always been uneasy about ordering fungus soup in Italian restaurants.
http://www.cucinarefunghi.com/zuppa-di-funghi