(CN) City bans popular Cantonese dish of snake and cat

[Guest guest]

City bans popular Cantonese dish of snake and cat

By Zheng Caixiong

China Daily

2007-11-06

 

GUANGZHOU: The popular Cantonese dish longhudou or

" dragon duels with tiger " has been banned from dinner

tables, local officials have said.

 

The delicacy derives its name from the snake and cat

meat that, when mixed with herbs, has long been hailed

as a nourishing dish in the southern metropolis.

 

Guo Qinghe, director of the Guangzhou bureau of

forestry, reiterated over the weekend the citywide ban

on the sale of snakes or foods containing the reptile.

 

" It is illegal for companies, restaurants and

individuals to sell live snakes, snake meat and

related foods, " Guo said on a local TV program.

 

Apart from having their snakes and snake products

confiscated, those caught flouting the ban will be

fined between 10,000 yuan ($1,300) and 100,000 yuan,

Guo added.

 

The Guangzhou city government banned the sale of snake

and snake-related dishes in the wake of SARS in 2003,

following revelations that the coronavirus might have

come from snakes, civet cats and other wild animals

used in Cantonese dishes.

 

Many restaurants subsequently resumed serving the meat

when the health threat receded.

 

Demand for the dish peaks between September and

December when snakes take on more flesh for the cold.

 

Many fans of the dish believe it alleviates or even

cures asthma and rheumatism.

 

Chen Wenchong, the manager of a Cantonese restaurant

in Guangzhou's Liwan district, said the snake ban had

not seriously affected his business, which was well

known for the dish.

 

The restaurant has adapted to serving mainly chicken,

duck, goose and seafood, he said.

 

Zhou Guangjun, a Guangzhou resident, lamented the loss

of the dish.

 

" I have stopped eating snakes but Guangzhou still has

a large number of delicious dishes, " Zhou told China

Daily yesterday.

 

(China Daily 11/06/2007 page4)

 

http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/cndy/2007-11/06/content_6232431.htm

 

 

 

 

 

National Bingo Night. Play along for the chance to win $10,000 every week.

Download your gamecard now at 7 TV.

http://au.blogs./national-bingo-night/