Fried Dace

In Canada, we have the steak, or the hamburger. In China, Hong Kong, and many other Chinese speaking places, we have the fried dace. It's ubiquitous. It's convenient food. It comes out of a can. It's a heart attack packed in oil and salt. Few will admit they enjoy the stuff, but we all keep a couple of cans in the cupboard - in case of emergencies.

Well, my emergency stores has ran out, and upon inspection of Chinatown, my favorite brand of fried dace is GONE. Pearl River Fried Dace. Salty, fishy, soybeany goodness. The best of its kind. Savory yumminess packed in a can. No longer exported from China. Part of me wanted to scream "NOOOO" like Anakin Skywalker at the end of Episode III. Just drop down to the floor in the middle of the supermarket and express my horror at not having PR Fried Dace ever again. Then my Chinese conservative upbringing kicked in and I bought a can of wannabes. Same ingredients, really, just legal here for some reason.

Apparently, Pearl River Fried Dace has been fingered to contain a cancer-causing preservative. Nevermind that you'd have to eat the 290 kg of the stuff in a day to consume enough to cause harm - we'd just take it off the shelf now. Of course, consuming 290 kg of fried dace will likely land you in the hospital with a stroke AND a heart attack. The cancer will hit you post-mortem.

If you haven't tried it yet, go over to your local Asian supermarket and pick up a can. If you're lucky enough to find Pearl River Fried Dace with Black Beans, heat it in a fry pan and serve the whole thing over two bowls of rice. It's enough for you to want to move to China.