Stinky tofu, also known by its Chinese name, Chou Doufu, is a fermented bean curd dish which has a very strong acrid odor, is sometimes politely called "fragrant tofu". Its smell is said to resemble that of rotten garbage or manure, even by its enthusiasts.
Stinky tofu is a form of fermented bean curd, which, as the name suggests, has a strong acrid odor. It is a popular snack in East and Southeast Asia, particularly China, Taiwan, Hong Kong, and Indonesia where it is usually found at night markets or roadside stands. Like the most fermented European cheeses, stinky tofu makes an unforgettable impression; non-native eaters find it either exotically tasty or unbearably repugnant. Even many native eaters can't stand the smell.
To make modern stinky tofu, fresh tofu marinates for a couple of hours in a brine of vegetables, tofu and dried shrimp that has been fermenting for six months or more. Correctly made, the brine produces a unique rather lacy texture in the tofu, and the insides taste mild and custardy. The typical open fermentation methods allow for easy contamination of the developing brine. Impatient venders have been arrested for faking stinky tofu by adding gunpowder, rotten fish and other inedible additions to their brine. 
Once it has been correctly fermented, the stinky tofu is cut into bite-size squares for cooking. The tofu then will be deep-fried until golden crisp. Connoisseurs of stinky tofu say the magic is in the topping, which is made of soy sauce, vinegar and chili oil.
Stinky tofu is a popular study topic among Chinese chemistry students. Tsinghua University's bio-science research lab examined a sample of Dai's stinky tofu and discovered more than 15 kinds of active bacteria swimming around in it, similar to the types of colonization found in yogurt.
Twenty-one aromatic chemical compounds have been identified in deep-fried traditional stinky tofu samples collected in Hong Kong. They generally possess unpleasant, medicinal, putrid, fecal and rancid odors. So the next time any of these country, bring up a brave face and give it a try!
Monday, October 1, 2007
Stinky Tofu - Dare to try?
No excuse for overdue library books
In Westchester County library, New York, no excuse can be given for overdue library books. Not even if the reason is dead. Even the dead apparently have to pay the fines on their overdue books. Elizabeth Schaper said she was charged a 50-cent late fee while turning in a book that her late mother had checked out of a Harrison Public Library branch.
Schaper's mother, Ethel Schaper, died at the age of 87 on Sept. 16 after suffering a massive stroke. A few days later, Schaper said she found a library book, "The Price of Silence," by Camilla Trinchieri, that her mother had checked out from the library. Ethel Schaper was an avid reader with an average of two books a week. She was a frequent patron of the library.
Schaper said she returned the book last week, and was stunned when the man behind the library counter told her of the 50-cent fee. "I told him that maybe he didn't hear me right, that my mother had just died, otherwise I'm sure that she would have returned it on time," Schaper said. "His only reply was that, 'That will be 50 cents.'"
Connie Perrotta, a secretary for the director of the Harrison Public Library, confirmed the incident occurred but said that the library would have no comment.
Schaper said a couple days after the incident another library employee called to apologize and offered to return the fine she had paid.
Source : www.thejournalnews.com
Christian David Copperfield - Dan Meyer
A north Alabama car salesman who offers to swallow a sword for every car he sells has taken his unique ability a step further. Dan Meyer of small town Hartselle, Alabama, population 12,000, has successfully become the first person to swallow a 30 inch long sword while submerged underwater at the Ripley's Aquarium, Myrtle Beach, SC on 18th May 2007.
The underwater event was designed to promote Ripley's Aquarium's "Pirates, Predators of the Sea" exhibit that educates visitors on the history of pirates, many of which frequented the Myrtle Beach area. The event occurred during Myrtle Beach's "Bike Week" which was also set around the pirate theme "Cruisin' the Coast", drawing over 300,000 motorcycle enthusiasts from around the world. "We wanted to present an event that would amaze and entertain Bike Week visitors while promoting our "Pirates" exhibit and making a connection between pirates and the undersea world," explained Ripley Entertainment VP Tim O'Brien. "Having a swashbuckling pirate like 'Captain Cutless' swallow a sword underwater was the perfect fit!"
“Captain Cutless", is better known as Dan Meyer, who also doubles as a sword swallower featured in numerous documentaries, articles and medical studies for swallowing swords around the world. As Exec Director of the Sword Swallowers Association International, Meyer is widely recognized as one of the foremost authorities in the world on the ancient art of sword swallowing.
Described as a "Christian David Copperfield" who combines real feats with a powerful message instead of just tricks and illusions, Meyer eats fire and swallows solid steel swords, blades, sabers, bayonets, rapiers, cutlasses, and other objects from 15 to 30 inches in length, and up to 8 swords at once. To stretch the boundaries of the art, Meyer swallowed a 30-inch long solid steel sword while submerged 15 feet underwater surrounded by more than 80 sharks and stingrays in 85,000 gallons of salt water.
Sword swallowing can cause serious injury and even death. "Swallowing a solid steel sword is incredibly dangerous enough as it is on dry land," Meyer explains. "Last year while swallowing five swords at once, I ended up in the hospital with a serious injury that almost killed me - a punctured stomach that caused pleurisy and fluid around my heart and lungs. The pain was incredible and I couldn't swallow solid food for several weeks!"
This time the dangers were multiplied with additional challenges besides the obvious risks of cuts, punctures and perforations. "The worst sword swallowing injuries occur when the throat is tender and swollen. I was really worried because I've had a 'sword throat' with swelling that had me really concerned and almost made me call it off this morning.” Meyer said. “Then when I got in the tank, it was really difficult to lean my head back and open my mouth underwater while surrounded by 85,000 gallons of salt water. When I opened my mouth to swallow the sword, the air rushed up out of my lungs. Not only did I have to focus on swallowing the sword correctly without impaling myself, but I had to contend with the sharks and stingrays not bumping into me while concentrating on not drowning," Meyer explained. "…And to top it all off, I managed to do it within 29 minutes after eating a full meal!"
Why would anyone want to attempt a feat this dangerous? "I've enjoyed performing stunts like sword swallowing for audiences around the world for several years." Meyer explains. "I also swam with sharks and stingrays when I lived on an island in the Bahamas for several years. So I knew I could do each of them separately. It just seemed natural to put the two challenges together," Meyer explained. "The big question was: Would I be able to do BOTH of them at the same time and survive? I'm glad to be able to stand here afterward and say I did!"
The feat makes Meyer the first person in America to ever swallow a sword underwater. "I'm so relieved everything went so smoothly and without a problem. I'm especially excited to have made history with Ripley's Believe It or Not!" Meyer beamed with a smile. The feat will be included in the next edition of the Ripley's Believe It or Not! book.
The art of sword swallowing started over 4000 years ago in India, and requires the practitioner to use mind-over-matter techniques to control the body and repress natural reflexes in order to insert solid steel blades from 15 to 25 inches down the esophagus and into the stomach. There are currently less than a few dozen full-time professional sword swallowers actively performing the ancient but deadly art of sword swallowing around the world today.
A special thanks to Dan Meyer for submitting this story personally.
Link : www.swordswallow.com
Link : www.swordswallow.org
